VIEW LARGER An attendee is attempting to block a basketball from scoring mid-air at Tucson's first Disability Pride Celebration in Udall Park on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports brought in wheelchairs as well as other equipment for Tucsonans to try adaptive sports for the first time. Tucson will celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday, Dec. 3rd with the city’s second annual Disability Pride Day.
Ward 2 council member Paul Cunningham’s personal connections with disabilities are a driving force behind the event. As an adaptive physical education teacher in the Tucson Unified School District, he says part of his inspiration for starting Tucson’s first disability pride event came from his students.
“I learn more from my students than they learn from me,” he said.
His Community Outreach Coordinator Chris Desborough is also hearing and visually impaired, and Cunningham said hearing about Desborough's experience as a disabled Tucsonan educated him immensely.
Last year’s initial event captured an atmosphere of celebration, including poetry that shared several individual’s experiences with ableism, and musical performances from artists with disabilities.
The success of last year prompted the Ward 2 staff to relocate to the Tucson Convention Center for 2023. Cunningham said they are expecting up to 3,000 people.
Visitors can expect some of the same and more at this year’s event, including a full entertainment lineup on the Differently Abled Entertainment Stage, an adaptive sport activity area, and over 60 vendors specializing in disability resources.
Cunningham said he wants days like Disability Pride to help people feel proud of who they are.
“For so long there was somewhat of a stigma discussing people with disabilities, having people discuss their disability…it shouldn't be there, those barriers should be down. I want people to be proud, I want people to know that anything is possible and I want people to feel celebrated,” he said.
Audio Transcript:
Hannah Cree 0:00 - 0:07
Tucson will celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday with the city’s second annual Disability Pride Day.
Hannah Cree 0:07 - 0:21
Tucson’s Ward 2 Council Member Paul Cunningham a driving force behind the event. As an adaptive physical education teacher in the Tucson Unified School District, he says part of his inspiration for starting Tucson’s first disability pride event came from his students.
Paul Cunningham: 0:21 - 0:24
I learn more from my students than they learn from me.
Hannah Cree 0:24 - 0:54
Cunningham’s current Community Outreach Director Chris Desborough is hearing and visually impaired, and helped Cunningham launch the event last year.
It turned out to be such a success that Ward 2 expanded to the Tucson Convention Center for 2023. Cunningham estimates they’re expecting as many as 3,000 people on Sunday.
Visitors can expect a full entertainment lineup filled with artists with disabilities, an adaptive sport activity area, and over 60 vendors specializing in disability resources, which are all things Cunningham hopes is helping to reverse the stigma over disabilities.
Paul Cunningham 0:54 - 1:01
I want people to be proud, I want people to know that anything is possible and I want people to feel celebrated.
Hannah Cree 1:01 - 1:07
Disability Pride Day is open to the public on Sunday from eleven am to seven pm.
I’m Hannah Cree, AZPM News.
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