Disability advocates shared stories of lived experience, inclusion and public policy Saturday afternoon to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the third annual Disability Pride celebration.
Dozens gathered at the Lawrence Public Library to hear the speakers, build community and hear a demonstration of Adaptive Use Musical Instruments. AUMI is software that allows users to create music through their movements.
Lorraine Cannistra spoke about disability pride and the importance of celebrating inclusion.
She shared about the history of the disability pride flag, a symbol of solidarity, pride and acceptance. It features five diagonal stripes representing five different types of disabilities and a black background commemorating those who have died.
“People with disabilities get up every morning and do what they need to do in order to live the best lives possible given the cards they’ve been dealt,” Cannistra said. “They do so in a society that wasn’t built for people with disabilities, and in a body that doesn’t always work the way they want.”
Cannistra has been a disability advocate for years and is the author of a book on disability inclusion. She was crowned Ms. Wheelchair in 2007.
According to the CDC, disability affects 26% of the population. Cannistra said that almost everyone will experience the impact of disability, either themselves or in a relative or friend.
Local advocacy can improve accessibility
Dot Nary celebrated the work of local disability advocates who have spurred changes at the local level that have helped knock down barriers for those with disability.
Nary — who holds a doctoral degree from KU and worked at the university for more than two decades, mostly in research — lobbied for the passage of the ADA.
“When things are accessible, it’s better for everybody,” she said. “Our job is to eliminate barriers so that everybody can participate.”
Nary listed some examples of local changes that have made Lawrence and Douglas County more accessible. She thanked the county for the ongoing creation of an accessible kayak launch on Lone Star Lake. She suggested the city sponsor bus trips to help people take advantage of the kayak launch. She praised the Lawrence Loop trail network, but pushed for the addition of more benches.
She shared about a Department of Transportation Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant the city applied for to improve accessibility of all sidewalks and curb ramps over a 20-year period. But the grant was recently frozen due to a restructuring of federal grants aimed at deemphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion language.
She also referenced the Kansas Legislature passing “Kathy’s Bill,” which would give people with intellectual and developmental disabilities preference in hiring, promotion and retention for state government jobs. The bill is named after Lawrence self-advocate Kathy Lobb.
Karrie Shogren is the director of the KU Center on Disabilities. She said ableism is deeply rooted in society. She shared about the impact of policy.
And Ray Petty, a longtime advocate, briefly spoke about the ADA. Petty also emceed the event. He strongly urged attendees to vote and pressure lawmakers to press for accessibility.
‘We’re all human’
A panel of local advocates shared their own lived experiences with disabilities: Tamara Blackwell, Ms. Wheelchair America 2025; Phillip McGruder, a member of the Self-Advocate Coalition of Kansas; Rick McNabb, an advocate who had a brain aneurysm 15 years ago; and Darby Bates, a sophomore at Free State High School who was diagnosed in 2018 with Leigh Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease.
Blackwell said disability pride means embracing her authentic self.
“All I know is to live with it, because I’ve done so my whole 41 years of life,” she said.
They discussed the way the ADA has impacted their lives and helped them excel in their school, work and personal lives.
McNabb said there are things he didn’t see before his disability that he sees now.
He highlighted the value of being able to vote and it being an accessible practice. He got emotional sharing the way small changes spurred by the ADA can make life more accessible.
They shared actions people can take to fight ableism. Bates said oftentimes people assume he needs help when he usually doesn’t.
Blackwell said people with disabilities don’t need pity. She encouraged people to simply be kind.
“We’re all human, but we’re all different and we all carry our things,” Blackwell said. “I just wish that people would look at us as the same.”
McGruder said every disability is different and urged people to learn more about different disabilities.
“For us to understand disability, we must sit down and stop assuming,” he said. “Sit down and come to the table and listen to those folks.”
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Cuyler Dunn (he/him), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since April 2022, is a student at the University of Kansas School of Journalism. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School where he was the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Budget, and was named the 2022 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year. Read his complete bio here. Read more of his work for the Times here.
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