Celebrating and Fostering Disability Pride

In honor of Disability Pride Month, we kick off this episode by sitting down with our Director of Disability, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) to discuss the importance of Disability Pride and why true inclusion requires moving beyond baseline reasonable accommodations and bringing underrepresented voices and lived experiences into the conversation. 

Then, we go live from Empire State Plaza for the State’s Disability Pride on the Plaza Celebration. You’ll hear directly from award-winning advocates, state partners, and other community members about what Disability Pride means to them.

These conversations explore the deeper meaning behind the celebration. It’s about identity, inclusion, and the continued effort to build a community where everyone feels truly valued.

Featured Guests:

• Sidra Chaudhary, Director of DEIA
• Disability Pride on the Plaza Attendees

Transcript

00:00:08:10 - 00:00:35:12

Erin Hogan

Hello and welcome to the Could This Happen in Your Program podcast, where we find collaborative solutions for protecting New Yorkers in care. In honor of Disability Pride Month, we kick off this episode by sitting down with our Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to discuss the importance of disability pride and why true inclusion requires moving beyond baseline reasonable accommodations and bringing underrepresented voices and lived experiences into the conversation.

00:00:35:13 - 00:01:00:18

Erin Hogan

Then we go live from Empire State Plaza for the state's Disability Pride on the Plaza celebration, and we're doing a podcast on the Plaza. You'll hear directly from award winning advocates, state partners, and other community members about what disability pride means to them. These conversations explore a deeper meaning behind the celebration. It's about identity, inclusion, and the continued effort to build a community where everyone feels truly valued.

00:01:00:23 - 00:01:09:18

Erin Hogan

Okay, well welcome, Sidra. Thank you so much for joining us today. Could you start by introducing yourself and your role at the Justice Center?

00:01:09:20 - 00:01:31:08

Sidra Chaudhary

Sure, sure. Thank you again for having me. Again, my name is Sidra Chaudhary. My pronouns are she, her, and hers. I currently serve as the Justice Center's Director of Diversity, equity, inclusion and Accessibility and just actually hit my four-year anniversary with the Justice Center. So exciting month.

00:01:31:10 - 00:01:42:10

Erin Hogan

Yeah. Well, welcome. You and I have been I feel like we started at the Justice Center very close together. So, we've been here about the same amount of time. So, you're my buddy. You're my buddy in that journey.

00:01:42:12 - 00:01:43:16

Sidra Chaudhary

That's right, that's right.

00:01:43:17 - 00:01:51:22

Erin Hogan

And can you just give us a little bit about what your role as the DEIA director here at the Justice Center entails?

00:01:52:00 - 00:02:36:01

Sidra Chaudhary

Yep, yep. So, the diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility title, aside from just being a really long one, means also wearing a ton of different hats, right? So at a very high level, it means working in partnership with, you know, the leadership here at the Justice Center, in addition to, you know, staff members who support this work in our mission and then also working with external groups, external entities like Governor Hochul’s diversity, equity and Inclusion team, you know, working with her chief disability office, supporting the work and rollout of language access, you know, under the Office of General Services.

00:02:36:02 - 00:02:59:20

Sidra Chaudhary

So, it's really, it's a big effort, you know, in terms of just implementing our agency's commitment to being a diverse organization, to being an equitable and inclusive organization. So, these efforts are ultimately about better supporting the people that we’re called to serve and those that we serve alongside, alongside with at the Justice Center.

00:02:59:22 - 00:03:22:21

Erin Hogan

Yeah. And I think, you know, right now we are in a very important month. We're in Disability Pride Month as this episode airs, and we're excited to have you on today to share some of your expertise and what and what that means to the disability community and to us here at the Justice Center. But can I ask, what does Disability Pride Month mean to you in your role at the Justice Center?

00:03:23:00 - 00:03:51:01

Sidra Chaudhary

Yes, yes. So, I'll start by saying that, you know, just for folks who might not be as familiar with Disability Pride Month, that this is a month that's celebrated annually in July, right? The focus of this of this month is to honor, you know, the diversity, the achievements, rights of people who identify as having disabilities. You know, it's centered around disability identity.

00:03:51:03 - 00:04:38:22

Sidra Chaudhary

You know, having community, building community, recognition of disability culture and leadership. Right. There's so many things, you know, to celebrate in this month and throughout the year, but it also is very much focused around being a celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law in 1990. So, 2026 actually makes 36 years. So it's 36th anniversary, which is amazing, you know, and I think of it really, this is an opportunity to reflect on the legislation, this landmark right legislation that was no doubt the results of just decades of, you know, hard fought activism, you know, by individuals with disabilities who, you know, they demanded access, right?

00:04:38:23 - 00:05:08:06

Sidra Chaudhary

They demanded inclusion. You know, this was a fight for civil rights and not necessarily just being focused on something like charity. Right. And again, over time, the celebration from what I know about it has grown into a nationwide movement, you know, and ultimately, the goal is to center the identity of disability, right, as a source of strength and pride and resistance and not something to be hidden.

00:05:08:07 - 00:05:37:00

Sidra Chaudhary

And so even though, you know, to the second part of your question, even though I don't necessarily identify as someone who has a disability, you know, so I can't speak to it from the place of lived experience, you know, the angle that I can take is, you know, as someone who is a social worker, you know, someone who is a DEIA practitioner, excuse me, having done this type of work for over 15 years, you know, and then again, thinking about individuals in my family, right.

00:05:37:03 - 00:05:59:20

Sidra Chaudhary

Folks who identify as having a disability, who live with a disability and have been for many years. To me, this month recognizes disability as essentially a natural component of human diversity. Like when we talk about the diversity of what makes us who we are and all of the various pieces that bring us together. You know, I think of that, right?

00:05:59:21 - 00:06:22:15

Sidra Chaudhary

I think of disability as a natural component, as a natural part of that, rather than being something that needs to be hidden or needs to be fixed. Right. It means that we are focusing on centering the lived experience and identities of the folks, right that we're talking about, and also at the same time demanding that they have equal access, you know, and dignity.

00:06:22:16 - 00:06:48:12

Sidra Chaudhary

Right? When you think about folks who have been historically and continually, you know, systemically excluded, right? It's part of it as awareness. And then the other part of it is continuing to push for, you know, equal access, equal opportunity, and of course, dignity. So, you know, I've been reading a lot in preparation for this month about individuals who have written about their lived experience with disabilities and what it means to them.

00:06:48:12 - 00:07:12:00

Sidra Chaudhary

And I came across this really, really powerful quote that I wanted to share with you and the audience. And so, this individual said, “For many, it means pushing back against years of stigma, some of it external, some of it internalized. But that pushback is powerful. Disability pride says we are not broken. We are not burdens, and we will not be sidelined.”

00:07:12:01 - 00:07:30:23

Sidra Chaudhary

So, you know, I thought that was just a very, very powerful statement. Because it speaks to the to the overall experience, the human experience, right, of holding this identity, which is just one part of the many identities that we all hold. So, so yeah, that's a very long way of saying this is what disability pride means to me.

00:07:31:00 - 00:08:02:23

Erin Hogan

Yeah. Well, I mean, I think that's a very important point, especially, you know, reflected in that quote you just shared that being prideful of having a disability and celebrating Disability Pride Month. It's not just an observance. It's really a part of somebody's identity. It's a factor not to your point a stigma. And, you know, I think that kind of leads nicely into the next question, which is from your perspective, as our DEIA lead, how can we help the individuals that we serve?

00:08:03:00 - 00:08:08:19

Erin Hogan

That is largely a disability population both inside and outside the Justice Center?

00:08:08:21 - 00:08:32:06

Sidra Chaudhary

Yeah, definitely. And that's a really good question, right. I think I think it really starts with thinking about that shift in mindset, right, of viewing disability as something that needs to be fixed, right, or something that needs to be hidden. And so, recognizing that, again, this is part of our lived experience, this is part of what makes up our diversity.

00:08:32:06 - 00:08:54:18

Sidra Chaudhary

And so, our focus should really always begin and continue to be centered around recognizing people's strengths, right? Recognizing their talents and who they are as individuals first and foremost. Right. So not defining an individual, just like I don't want to be defined as one thing or be put in one label or box, right? I have there's many things that make up who I am as an individual.

00:08:54:18 - 00:09:16:04

Sidra Chaudhary

And so, I think extending that outwards. Right. So irrespective of whether you're someone that's in the field serving as an advocate or an investigator or you're someone who's working in house, you know, within the Justice Center, irrespective of what your role or what your title is, that should be the focus point, right? It's we're recognizing people's strengths. We're recognizing their talents and who they are as individuals.

00:09:16:05 - 00:09:38:12

Sidra Chaudhary

Right. Helping folks to feel confident in who they are, you know, proud of the things that they've accomplished while at the same time doing the work to make sure that we're advocating right, and that we are continuing to fight hand in hand right with them in the conversation around policy changes and really moving that needle forward, which I think, you know, I'm a proud New Yorker, right?

00:09:38:12 - 00:09:57:22

Sidra Chaudhary

Like, I'm proud that, you know, under Governor Hochul, there is a lot of effort being made specifically right, to support and to really help dismantle some of some of the policies. Right, you know, that have been put into place. And so, you know, just growing and expanding. But I think it starts from the individual level and it kind of makes its way out.

00:09:57:23 - 00:10:22:19

Sidra Chaudhary

Right. So, it's like irrespective of who you are and what position you hold, it doesn't matter what your title is. We all have, you know, a collective responsibility. Those of us with lived experience and those of us without when it comes to disabilities around, you know, fostering that support, that empathy and leading with compassion and the belief that everyone deserves dignity and support, even if we don't understand the full experience.

00:10:22:23 - 00:10:29:04

Sidra Chaudhary

You know, we're all works in progress. That's what it's about. That's what it's about. Starting from. Yeah, yeah.

00:10:29:05 - 00:10:53:07

Erin Hogan

And I want to kind of build off that with my final question, which is just, you know, we all come from different lived experiences. We may have our own internal biases, inherent biases. What's one small thing that we can do to build a community where everyone feels truly accepted, valued, celebrated all of the things that we really want in a community, a modern day community.

00:10:53:09 - 00:11:00:02

Sidra Chaudhary

That's right, that's right. I mean, I'll say rather than one small thing, I have a few things.

00:11:00:04 - 00:11:02:05

Erin Hogan

I would expect nothing less Sidra.

00:11:02:07 - 00:11:20:11

Sidra Chaudhary

I’ll list them off really quick because it was really hard, you know, thinking about this question and kind of preparing for this conversation, it was really hard to just get it down to like one thing. But I did my best. So, I'll give you a few quick ones, right? I think I think I alluded to this earlier in some of your, you know, previous questions.

00:11:20:11 - 00:11:42:00

Sidra Chaudhary

And so I think in having conversations with folks who do identify as having a disability, you know, asking them, you know, what are some of the things that that that you believe that we can, we can do to support to be supportive, right, irrespective of who we are and what position we're in or where we're called to task.

00:11:42:01 - 00:12:01:23

Sidra Chaudhary

Right. And one of the immediate responses that I received was, you know, start by asking the person that is in front of you what they need, rather than making assumptions about what you think they need. Right. And I think part of that comes with meeting people where they are through that empathy and through that, you know, compassion.

00:12:01:23 - 00:12:22:09

Sidra Chaudhary

It's like, let's do our part to hold space right for everyone. Coming from a place of curiosity, I'm coming from a place of openness. Rather than jumping to conclusions about someone you know that is right in front of you, whether you know they have a visible disability or an invisible disability, whether they've disclosed to you or not disclosed to you.

00:12:22:09 - 00:12:44:05

Sidra Chaudhary

I think we have to be, you know, very mindful, right, about that assumptions component. It's like asking the individual that's going to be the biggest thing in that moment that we can do to be of support. The other thing, the other item that came to mind was, you know, just asking yourself the question of irrespective of what space I'm in.

00:12:44:05 - 00:13:01:11

Sidra Chaudhary

So let's say, you know, whether I'm a teacher in a school, you know, whether I'm a, you know, a member of a church, whether I am, you know, in the workspace at the Justice Center, I'm if I'm holding a meeting or if I'm, you know, gathering a group of people together, you know, our are our meetings, you know, welcoming and open.

00:13:01:11 - 00:13:22:12

Sidra Chaudhary

Are they accessible? Are they accessible to all people? Right. Not just a specific group of people, but all people. Right. Are, you know, in state government, I know this is something we're working towards, like, you know, are the things that we're posting on our websites accessible, right? Are they screen reader friendly? Right. Our events. Right. I think about our training team.

00:13:22:12 - 00:13:47:03

Sidra Chaudhary

I think about all of the things that happen on a statewide level. Are we planning our events with these things in mind? Right. With individuals who may have those accessibility needs and or are we are we designing things to be as accessible and as open to all as possible? The third thing on here is really just around, you know, challenging this concept of ableism, right?

00:13:47:04 - 00:14:05:23

Sidra Chaudhary

So, I think the easiest way to define ableism is like making an assumption that someone who has a disability needs to be fixed, right? That it's it's your job to fix them, or that they’re somehow limited right by the confines of whatever you think in terms of, you know, whatever disability. Again, it comes back to assumptions, right?

00:14:06:00 - 00:14:32:09

Sidra Chaudhary

Just like concepts of racism might lead us to make assumptions about a specific group of people. Ableism can do the same thing, right? So, it can feed into stereotypes and generalizations that people have made about individuals with disabilities. Right. Historically speaking. And then the last piece, and I promise this is the last one, comes directly from our state's chief disability officer.

00:14:32:11 - 00:15:04:09

Sidra Chaudhary

And in her work and in her team's work. This is Kim Hill. You know, I recently heard her on a podcast episode speaking to this month, speaking about Disability Pride. And, you know, the question was around disability etiquette, right? Like, what's a what's a good sort of easy, applicable strategy that we can all use, right. And her response was, you know, as someone who does have lived experience as an individual with disability, she says, treat everyone the same, right.

00:15:04:10 - 00:15:34:15

Sidra Chaudhary

So, treating an individual with a visible or invisible disability, the same as you would anybody. We are all people, right? It's always about putting the person first. Right. So, folks want to be acknowledged for who they are. And a lot of the times, you know, they may be perceived again, I don't want to speak for folks in the disability community, but, you know, if I can identify from sort of other angles, you know, we don't want people to define us based on what they assume about us, right?

00:15:34:16 - 00:15:55:06

Sidra Chaudhary

And so really, it's just one piece of who that individual is. So, if you if you identify as having a disability, that's just one part of who you are. Right. And so, we have to make sure that we're talking to the person first. That's what it's about right? Their disability does not define them. There are so many other components to who they are as the individual.

00:15:55:06 - 00:16:02:17

Sidra Chaudhary

That's that sitting across from us. So, that's my that's my quick four not the quick one but the quick four.

00:16:02:19 - 00:16:11:12

Erin Hogan

No, I love that. I mean, it almost becomes an existential crisis of like what is normal right? These days. I don't know that there. Yeah. Who gets to decide that? Yeah.

00:16:11:13 - 00:16:31:14

Sidra Chaudhary

Right. Who gets to define that? Who gets to decide that. And it's interesting because that that conversation, you know, we can thread it throughout our history, you know, as a nation of like, you know, how disability was defined and what, you know, in what ways individuals who did have disabilities were limited, you know, and continue to be limited, right.

00:16:31:15 - 00:16:56:04

Sidra Chaudhary

So, I think it's about who is defining the normal and what sort of parameters have been placed around that. So, it's a really I mean, that's a conversation that we could have probably for hours. You. I won't go I won't go too far into that. But yeah, you raise a really good point. It's what's considered normal and who gets to define that, you know, and my position will always be the person that is sitting with you.

00:16:56:05 - 00:17:08:17

Sidra Chaudhary

Just like I get to define what is my normal and what applies to my life and to my multiple identities. It's the same for the person sitting across from me, whether they have a disability or not. Right?

00:17:08:19 - 00:17:32:08

Erin Hogan

Correct. Well Sidra, thank you so much for joining us today. And I really appreciate you kicking off this discussion. And we're going to head to the Plaza for Disability Pride Month and interview some folks live on the scene. So, we'll follow this up with some lively discussion there. And yeah, I really appreciate you taking the time and hope to have you again soon.

00:17:32:10 - 00:17:34:18

Sidra Chaudhary

Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. Erin.

00:17:34:18 - 00:17:48:11

Erin Hogan

Thank you. Take care.

00:17:48:13 - 00:17:51:17

Erin Hogan

Hello, welcome! Can you do me a favor and tell us your name?

00:17:51:18 - 00:17:53:23

Anna DeRosa

Yes, my name is Anna DeRosa.

00:17:54:01 - 00:17:57:01

Erin Hogan

All right. And where are you joining us here from today?

00:17:57:03 - 00:18:01:18

Anna DeRosa

I'm joining from Albany. I work with the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

00:18:01:19 - 00:18:05:12

Erin Hogan

Thank you so much. And what does disability pride mean to you?

00:18:05:14 - 00:18:13:23

Anna DeRosa

I think to me it means bringing your authentic self to the table and not having to compromise any of that in your work.

00:18:14:03 - 00:18:18:18

Erin Hogan

Yeah. That's beautiful. That's beautiful. And can you tell us a little bit about your work with the CDD?

00:18:18:22 - 00:18:36:10

Anna DeRosa

Yeah, absolutely. So, we do a lot of advocacy. We work specifically with nonprofits, primarily through granting, but we also work directly with the community through our Advocacy Institute, have lots of opportunities for people with developmental disabilities as well.

00:18:36:12 - 00:18:40:11

Erin Hogan

Excellent. Well, thank you so much for joining us on Disability Pride.

00:18:40:13 - 00:18:42:10

Erin Hogan

Can you tell me your name?

00:18:42:12 - 00:18:53:00

Abelardo Taveras

My name is Abelardo Taveras I’m the president of Metro DSSO of self-advocacy in the in the five boroughs.

00:18:53:02 - 00:18:59:11

Erin Hogan

That's amazing. And can you do us a favor and tell us what disability pride means to you?

00:18:59:12 - 00:19:11:19

Abelardo Taveras

Mostly working for our working for our individuals and helping us build a better life.

00:19:12:00 - 00:19:19:00

Erin Hogan

I love that, I love that, and you're here today out on the plaza, and it's such a beautiful day and you're celebrating disability pride with us all.

00:19:19:02 - 00:19:28:22

Abelardo Taveras

Yes, it will help us bring positive life, positive everything, and mostly make us feel good.

00:19:29:02 - 00:19:32:09

Erin Hogan

Well, I agree, I couldn't have said it better. Thank you so much.

00:19:32:11 - 00:19:35:02

Erin Hogan

Hello. Thank you so much for joining us. Can you tell us your name?

00:19:35:03 - 00:19:37:08

Melanie Hecker

My name is Melanie Hecker.

00:19:37:10 - 00:19:45:23

Erin Hogan

Amazing. And you are decked out head to toe in disability pride. I mean, I'm loving it. Can you tell us about your outfit today? Who are you wearing?

00:19:46:01 - 00:20:10:07

Melanie Hecker

Sure. So on both my shirt and my hat, I have the disability pride flag. And the different stripes on the disability pride flag pertain to different disabilities. Whether it's red for physical, blue for psychiatric, green for developmental, and also white for invisible.

00:20:10:09 - 00:20:21:11

Erin Hogan

Amazing I love it. Yeah, we were just looking that up the other day and I love that. I love that each color represents something different. So, can you tell us what does disability pride mean to you?

00:20:21:13 - 00:20:55:21

Melanie Hecker

Disability pride means that while I encountered so many challenges and so much adversity. Growing up as a disabled person, I know that my experiences only made me stronger. Disability pride means acknowledging the proud history of our people, being proud of what we've accomplished in the passage of the ADA and the IDEA and every other legal safeguard we have and also making a commitment to fight for our future.

00:20:55:23 - 00:21:02:16

Erin Hogan

All right. Well, I'm voting for you. Thank you so much for joining us. And happy display pride.

00:21:02:17 - 00:21:04:17

Melanie Hecker

Happy disability pride. Thank you.

00:21:04:18 - 00:21:06:00

Erin Hogan

Can you tell us your name?

00:21:06:01 - 00:21:08:00

Clifton Perez

My name is Clifton Perez.

00:21:08:02 - 00:21:16:08

Erin Hogan

Great. Well, welcome here. And I hear that you were at the signing of the ADA. Can you tell me about that?

00:21:16:09 - 00:21:34:08

Clifton Perez

Yes, I was I was only maybe 3 or 4 rows away from the president. I had been doing a lot of work, obviously, on making society more accessible to people with disabilities, and did a lot of work to maximize the ability of the ADA to pass into law.

00:21:34:10 - 00:21:41:10

Erin Hogan

That's great. Well, thank you so much for your work on that. And we're asking everybody today. So, what does disability pride mean to you?

00:21:41:11 - 00:22:00:02

Clifton Perez

Well, what it means to me really is for me to be able to do whatever I want without having anything in the way, in terms of societal barriers, whether they'd be physical or even more importantly, attitudinal. So, when we get rid of those things physical, we've gotten rid of a lot of those because they're a visible obviously. Right.

00:22:00:03 - 00:22:20:06

Clifton Perez

But attitudinal things are not visible, and attitudinal things are the most important, because if the attitude was all right, then we wouldn't have to do with the physical, right? So, if you have to deal with the physical, and on the one hand, if you don't deal with the attitude, then the physical stuff will come back. And unfortunately, we are seeing some of that stuff coming back now.

00:22:20:08 - 00:22:22:10

Erin Hogan

Yeah, we have to continue to make progress, right?

00:22:22:10 - 00:22:36:15

Clifton Perez

Most definitely. It's a continuous fight and it's one that I think that people with disabilities. Let me say this carefully. We don't enjoy doing it, obviously, because we shouldn't have to do it at all. But we will step up and do step up when it's needed.

00:22:36:17 - 00:22:38:15

Erin Hogan

Great. Well, thank you so much for your time today.

00:22:38:16 - 00:22:40:21

Clifton Perez

You're very welcome. Have a great day yourself today.

00:22:40:22 - 00:22:41:12

Erin Hogan

You too.

00:22:41:13 - 00:22:45:06

Erin Hogan

All right. Well, thank you for joining us. Can you tell us your name?

00:22:45:08 - 00:22:46:16

Chester Finn

Chester Finn.

00:22:46:19 - 00:22:51:15

Erin Hogan

And Chester, I'm told you have a podcast of your own. Is that correct?

00:22:51:16 - 00:22:52:18

Chester Finn

Yes.

00:22:52:20 - 00:22:54:23

Erin Hogan

Can you tell me a little bit about that?

00:22:55:00 - 00:23:24:06

Chester Finn

It's called Accessing Life, and it's talking about different things that we experience in our lives and work situations. Fun, recreation. So, we want to bring to the community and to the people out there. You know what it's like in our lives so.

00:23:24:08 - 00:23:35:07

Erin Hogan

Well, that's amazing. I've seen it and it's wonderful. So, you do an amazing job and it was hard to even track you down. There are so many people snagging you. You're famous. I hope you know that.

00:23:35:09 - 00:23:43:04

Chester Finn

I just do what I have to do and just get to know people. I like people.

00:23:43:09 - 00:23:50:15

Erin Hogan

I like people too. So, can you answer one question for us? What does disability pride mean to you?

00:23:50:17 - 00:24:06:22

Chester Finn

It means being proud of who you are. A lot of people try to hide from you know who they are or having a disability, but you know you are who you are. And if you're not proud of yourself, who will be?

00:24:07:03 - 00:24:12:10

Erin Hogan

Well, that's a wonderful message. And thank you so much for joining us here. And happy disability pride.

00:24:12:15 - 00:24:13:16

Chester Finn

Oh thank you.

00:24:13:17 - 00:24:14:22

Erin Hogan

Can you tell us your name?

00:24:14:23 - 00:24:17:22

Stephanie Speaker

My name is Stephanie Speaker

00:24:18:00 - 00:24:23:07

Erin Hogan

Great. And so, I heard that you're getting a very special award today. Can you tell us about that award?

00:24:23:11 - 00:24:29:18

Stephanie Speaker

I'm getting Self advocate of the year award, Bernard Carabello.

00:24:29:19 - 00:24:30:19

Erin Hogan

You got it. Yeah.

00:24:30:20 - 00:25:00:09

Stephanie Speaker

And I been working on transportation for now for 13 years. It's going to be 13 in this coming January. It will be 13. I have been. I got a bill that Congress when Congressman Kennedy was a senator, he got me $750,000 for the bus company. Now I'm trying to get passed and I'm trying to get a new sponsor to take it on.

00:25:00:11 - 00:25:13:09

Erin Hogan

That is so great. And congratulations on this amazing honor today. I'm so excited for you. So, I bet disability pride means something special to you. Could you give us a little bit about what does disability Pride mean to you?

00:25:13:15 - 00:25:28:10

Stephanie Speaker

Disability pride is an important part of the disability community. A lot of people, they need disability pride. They don't know what services are out there for people with disabilities. So, disability pride helps a lot.

00:25:28:11 - 00:25:34:02

Erin Hogan

Well, thank you so much for your work and for spending a couple minutes with us today and I hope you enjoy.

00:25:34:04 - 00:25:35:00

Stephanie Speaker

Thank you.

00:25:35:03 - 00:25:36:14

Erin Hogan

Okay. Can you tell me your name?

00:25:36:14 - 00:25:37:22

Dylan Biddle

Dylan Biddle.

00:25:38:00 - 00:25:43:20

Erin Hogan

Hi, Dylan. Welcome today. Can you tell me a little bit about what brings you here today on the plaza.

00:25:43:22 - 00:25:46:23

Dylan Biddle

To support disability pride.

00:25:47:01 - 00:25:54:12

Erin Hogan

Well, thank you so much for coming out and showing your support. Can you tell me a little bit about what disability pride means to you?

00:25:54:14 - 00:26:01:06

Dylan Biddle

Disability pride means to me to help others achieve, to do what they want to do in life.

00:26:01:06 - 00:26:07:18

Erin Hogan

And I'm told you have a podcast yourself and have do artwork. Is that correct?

00:26:07:19 - 00:26:34:05

Dylan Biddle

I do a monthly newsletter that I send out every month with different. I interview people throughout the state and put jokes in there, put crafts, put information.

00:26:34:07 - 00:26:44:05

Erin Hogan

That's great. Well, thank you so much for spreading all the good word and for sharing some lightheartedness and levity and lives via your newsletter. And thanks for joining us today.

00:26:44:06 - 00:26:44:21

Dylan Biddle

You're welcome.

00:26:44:22 - 00:26:47:02

Erin Hogan

So can you do me a favor and tell me your name?

00:26:47:03 - 00:26:49:09

Shameka Andrews

My name is Shameka Andrews.

00:26:49:15 - 00:26:53:13

Erin Hogan

Well, Shameka, thank you so much for being here today. Can you tell us what brings you here?

00:26:53:15 - 00:27:10:09

Shameka Andrews

Well, I love being here at the Plaza, Empire State Plaza. I live right down the street, so I'm here every Wednesday for the farmer’s market. And I love the fact that today is also not only the farmer's market, but the ADA celebration. So that's why I'm here.

00:27:10:15 - 00:27:21:09

Erin Hogan

That's so great. Two of our best things all at once. Right. And we're asking everybody today and I'd love to ask you, what does disability pride mean to you.

00:27:21:14 - 00:27:34:20

Shameka Andrews

Disability pride to me just means looking back how far I've come and how we've come as a community and just celebrating. Just celebrating who we are and what makes us who we are.

00:27:34:23 - 00:27:41:21

Erin Hogan

That is so great and well. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us, and I hope you enjoy the farmer's market and get some goodies.

00:27:41:23 - 00:27:43:04

Shameka Andrews

Absolutely. Thank you so much.

00:27:43:09 - 00:27:44:22

Erin Hogan

Okay. Can you tell me your name?

00:27:44:23 - 00:27:47:13

Jill McManus

My name is Jill McManus from Troy.

00:27:47:15 - 00:27:53:20

Erin Hogan

Well, welcome Jill from Troy. Can you tell me a little bit about what brings you here today?

00:27:53:22 - 00:28:05:03

Jill McManus

Because I have disabilities, and I wanted to learn a lot of different things about disabilities and how to better myself and try to get myself more out there and meet other people.

00:28:05:05 - 00:28:11:10

Erin Hogan

That's great. Well, thank you so much for being here today. What does disability pride mean to you?

00:28:11:11 - 00:28:33:10

Jill McManus

It means everybody's included. Everybody. Everybody no matter what level disability you have, you can get together in you’re all included. I feel like the disability culture and community is like the best community ever. I feel like I'm home. Everybody gets along. You know, I find that people with disabilities are more can be more kind than other people without disabilities.

00:28:33:10 - 00:28:41:22

Erin Hogan

I agree, I agree, and far more welcoming. Right. Well thank you again for joining us and thanks for just stopping by and giving us a minute of your time.

00:28:42:02 - 00:28:45:13

Erin Hogan

All right. Well, thank you so much for joining us. Can you tell us your names?

00:28:45:14 - 00:28:47:19

Bin Feng

My name is Bin Feng.

00:28:47:20 - 00:28:49:20

Vincent Feng

My name is Vincent Feng.

00:28:49:22 - 00:28:54:13

Erin Hogan

Amazing. And I hear we're celebrating an award today. Is that correct?

00:28:54:14 - 00:29:02:04

Bin Feng

Yes I will. Got to the Willie Mae Goodman family advocacy award this year.

00:29:02:06 - 00:29:09:18

Erin Hogan

Amazing. Well, congratulations on that. And I bet you have some thoughts on our next question, which is what does disability pride mean to you?

00:29:09:20 - 00:29:27:02

Bin Feng

So, for me, very clearly the disability proud is because my son Vincent and a lot of people like Vincent. I'm very proud for them because they struggled a lot, but they achieve a lot. They are great, great human being. I'm very proud of them. Thank you.

00:29:27:02 - 00:29:31:14

Erin Hogan

And do you think, Vincent, you could give us an answer as well?

00:29:31:16 - 00:29:33:12

Bin Feng

What disability pride for you?

00:29:33:14 - 00:29:37:09

Vincent Feng

I get to work for eight years. That's also while my disability.

00:29:37:11 - 00:29:39:12

Erin Hogan

That's amazing. That's amazing. We love it.

00:29:40:08 - 00:29:45:04

Erin Hogan

Well, thank you so much for chatting with us and we appreciate your time and congratulations.

00:29:45:06 - 00:29:46:12

Bin Feng

Thank you.

00:29:46:14 - 00:29:49:13

Erin Hogan

All right. Well, thank you so much for joining. Can you tell us your name?

00:29:49:15 - 00:29:51:23

Sebi Kravitz

My name is Sebi.

00:29:52:01 - 00:29:54:11

Sebi Kravitz

I am 19 years old.

00:29:54:12 - 00:29:58:10

Erin Hogan

Okay. Can you tell me what disability pride means to you?

00:29:58:12 - 00:30:05:20

Sebi Kravitz

Disability pride to me. Proud of myself.

00:30:05:22 - 00:30:13:05

Erin Hogan

And are you an artist? Is that what I heard? What kind of art do you do?

00:30:13:07 - 00:30:16:10

Sebi Kravitz

I do the art exhibition.

00:30:16:12 - 00:30:23:19

Erin Hogan

Art is really special to you? Art is really special to me too. Well, thank you so much for coming out and joining us today.

00:30:23:21 - 00:30:25:11

Sebi Kravitz

Thank you.

00:30:25:13 - 00:30:27:20

Erin Hogan

Thank you. And happy disability pride.

00:30:27:21 - 00:30:30:14

Erin Hogan

Well, welcome. Can you tell us your name?

00:30:30:16 - 00:30:33:07

Maria Lisi-Murray

Hi. Good morning. I'm Maria Lisi- Murray,

00:30:33:07 - 00:30:38:04

Maria Lisi-Murray

the Acting Executive Director at the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.

00:30:38:04 - 00:30:48:03

Erin Hogan

Hi Maria, so glad to have you. Hello. We're going to ask you the same question we've been asking everybody. What does disability pride mean to you?

00:30:48:05 - 00:31:01:23

Maria Lisi-Murray

So, to me, Disability Pride is the celebration of all things that make us different. It's a celebration of the uniqueness of each individual and how that uniqueness adds towards our strength and should be celebrated.