Guest:  Dan Colpoys

Topic:  Virtual Disability Pride Celebration Week

Duration:  5:49

Published: 7/15/2021

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Dan Colpoys, Chief Community Engagement Officer of WNYIL and your host is yours truly Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Dan.

Guest:  Hello there, Ernie, thanks for having me.

Host:  Our pleasure. And you were with us just a few weeks ago to talk about the Disability Pride Celebration Week more as a keep the dates on your calendar in mind, because much was still had to be set up at that point. As it's just a matter of days away now, I believe you can give us some more information that will hopefully persuade people that this is one virtual activity they don't want to miss. For the benefit of people who didn't catch that first program, what is the purpose of Disability Pride Celebration Week?

Guest:  Disability Pride is a celebration of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That was signed on July 26, 1990 which made discrimination against people with disabilities illegal. So, to recognize that historic landmark legislation, WNYIL along with several other community partners, every year we have a Disability Pride. And this year will be a virtual activity, as we're still wrestling with COVID, and all the restrictions and precautions are met. But certainly, we expect next year to be back for typical historical in person and activities. But for this year we will have a virtual Disability Pride. Starting on July 26 and running all the way through July 30. There will be different activities and entertainment and speakers and presentations, morning, afternoon and night, all five days of the week. So we're excited to talk about that here today to get the word out further so people can tune in and find out more about the ADA and civil disability rights movement, and where we were at, where we came from, where we're at now, and they'll certainly be a lot of other interesting, cool, fun activities as well that week.

Host:  And I believe that you've established two different avenues that people can connect to these virtual activities. You can repeat them at the end of the show but if you could give them a mention now.

Guest:  Sure, they will be shown on Disability Pride WNY, which is the Facebook page for Disability Pride. And if you don't have a Facebook account, you can also see the week's activities on WNYIL’s YouTube page. So, if you go to YouTube and do a search for WNYIL, you'll come to our page and you'll be able to see those activities on YouTube as well.

Host:  And since you've got activities all day long, I presume that at least some of them will be available after traditional working hours in the form of podcasts?

Guest:  Yes, so we'll have programming throughout the day, all five days, Monday through Friday, the 26th through the 30th. There will be a morning session, an afternoon session, and an evening session so if people are working or going to school or doing other activities at different points in time during the day, certainly at some point they'll be able to catch some of the Disability Pride program.

Host:  And on the Disability Pride Facebook page, people will get an idea of what some of the special interest activities are such as young people with disabilities, and whatnot. So, if you could tell people again, how they can access it, and how they can reach you for more information.

Guest:  Certainly, and before that I certainly want to recognize some of our sponsors, Independent Consumer Advocacy Network, National Grid, Independent Health, and People, Inc; they all played a significant role in helping us get this event, under way. And just to repeat the venues where people can see the weeks’ worth of program, it's Disability Pride WNY on Facebook, and WNYIL’s YouTube page, so go to YouTube and search for WNYIL.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us Dan.

Guest:  My pleasure Ernie.

Host:  You’ve been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Dan Colpoys, Chief Community Engagement Officer of WNYIL, and I've been your host, Ernie Churchwell.