The Disabilities Pride NYC parade will hold its inaugural procession this July in the Big Apple. Its founder, renowned jazz pianist Mike LeDonne, was inspired to hold this event by his daughter Mary, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome and is developmentally disabled and blind. Despite her handicaps, she possesses a genius for jazz music, which Mr. LeDonne noticed when she took her first steps towards the Steinway piano.
Wherever he went with his daughter, Mr. LeDonne received remarks of sympathy and pity from strangers. In an attempt to eliminate these stereotypes, he initially created a facebook group to gauge interest and contacted his musician friends. Together, they decided to donate a concert, called the Jazz Legends for Disability Pride, which will take place at the Quaker Friends Meeting Hall near Gramercy Park. Before he knew it, Mr. LeDonne received approval and assistance from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.
I will definitely be trying to make some time in the summer to participate in this event. Hopefully, people, after this march, will learn to view and treat their disabled brothers and sisters without pity.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/nyregion/song-and-daughter-inspire-plans-to-celebrate-people-with-disabilities.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/nyregion/song-and-daughter-inspire-plans-to-celebrate-people-with-disabilities.html?_r=0
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