07/12/2025
We’re so excited to celebrate!
Come join us at the sixth annual NYC Disability Unite Music & Arts Festival which will take place online and at the Central Park Naumburg Bandshell (entrance on 72nd Street and 5th Avenue) on Sunday, July 13th from 11AM - 4PM rain or shine.
After 4PM the festival will be entirely virtual at https://disabilityunite.org/live-stream-center/.
For The Festival Map Text Description: https://tinyurl.com/DUMapInfo
For The Booth List: https://tinyurl.com/DUTables
For Festival Information and FAQ: https://tinyurl.com/DUFestivalFAQ
For the Festival accessible poster: https://tinyurl.com/DUPosterAccess
Disability Unite Festival’s motto is “For The Community, By The Community”. You are invited to advocate and share your expertise and lived experience. Many people from our community have expressed interest to broaden their “disability lens” to be educated about inclusion of all disabilities. Many city agencies and organizations are looking forward to the opportunity to connect with the communities they serve – going beyond just the distribution of literature – to actively engage in reciprocal sharing and learning.
We look forward to celebrating with you all but first there are some important details that you and everyone celebrating will need to know.
To welcome attendees wishing to socially distance, or if virtual is your preferred way to participate, the Festival will be livestreamed on our accessible Live Stream Center on DisabilityUnite.org
Getting to the In-Person Event
We recommend you coming to the Bandshell from the East side, rather than the West. It is more direct, and we will have folks there to assist.
Access-A-Ride
Call Access-A-Ride reservations 1 to 2 days in advance and share if you're going to “Disability Unite Festival in Central Park” (the exact address is 803 Terrace Dr, New York, NY 10021).
The number for reservations is 877-337-2017 and press prompt #2. If there are issues, ask to speak with a supervisor.
Subway Access (nearest accessible station)
72 Street (Q) or Lexington Avenue/63 Street (F,Q)
Bus Access
If you are planning on taking a bus, the BXM1, M1, M2, M3, M4 and M72 make stops in the immediate vicinity of the Central Park entrance closest to the Bandshell.
For additional accessible transportation assistance, refer to the MTA’s ‘Plan a Trip’ (https://new.mta.info/) search tool by putting in your location and checking the box for accessible trips.
Accessible Dispatch
TLC’s Accessible Dispatch, a service that provides wheelchair accessibility, has yellow and green taxis for trips originating anywhere in the 5 boroughs. Passengers pay the normal metered taxi fare in New York City from the point of pick-up to destination. There are no extra costs to passengers.
To Request an Accessible Taxi:
1. Download the mobile app “Accessible Dispatch NYC” in the Apple Store or on Google Play
2. Order online at mtm.ridewithzoom.com
3. Call the dispatch center directly: 646 – 599 – 9999
4. Call 311/NY and relay 711
For additional accessible transportation assistance download the MyMTA App at the Apple Store and on Google Play.
Travel Orientation Videos
Our festival tour guide, Michael Ring, has made a series of short videos to help you navigate your way to the Festival’s Central Park entrance.
Video #1: Arriving at the Festival (72nd St & 5th Avenue) https://youtu.be/K6CIm3VW7ZQ
Video #2:- Directions continued
https://youtube.com/shorts/YoYsiUeuqzA
Video #3 - We’re almost there…https://youtu.be/zwozaxJSdW0
There will be crossing guards present to assist at this cross walk.
Video #4 - You've arrived at the Festival! https://youtu.be/dt7NIRKSKiM
Here is the same information from the videos in text format
The best way to enter the festival is on East 72nd Street and 5th Avenue. After entering the park, follow the path and head West for about 1000 feet or roughly 2-3 short blocks. It’s best to follow the sidewalk which is on the right or the uptown side of the path. Continue to follow the path until you reach the first crosswalk. That should be only a block. There will be security guards present to assist with traffic. You need to be extremely careful crossing this street, and it's advised to cross with other visitors. The problem is that the bicycles that will be whirring by on a weekend may not abide by the crosswalk signals. Cross the street here and navigate the sidewalk about one more block. Bethesda fountain will be across the street on your right side. The festival will now be on your left side.
Accommodations
Listed below are the accommodations available at the festival, with no request needed. Please let us know of any additional accommodations you may need at the festival. Learning each other’s preferences is how the community grows together.
- There will be ASL interpreters as Communication Access Realtime Translation (C.A.R.T.), for all announcements and performances that will be on stage, and broadcasted online for virtual attendees.
- Additional ASL interpreters will be present at the first Information Booth when you enter the Festival area.
- Audio Description will also be provided on the Disability Unite livestream.
- A Quiet Area will be available at the Central Park Bandshell for people who just want to escape from the noise and crowd or for neurodivergent visitors who have sensory needs.
The day of the festival we will have a limited number of tactile maps available at the Information Booth. Please email disabilityunite@gmail.com to reserve a tactile map beforehand.
Arrival
- Once you arrive at the festival you are not required to sign in.. There will be two information booths at the entrance to the Bandshell area (marked on map and in text description) to share information and guide people to where they want to go and to give general information about the festival.
Food & Drink
- There will not be any food at the festival, but you are more than welcome to bring your own. Participants are welcomed to bring their own picnic blanket.
Heat
- The current weather forecast is low 72° high 84°, so dress for a warm summer day and bring your own container for water. There will be free water stations available to refill containers.
- Keep in mind, there’s a fully shaded area in the bandshell vicinity near Literary Walk.
- Let others know if they appear to have a heat problem, or any other medical emergency. There is an ambulance close by that is air conditioned, so please inform staff if you or others feel unwell.
Reminders
- There will be several photographers/videographers from news outlets photographing the festival. By being present in the festival, you are granting your consent that photographs, video and/or voice recordings, and/or your biographical information can be used for print, television, radio, website and social media postings for the purposes of promoting the Disability Unite Festival and Project Access for All.
Leaving No Trace and Cleaning up after ourselves.
Please help us care for the environment and show appreciation to our hosts at the Parks Department by recycling water bottles and leaving the space cleaner than we found it.
Post- Festival Feedback Loops
Feedback Form
After the Festival, attendees that have registered will receive an email from us. A form to share feedback about your experience, including ways to join teams putting together Festival 2026. If you’d like to receive these Feedback Form you can register here:
Attendees register at no cost: https://tinyurl.com/DUFestival2025
Social Media
Finally, we want to share the 2025 NYC Disability Unite Festival with the world, in order to do that we need your help. On the day of the festival, please post any photos or videos of the festival with the hashtag !
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram , and on Twitter .
Without you, there is no us.
We appreciate the time and expertise of new friends we’ve met in Zoom meetings who’ve teamed up from Project Access for All’s disabled and non-disabled allied communities, City Agencies and Winick Productions.
You can still sign up to be a volunteer here (sign up here - https://tinyurl.com/5b2rd4bj) , and be prepared to arrive at the Bandshell on July 13th at 10 AM!
For any additional questions please send an email to disabilityunite@gmail.com or call 212-334-8721 to leave a message and we will reply at our earliest opportunity.
See you on July 13th, either online, or rain or shine!
