🗓️ Full Schedule

In-Person at Central Park (11 AM–4 PM)

📍 Naumburg Bandshell – Enter at 72nd Street & 5th Ave
☔ Rain or Shine

11:00 AM – “Know Your Rights” Training

Location: Network Area

Presented in partnership with the City Commission for Human Rights.

11:45 AM – "Love Train" Conga Line

Location: Left side of the audience.

Line up, everybody! Join our joyful, community-led conga line as we dance around the audience in preparation for our upcoming effort to break the World Record for the most wheelchairs-users in a row. This is your chance to get to know other festival-goers — groove to “Love Train” and roll with pride! Spaces are limited, so arrive at the starting location at 11:45 sharp.

12:00 PM – Group Photo + Welcome Remarks

Gather front and center! We’ll snap a group photo before diving into the main stage program.

Hosted by: Austin Halls

Speakers:
Commissioner Christina Curry, NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)
Deputy Commissioner Kajori Chaudhuri, NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR)

12:15 PM – 4:00 PM – Main Stage Performances (Also Livestreamed) & Activities

Feel the energy build throughout the afternoon with this exciting mix of acts and interactive moments:

12:15 PM – Austin Halls (MC) – Kick-off Performance & Borough Pride Activity

About: Austin Halls is a powerful force redefining beauty, confidence, and what it means to be seen. Born with Moebius Syndrome—a rare neurological condition that causes facial paralysis— It took him eight years and four facial surgeries to achieve a full smile, but his presence and impact have always spoken louder than words.

With viral features on Snapchat Originals, Truly, Instagram and widely viewed documentaries on YouTube (surpassing 100,000 views), Austin is using digital platforms to spark real conversations around disability, identity, and self-expression. His bold presence and unapologetic storytelling challenge outdated narratives, replacing them with visibility, education, and empowerment.

Austin isn’t just part of the conversation—he’s leading it, proving that authentic representation can educate, inspire, and change the way we see each other.

12:30 PM – Audience Activity

Join in on an audience activity led by Austin Halls at the Main Stage.

12:40 PM – Sidiki Conde

Danceable beats blending traditional African song and dance with powerful messages and drumming.

About: The Call to sing and dance first came to Sidiki Conde in a dream he had after he lost the use of his legs when he was fourteen. Music and dance became his transcendance and his vocation. Conde has worked extensively with children and adults of all abilities giving performances while teaching African dance and music in schools, hospitals and universities.

1:30 PM – Collective Meditation Moment

Pause, breathe, and reflect together with a guided wellness moment at the Main Stage.

Disability Hip Hop Jam ft. Four Wheel City & Friends

This electrifying set showcases some of the most dynamic disabled artists in hip hop today. The Disability Pride Month Hip Hop Jam embodies a spirit of acceptance, inclusion, and awareness, shedding light on the contributions of disabled artists to the hip hop community. Namel and Ricardo, known for their empowering music, have utilized hip hop as a powerful tool to raise consciousness on accessibility, discrimination, and resilience. Through their personal journey, 4 Wheel City exemplifies how hip hop can drive conversations and facilitate change. As hosts of the Disability Pride Month Hip Hop Jam, Namel and Ricardo extend their mission to provide a supportive and empowering space for disabled hip hop artists to showcase their talents and stories.

4 Wheel City Foundation, spearheaded by Namel “Tapwaterz” Norris and Ricardo “Rickfire” Velasquez, distinguished wheelchair users due to spinal cord injuries, is at the forefront of advocating for disability rights and social change through music.

Reality Poets

Reality Poets started as a handful of gun violence survivors who lived together in a nursing home on Roosevelt Island. We grew into a group of artists, poets and musicians, working to protect and uplift our youth.

BANK$

BANK$ wrote raps and freestyle with close friends back in high school and college but was too afraid to show it because he felt that people would judge him because of his disability. He became more confident as time went on and began to tell his story through music. He has a powerful soulful storytelling vibe with his music that hits people in the heart when they hear it.

Garnett Silver-Hall

Garnett Silver-Hall is a hip-hop artist and producer from the Bay Area whose music blends soul, intention, and powerful storytelling. His sound weaves themes of love, perseverance, struggle, and growth—resonating deeply with listeners who seek honesty and connection.

3:00 PM – ASL Sign-Along

Learn to sign to the beat! Join this community activity with a song designed for everyone's participation.

3:10 PM – Wheelchair Sports Camp

A vibey, protest-rooted performance blending electronic music and bold lyricism. The perfect close to our in-person concert.

About: A Denver-based band combining humor, playfulness, radical political perspectives, compassion and undeniable music chops, Wheelchair Sports Camp is unlike any other hip-hop act around. Fronted by the wheelchair-using, rap heavy, beat-making, freedom fighting, producer, educator, foul-mouthed, queer rebel rouser Kalyn, the band is a combination of live and electronic instruments with a more noisy, jazzy, experimental, combination to the traditional hip-hop group.

3:50 PM – Closing Remarks & Transition to Virtual Festival

We’ll say farewell from the stage and invite our online audience to stick around for incredible – exclusively virtual – performances and content!

All Day Activities

In-Person @ 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Creation Row

Let out your inner artist with the "Invitation Station", "Float Factory" and "The Banner Project" at Creation Row!

Invitation Station: 400 by 400

Join the 400 by 400 Movement—an invitation to reach 400 influencers, leaders, and organizations with 400 postcards crafted and written by you. Let’s come together to encourage the disability community to tell their stories and join us at October’s Disability Pride Parade.

Float Factory: What Does Disability Pride Mean to You?

Every NYC borough will march with its own float at New York City’s Disability Pride Parade in October—and you can help decorate them!

The Banner Project

Create artwork that speaks to an issue of your choice that affects the disability community. These banners might eventually be displayed across the City.

Activities Avenue

Join in on a diverse array of activities for all ages and abilities.

Interactive Activities

Fun for all ages!

Step and Repeat

Snap a photo of you and your friends celebrating Disability Pride Month at the Disability Unite Festival!

“Love Unites” Art Installation

Immerse yourself in and contribute to an interactive art installation that invites you to reflect on the theme “Love Unites.”

Tabling & Community Engagement

In-Person @ 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Over 54 tables of City agencies and community organizations will be set up around the stage, designed to foster interaction between community members and service providers. Highlights include:

• 4 Independent Living Centers
• NYC government agencies including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Social Services
• Community march organizers for ADA35: The Future is Disabled Rally and March
• NYC agencies and community-based organizations paired intentionally for mutual mission connection

Virtual Programming (12 PM–6 PM)

📍 DisabilityUnite.org – Live Stream Center

🕛 12:00–4:00 PM: Livestream of the Central Park performances

🕓 4:00–6:00 PM: Exclusive Virtual Performances from the winners of the Disability Unite Got Talent contest and speaker sessions (Online):

• Kitahrah
• Kakeru Sato
• Karen Bucknall
• Sara Canali
• Phillip Bramwell
• Mary Six Rupert's Tap: On Tap
• Rebecca Oslacky
• Rachel Revennaugh
• Hina Suzuki – Beyond the Surface
• Rina Yoshikawa & FaiRy

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Disability Unite Festival 2025 Virtual Festival

Location: Stage 1, Disability Unite Website
(Following In-Person)

Hosted by Danny Woodburn (of Seinfeld fame!), the online show features:

• Global talent (Japan, USA, more)
• Visual art & storytelling
• Comedy, spoken word, music & dance
• Panels on mental health, mobility, blind/low vision topics
• Community Messages
• Disability Got Talent alumni highlights
• Launch of National Disability in Entertainment Week, in partnership with Lights! Camera! Access! and ADA Lead On Productions

Virtual Performances and Speakers

• Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Christina Curry
• Los Angeles Department on Disability Executive Director Stephen Simon & Danny Woodburn
• Hina Suzuki – Beyond the Surface
• Kitahrah
• Phillip Bramwell
• Rebecca Oslacky
• Rina Yoshikawa & FaiRy
• Karen Bucknall
• Kakeru Sato
• Rachel Revennaugh
• Disability Unite Got Talent Alumni
• Sara Canali
• Mary Six Rupert’s Tap: On Tap

Finale

Virtual Panels

Location: Stage 2, Disability Unite Website

Panels Overview – Part One

This is the first installment of a two-part panel series. Part One is airing during the Disability Unite Festival. The series highlights the diversity within the disability community by showcasing distinct cultures, preferences, and challenges. Each panel responds to the same core prompt through its own lens, encouraging cross-community understanding, knowledge-sharing, and inclusive practices.

By elevating lesser-known experiences and best practices, panelists will help build solidarity and bridge gaps between communities.

Please stay tuned for Part Two of our Panel Series.

Panel 1: Mental Health and Psychiatric Disabilities

Topics:

• The intersection of mental health and disability culture
• How mental health stigma differs across communities
• The impact of self-advocacy in psychiatric disability spaces
• The role of peer support and lived experience in creating safe spaces
• Best practices for fostering open, supportive conversations without stigma

Panelists:

• Christina Sparrock – NYC Mental Health Collective
• Yiwen Fan – Riverbank Psychotherapy
• John Johnson – NAMI Queens/Nassau
• Miguel Ramos – Mental Health First Aid

Panel 2: Blind and Low Vision Communities

Topics:

• The role of blindness in shaping community, identity, and independence
• How tech and tactile solutions empower daily life
• The misconceptions about blindness and ability
• Why inclusive design, audio descriptions, and Braille matter
• Best practices for sighted individuals engaging with blind communities

Panelists:

• Chancey Fleet – Access Technologist, NYC, Andrew Heiskell Library
• Sheri Wells-Jensen – Bowling Green State University
• Sugandha Gupta – Sensory Textiles
• Minh Ha – Perkins School for the Blind
• Bobbi Pompey – San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind / San Francisco State University

Panel 3: Voice of Axis Project – Real Talk on Disability, Identity, and Movement

Topics:

• The lived experience of navigating physical spaces with mobility aids
• Why universal design benefits everyone
• The etiquette of engaging with mobility device users
• The cultural and social implications of adaptive sports and activities
• Challenging stigma around visible and invisible mobility disabilities

Featured Stations:

• Speed Bag – “Rhythm and Resilience”
  Focus: Mental toughness, intergenerational wisdom, emotional endurance
• Medicine Ball – “Fighting for Independence”
• Double End Bag – Goals, long-term vision, personal growth
• Reflex Bar – “Adapting in Real Time”
  Focus: Reactivity, resilience, being present
• Krank Cycle – “Momentum and Motivation”
  Focus: Movement, rhythm, staying motivated

 

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Festival in-person or virtual?
Both! Join in Central Park or at Central Park Naumburg Bandshell on Sunday, July 13, 2025, or online at DisabilityUnite.org. All programming will be livestreamed.

How much is the event?
Free! We don’t want the cost of a ticket to affect anyone’s desire to attend.

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

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.

Are there any post-event or virtual-only programs?
Yes! After 4 PM, tune in for two additional hours of exclusive virtual programming on DisabilityUnite.org, including music, dance, theater, speaker sessions, and panel discussions featuring artists and advocates from around the world.

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

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

Are strollers allowed?
Yes.

Can I ride my bicycle, roller skates, or skateboard?
No, bicycles, roller skates, skateboards and other recreational modes of transportation are not allowed. Any mode of transport used for accessible needs such as motorized scooters are welcome and the grounds are paved.

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

Do I have to be vaccinated to attend the in-person event?
According to CDC guidelines at this time, a vaccination is not required; however, we encourage social distancing, and please enjoy the event virtually if you have any health concerns.

Are there advertising opportunities?
No, Disability Unite Festival is funded through grant funding and our generous sponsors. Advertising opportunities are not available.