Become a Volunteer with Disability Pride NYC at the 2025 Disability Pride Parade and Festival or year-round!

Volunteers are appreciated for these responsibilities

Choose the role that suits you best!

Volunteer Roles:

• Creative Volunteers

  • • • Performers and Artists: Entertain and engage attendees through music, dance, visual arts, or other creative performances.

      • Costumed Volunteers: Each of the 10 blocks of the parade will represent one decade, with the first block being the 1920s and the last being the 2020s. Costumed volunteers will dress in accordance with the decade of their block.

      • Dance Troupes: Perform dance routines to entertain and energize the crowd. Some of these will be available on YouTube prior to the parade for the general public to learn.

      • Freestyle Dancers: Showcase your unique talent and engage attendees with interactive dance performances.

      • Parade DJs: Play music through speakers to keep the parade lively.

      • Marching Bands: March along the parade route while performing live music.

• Accessibility and Information

  • • • Certified ASL Interpreters: Provide Sign Language interpretation to ensure accessibility for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees. 

      • Information Booth Volunteers: Stationed at the information booth during the Union Square portion, volunteers will answer questions about the event and assist parade participants by providing water at designated water stations. 

      • Block Coordinators or (Section Captains): Help organize the designated block, lead, and communicate with the particular block volunteers.

• Logistics

• Photographers and Videographers: Help record the parade for online viewers, and capture photos and videos of elected officials, city agency representatives, parade-goers, and performers. 

• Social Media Influencers: Actively promote the parade online and share photos, videos, and updates.

• Arts and Decor Volunteers: Create and manage visual displays, decorations, and elements of the parade.

• Judge Assistants: Support judges by organizing materials, recording scores, and helping the participants as needed

• Public Engagement Volunteers: Interact with members of the general public and encourage them to watch the parade

• Spectators: Enjoy!! Participate actively, cheer, and support parade blocks.

• Production Team: Experienced production team members to keep the program on time. Coordinate parade timeline and flow, troubleshoot any technical or logistical issues.

"Remember to Have Fun, Spread Joy, and Make Amazing Memories!"

Share how you'd like to contribute on the volunteer form.

General Volunteer Opportunities | Available Anytime from 9:30 AM - 3 PM 

Accessibility and Information

• Certified ASL interpreters: Additional ASL Support is Welcome.

Logistics

• Photographers and Videographers: Help record the parade for online viewers, and capture photos and videos of elected officials, city agency representatives, and all participating parade groups. 

 
9:30 AM - 11 AM | Information Table and Side Streets – Madison Square Park

Roles for Volunteers:

Creative Volunteers

• Performers and Artists: Visit side streets to engage with groups waiting for the parade to begin, fostering excitement and community connection. 

• Costumed Volunteers: Dress according to their block’s theme and take assigned positions along the parade route. 

Accessibility and Information

• Information Booth Volunteers: Provide line-up and logistics information at the information booth and help direct groups along side streets. A Zoom training session will be held prior to the parade. 

• Block Coordinators: Each block will have two coordinators collaborating with the Art Beyond Sight team to ensure communication and organization

Note: Volunteers stationed along the parade route will receive a colored shirt (or a themed item if dressed by era) to identify their assigned block. 

10:30 AM | Press Remarks by parade organizers, several citywide elected officials and Grand Marshals

Roles for Volunteers:

Logistics

• Social Media Influencers: Hold and post interviews with officials and Grand Marshals.

• Organizers to gather stakeholders for a photo and then move to the area to kick-off the parade on time.

• Photographers and Videographers: Capture key speakers as they give their remarks as well as audience reactions

• Photographers and Videographers: Capture and share photographs of elected officials and city agencies. 

11 AM | Parade Starts

Route: Madison Square Park → Broadway → Union Square Park

Union Square: Participants gather to celebrate Disability Pride together! 

Along the parade route: 

• A designated Community Viewing Area will be available for non-marching attendees on Broadway between 21st and 22nd Street. 

Roles for Volunteers:

*Folding chairs are available per chair and must be reserved and paid for in advance.  - Folding chairs are available by reservation and must be reserved in advance. *

Creative Volunteers

• Costumed Volunteers: Dress in attire that reflects the decade their block represents (ex: Bell-bottoms for the 1970s) and help energize the crowd with dancing and enthusiasm. They may also provide information on the members of the disability community identified as influential in the decade.

• Dance Troupes: Volunteer dance groups (likely preexisting) will perform choreographed routines that reflect the theme of their assigned block(s). Each troupe will perform once unless additional performances are needed. These performances will take place intermittently throughout the parade.

• Parade DJs: Play music through speakers to entertain and energize the audience while supporting the parade's inclusive and celebratory atmosphere.

• Marching Bands: March along the parade route performing live music, keeping in rhythm with fellow band members, and maintaining a lively atmosphere. These volunteers will likely be from preexisting groups.

Accessibility and Information

• Information Booth Volunteers: Control the flow of marchers and direct each group. 

• Block Coordinators (2 per block): Oversee the activities within your assigned block and provide regular updates to the Art Beyond Sight team.

Logistics

• Art and Decor: Help with creative activities such as face painting.[vague idea of adding a huge canvas for participants to add notes, drawings, and post-it notes. Promoting on social media pages.]

• Photographers and Videographers: Capture the spirit of the event by taking photos and videos of the parade, parade-goers, and volunteers. 

• Spectators: Stand or sit along the parade route and watch the parade.

• Judges Assistants: Support judges during contests by managing the fast-paced flow of numerous participants.

Judges Review Stand (Broadway between 21st and 22nd street)

Awards will be given for

• Best Float.

• Best Performance (while moving down the street)

• Best Costumes

• Most Spirit

12:00 PM |Community Gathering – Union Square Park

Tabling by organizations, corporations and City Agencies, performances, and community engagement activities. 

Roles for Volunteers:

Creative Volunteers

• Freestyle Dancers (10 people): Dance near the front of the stage to the live music

• Costumed Volunteers: Dress in clothing appropriate for their block's decade and work to create a fun energy during the gathering.

Accessibility and information

• Arts and Decor Volunteers: Lead activities in the arts and crafts booth. Specific activities TBA.

Logistics

• Information Booth Volunteers: Assist organizations in finding their table location, answer questions, and share resources. Direct parade-goers to the stage at the end of the parade.

12:30 PM | Remarks by parade organizers, several citywide elected officials, and Grand Marshals (repeat and additional of earlier remarks)

Roles for Volunteers:

Creative Volunteers

• Performers and Artists: Engage with communities throughout Union Square and guide the parade with announcements and spotlight special guests. 

Accessibility and information

• Accessibility Volunteers: Direct people to the Quiet Area and ASL Interpreters and answer accessibility questions.

• Information Booth Volunteers: Remain at the information booth to answer questions about the event and provide parade participants with water at designated water stations.

Logistics

• Production Team: Experienced production team members to keep the program on time. Coordinate parade timeline and flow, troubleshoot any technical or logistical issues.

• Public Engagement Volunteers: Interact with members of the general public and encourage them to watch the speeches.

• Photographers and Videographers: Capture key speakers as they give their remarks as well as audience reactions.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Music and dance performances 

Roles for Volunteers:

Creative Volunteers

• Freestyle Dancers: Dance near the front of the stage to live music. These volunteers will switch off every 15 minutes.

• Performers and Artists: Engage with communities throughout Union Square and guide the parade with announcements and spotlight special guests. 

Accessibility and information

• Accessibility Volunteers: Direct people to the Quiet Area and ASL Interpreters and answer accessibility questions.

• Information Booth Volunteers: Remain at the information booth to answer questions about the event and provide parade participants with water at designated water stations.

Logistics

• Photographers and Videographers: Capture photos and videos of performers and artists on stage. 

• Production Team: Experienced production team members to keep the program on time. Coordinate parade timeline and flow, troubleshoot any technical or logistical issues.

• Social Media Influencers: Record performances and create content to boost engagement.

• Public Engagement Volunteers: Interact with members of the general public and encourage them to watch the performances.

Block-by-Block Volunteer Breakdown

Block 1: 1920s–30s 

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 2: 1940s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 3: 1950s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 4: 1960s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 5: 1970s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 6: 1980s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 7: 1990s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 8: 2000s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 9: 2010s

• 2 Block Coordinators

Block 10: 2020s

• 2 Block Coordinators