Disability Pride Parade 2023

As a bit of a throwback to an event that I had attended earlier last year, the disability pride parade was one of my favorite events as of recently. Myself and my partner lined up, waiting for the March to begin. I was greeted by many friends and advocates who I met throughout the years. Everybody was very clearly excited and the weather was honestly in a very good place. I felt the usual amount of pride and happiness as we began the march, so many different groups within the crowd were chanting different mantras and the names of their organizations, letting the streets of New York know exactly who we were and why we were here.

It’s always an interesting observation to see many of the able-bodied people around the city, looking upon us, almost remembering that disabled people had existed in the first place. I don’t say it aggressively or rudely, but it’s always important that people are reminded that we are also here, and that we are to be seen as we are heard.

Toward the end of the March, everyone got together to take pictures and mingle. I had the pleasure of meeting up once again with Khalia Hayslett, Miss wheelchair New York 2023, whom I had interviewed earlier this year on Instagram live. I’ve had a lot of admiration towards her, and all of her advice and assistance that led up to me winning Ms wheelchair in New York was always fresh in my brain.

I was also given the pleasure of meeting this wheelchair of America and chatting with her for a bit. It was such an exciting time for mingling and great conversation, but also our ability to be seen within the city. The many advocacy groups that I had marched with reminded me that there’s so many people in on the fight for the recognition of disabled people everywhere. I held a lot of pride that day not only in what I do but what many people are attempting to do on a regular basis, and I hope that all of these groups continue to fight and to educate!

We’re all in this together,

Amar Sharif