Anchorage Disability Pride celebration set for Saturday at Delaney Park Strip

A free Disability Pride celebration is set for Anchorage's Delaney Park Strip this Saturday, July 25, from noon to 4 p.m., marking 36 years since President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. The event is hosted by Disability Pride Alaska at the park strip on W 9th Avenue.

The celebration includes food, games, music, and a petting zoo. An American Sign Language interpreter will be on site for Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees. Admission is free.

The Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution July 7 recognizing July 26 as the ADA's 36th anniversary. Assembly Member Kameron Perez-Verdia, who read the resolution, noted that "whereas 1 in 4 Americans living with a disability have expanded opportunities due to the ADA, reducing barriers, changing perceptions, and increasing full participation in the community." The resolution named several Anchorage-area organizations working toward disability equality, including the Arc of Anchorage, the Alaska Deaf Council, Access Alaska, and the Disability Law Center.

The Alaska Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education distributed notice of the event through state channels. Perez-Verdia also noted a Disabilities Expo Day at the Alaska State Fair on August 24 and 25 as a further community observance.

Organizers can be reached at 907-250-3742 or [email protected].