Block Themes:

1. Block 1 (E 24th - 23rd): Community and History 

We remember. We rise. We show up for each other.

Disability pride begins with community, connection, interdependence, and mutual support.

This block celebrates the people and communities that make room for one another, share resources, organize together, and ensure that no one has to participate alone.

The themed experience might highlight mutual-aid networks, neighborhood groups, families, friends, caregivers, service providers, community organizations, or other examples of people showing up for one another

2. Block 2 (E 23rd - 22nd): Culture

Our culture is power.

Disability culture is creative, political, joyful, diverse, and essential to the life of our city.

This block centers disabled artists, performers, musicians, writers, athletes, cultural workers, and creators.

The themed experience might include art, music, dance, fashion, costumes, sports, storytelling, humor, food traditions, and other expressions of disability culture and identity.

3. Block 3 (E 22nd - 21st) : Sport, recreation and Health

We move, play, and thrive together.

Sport, recreation, and health are part of community life, connection, and joy. This block celebrates disabled athletes, adaptive sports, accessible recreation, movement, wellness, and the spaces and opportunities that support disabled people in living full and active lives.

The themed experience might include adaptive sports demonstrations, accessible games and recreation, dance, movement activities, disabled athletes and coaches, or information about accessible parks, fitness, healthcare, and wellness. It could also highlight the barriers that limit participation in sport, recreation, and health—and the people and communities working together to remove them.

4. Block 4 (E 21st - 20th): Access

Access is a right—and something we build together.

Access is more than compliance or a checklist. It is an ongoing practice that allows people to participate with dignity, choice, safety, and autonomy.

This block highlights accessible transportation, voting, education, employment, healthcare, housing, culture, technology, recreation, public spaces, communication, and emergency planning.

The themed experience might demonstrate an access innovation, celebrate an access victory, identify an existing barrier, or share a specific change that government, businesses, institutions, or communities should make.

5. Block 5 (E 20th - 19th) : Belonging

We belong without having to change who we are.

Belonging means more than being invited into a space. It means being respected, valued, welcomed, and able to participate fully.

Disabled people should not have to hide our disabilities, minimize our access needs, or be grateful simply for being included.

The themed experience might share messages about friendship, welcome, identity, faith, family, language, neighborhood life, intergenerational connection, and what genuine belonging looks and feels like.

6. Block 6 (E 19th - 18th) : Justice

Disability justice moves all of us forward.

Disability justice recognizes that disability intersects with race, gender, sexuality, age, immigration status, economic inequality, and other lived experiences.

This block centers people and communities most affected by exclusion and systemic barriers.

The themed experience might highlight disability rights, accessible voting, housing, education, employment, healthcare, transportation, deinstitutionalization, community living, economic justice, or another issue requiring continued action.

Pride and advocacy belong together. Signs and displays may celebrate progress, name continuing barriers, and call for concrete change.

7. Block 7 (E 18th - 17th): Solidarity and Disabled Leadership 

Disabled people lead. Solidarity builds power.

Disabled people must be at the center of decisions that affect our lives.

This block celebrates disabled leadership and the power created when communities work across disabilities, generations, identities, organizations, neighborhoods, and sectors.

Non-disabled allies, government agencies, businesses, institutions, and community partners are welcome to participate by listening, collaborating, following disabled leadership, and making meaningful commitments.

The themed experience might recognize disabled leaders, show partnerships across communities, make a public commitment, or demonstrate what solidarity looks like in action.

8. Block 8 (Union Square Park/ E 16th) : The Future and Joy 

Together we build the future.

The final block leads into the Disability Pride Block Party at Union Square Park.

This block celebrates imagination, friendship, creativity, technology, opportunity, participation, movement, music, color, laughter, and joy.

Joy is not separate from disability justice. Joy helps sustain our communities, affirm our lives, and imagine futures beyond survival and accommodation.

The themed experience might share what we want the future to look like through art, ideas, costumes, performances, inventions, dreams, and celebrations that help us begin building it now.