Advocates march to celebrate Disability Pride in Durham

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Dozens of people in Durham celebrated Disability Pride Month and capped it off with a parade through downtown. Organizers said Disability Pride events have existed for decades, but Saturday’s event was only the second one in Durham.

Organizer Tatum Tricarico said July, Disability Pride Month, commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.

“We celebrate disability pride as kind of an addition onto that, to celebrate the culture of disabled people and the really powerful history of the disability community that fought for the ADA and the 504 and other laws,” Tricario said.

Tricarico said the event celebrates the disabled community.

“Disability isn’t something to be ashamed of or something to hide or even necessarily to want fixed,” she said.

She added it is also an opportunity to help them access resources like housing, health care and voter registration.

“They’re adults just like we are. And they’re still trying to live and thrive,” said supporter Denelle Ryan.

Ryan lives with her partner and her partner’s brother who has Down syndrome.

“I live in the North Street Neighborhood, which is a neighborhood in Durham that was redeveloped just for families and people who want to support people with special needs,” she said.

Ryan said events like Saturday’s can remind people the disabled community exists and has a lot to offer.

“Just because they may not have a degree in engineering doesn’t mean they can’t be a really awesome barista,” she said. “Each one of these people should be proud to be who they are. And if that’s disabled, that’s disabled. It doesn’t make it not hard, but it doesn’t make it not beautiful either.”

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