Disability Unite Festival 2025

🎶 Celebrate July Disability Pride Month at the 2025 Disability Unite Festival!

📅 Sunday, July 13, 2025
🕚 11 AM – 4 PM In-Person | 12 PM – 6 PM Livestream
📍 Central Park Naumburg Bandshell (Enter at 72nd Street & 5th Avenue)
☔ Rain or Shine

🆓 This is a free, hybrid event!

🔹 In-Person Program – Central Park, Naumburg Bandshell, 11 AM–4 PM

  • 11 AM: Disability Inclusion Training

  • 12 PM: Main-stage performances begin, featuring:

    • Austin Halls

    • Wheelchair Sports Camp

    • Sidiki Condé

    • 4 Wheel City – Disability Hip Hop Jam

  • 40+ community organizations and city agencies tabling onsite

🔹 Virtual Livestream – DisabilityUnite.org, 12 PM–6 PM

  • Exclusive online performances and speaker sessions

  • Live feed of main-stage acts

🎤 The festival is a community-led collaboration presented by Project Access for All and the NYC Commission on Human Rights

📌 Public Registration: https://tinyurl.com/DUFestival2025
🤝 Volunteer Sign-Up: https://tinyurl.com/DUFestivalVolunteer

📣 Please credit all online YouTube or broadcast usage to: Disability Unite Festival

💙 🤎 💚 🧡 💚 Festival Theme: Love Unites

Disability Unite’s motto is "For The Community, By The Community." With partnership from Project Access For All and support from the NYC Commission on Human Rights, the Disability Unite Festival is based on the principles of mutual aid and collective imagination.

Together, we are building a more inclusive world—where love, creativity, and advocacy unite us all.

This year’s Festival marks three historic milestones:

  • 🗽 10 Years of Disability Pride Month in NYC

  • 💜 35 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

  • 💜 40 Years of National Disability in Entertainment Week

  • 💙 400 Years of NYC History

🎤 Festival Performers

Join us for unforgettable live performances by:

  • Austin Halls

  • Wheelchair Sports Camp

  • Sidiki Condé

  • 4 Wheel City – Disability Hip Hop Jam

Exclusive Virtual Performances

  • Kitahrah
  • Kakeru Sato
  • Karen Bucknail
  • Sara Canali
  • Phillip Bramwell
  • Mary Six Rupert
  • Rebecca Oslacky
  • Rachel Revennaugh
  • Hina Suzuki Beyond the Surface
  • Rina Yoshikawa & FaiRy

💡 What to Expect

Celebrate Disability Pride Month at the 6th Annual Disability Unite Festival, marking the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In-person Program — Central Park, Naumburg Bandshell, 11 AM–4 PM

  • 11 AM: Disability Inclusion Training

  • 12 PM: - On-Stage Performances

  • 40+ community organizations and city agencies tabling onsite

Virtual Livestream — DisabilityUnite.org, 12 PM–6 PM

  • 12:00 PM - Live feed of On-Stage Performances (In-Person & Online)
  • 4:00 PM - Exclusive Virtual Experience including online performances and speaker sessions(Online)

    All performances are streamed on DisabilityUnite.org so that you can join this community moment with people around the world. There is no cost. Register for the Disability Unite Festival!

The festival is a community-led collaboration presented by Project Access for All and the NYC Commission on Human Rights.

📌 Public Registration: https://tinyurl.com/DUFestival2025
🤝 Volunteer Sign-Up: https://tinyurl.com/DUFestivalVolunteer

📣 For broadcast or online use, please credit: Disability Unite Festival.

🖼️ Featured Event Graphics

📎 Attachments:
📄 2025 Disability Unite Festival_Official Flyer.jpg
🖼️ 2025 Disability Unite Festival_Save The Date Graphic.png

📣 Hashtags: #DisabilityUnite #TogetherWereStronger #CelebratingCommunity

Continue reading below for FAQs, Accessibility, and Participation Info.

Disability Unite Festival 2025: Access & Celebration Info

🎉 We Look Forward to Celebrating With You! Here’s everything you and your community need to know as we prepare for Disability Unite Festival 2025.

🗓️ Full Festival Overview

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will Disability Unite Festival 2025 be a virtual or in-person event?
The Festival will be both! Join us in-person at Central Park Naumburg Bandshell on Sunday, July 13, 2025, or virtually via DisabilityUnite.org. All programming will be livestreamed.

Where can I watch the festival virtually?
Visit DisabilityUnite.org and click the Live Stream Center.

Are there any post-event performances?
Yes. After 4 PM, enjoy two additional hours of virtual music, dance, theater, and more on DisabilityUnite.org.

How much is the event?
Free! There is no cost to attend either in-person or virtually.

Are there other programs or activities at the in-person event?
Yes! Art and sports activities for all ages, community booths, and an interactive art installation.

Is the in-person or virtual event ADA accessible?
Yes. Both formats exceed ADA accessibility requirements. ASL, CART, and audio description are provided.

Will the event take place if it rains?
Yes. Disability Unite Festival happens rain or shine, both in-person and online.

Are there panels or programs during the virtual event?
Yes. Stay tuned for details on virtual panel discussions.

🚇 Transportation & Getting There

Where should I enter Central Park?
Enter at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue. Volunteer greeters will be stationed along the route. If using Google Maps, input: 1 East 72nd St., New York, NY 10021. Please note: it is a very long distance to get to the bandshell if you enter the park from the west side of the park.

Traveling by Access-A-Ride: Call Access-A-Ride reservations and share you’re going to "Disability Unite Festival in Central Park”

Traveling by Subway (nearest accessible station): 72 Street (Q) or Lexington Avenue/63 Street (F,Q)

Traveling by Car: Enter the address ”1 E 72nd St, New York, NY 10021” into your navigation.

Accessible Travel Orientation Videos
Short videos by our guide Michael Ring will show you how to get to the Bandshell. Text directions are also available.

Volunteers Needed!
We're looking for volunteers trained in disability inclusion. Sign up to volunteer.

♿️ Access Accommodations

On-site and Online Accommodations Include:

  • Streamtext captioning via this link

  • ASL interpreters and CART on stage and livestream

  • FM receivers with neckloops at Information Booths

  • Additional ASL interpreters at main entrance Info Booth

  • Plain Language via livestream

  • Quiet Area at the Bandshell

  • Tactile maps (request in advance at disabilityunite@gmail.com)

Information Booths will be at the Bandshell entrance to guide and assist in multiple languages.

🧭 Planning Your Festival Experience

Heat Advisory

  • Dress for summer. Bring water containers. Shaded area: Literary Walk.

  • Staff and an air-conditioned ambulance are on site for assistance.

Food & Water
Water will be available. Feel free to bring your own food.

COVID Safety
Vaccination is not required. Social distancing encouraged. Join virtually if concerned.

✋ Volunteer or Table

Virtual Volunteering
No roles on the day, but you can help promote. Sign up here

💻 Participate Virtually

Schedule Preview

  • 11 AM – Disability Inclusion Training (In-person)

  • 12 PM – Performances (In-person & Online)

  • 4 PM – Virtual-Only Experience

🗺️ Festival Map

Yes! The full map and text description will be linked here when ready.

🌍 Eco & Media Guidelines

Leave No Trace
Please recycle and respect the space. Let’s leave it better than we found it.

Photography Notice
Attendance implies consent for media coverage. Photos and videos may be used to promote Disability Unite Festival and Project Access for All.

📩 After the Festival: Stay Connected

Post-Festival Feedback All registrants will receive:

  1. Feedback Form — Share your experience and join teams.

  2. Connect to Community Form — Opt-in to share your contact info with Community Partners.

Not registered yet?

Partner Registration Deadline: July XX Still time to be listed on the Connect to Community Form.

📱 Social Media & Promotion

Help share the 2025 Festival with the world!
Use hashtag #DisabilityUniteFestival

Tag us:
Instagram/Facebook: @DisabilityUnite
Twitter/X: @Access4_All

💖 Festival Summary

💖 Disability Unite Festival – Love Unites
📅 Sunday, July 13 | 📍 Central Park Bandshell
🎶 Borough-wide events all July
🔗 RSVP
🔗 Submit your event

From love to pride. From community to power.
#DisabilityPride #LoveUnites #DisabilityRights #CelebrateDisabilityPride #AccessIsLove

Feel free to spread the word with friends and family by text!

💬 Contact Us

See you on July 13th!

Additional Info

Are pets allowed?
Yes, leashed pets are allowed. Be mindful of your animals.

Are strollers allowed?
Yes.

Can I bring bicycles, roller skates, skateboards?
No. These are not allowed unless used for accessibility (e.g. mobility scooters).

Are there advertising opportunities?
No. This is a grant- and sponsor-supported event.

Follow Us:
Instagram: @DisabilityUnite
Facebook: Disability Unite
Twitter/X: @Access4_All

 

Join our community for events, programs, and a virtual festival this July to celebrate Disability Pride Month! The Disability Unite website will connect partner organizations and people throughout NYC, around the country, and across the world in celebrating Disability Pride and furthering a message of Opportunity, Equity, and Inclusion.

While the platform is called "Disability Unite", we acknowledge and respect that the disability community represents a broad cross-section of groups, communities, and individuals identified by race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, age, or disability status. Each individual/group will have different opinions and should advocate in whatever way they prefer.

The events on this platform are for the community, by the community. That means all Project Access Partners will be invited to become a partner on the Disability Unite website as well, and have their logo (with a link to their website) shown on the “Community Partners” page to acknowledge their involvement and introduce viewers to their websites and social media.

Led by a Community Working Group, Project Access is an "open" consortium that reflects the ideas and events of the disability community.  Project Access for All was launched nationally in 2010 with a Working Group of the Obama Administration. Project AccessNYC was launched on August 9, 2011 at Gracie Mansion by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Commissioner Matt Sapolin. Commissioner Sapolin was a founder and first Project AccessNYC Co-Chair. Project Access is not owned by any one institution or individual and aims to reflect the vision of its users through a platform for direct engagement to further opportunity, equality and inclusion throughout the community. Project Access is coordinated by Art Beyond Sight.