Hey everyone,
First, we want to thank every marcher, volunteer, marshall, and live stream viewer that joined us at this year’s disability pride march! We could not have imagined the support we received and are simply extremely grateful.
We have created a feedback form to find out what you thought of this year’s march; what you liked, what could be improved, etc. Please find the form below, and let us know if you need any help filling out the form.
Hey everyone,
We are seeking volunteers to help with postering and marshalling. If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering please get in touch on any of our social media accounts, our website, or email us at torontodisabilitypride@gmail.com. Please share the poster with your networks and join us July 15th,
In exactly one month, we march again!
-TDPM
Image Description:
Poster with text reading “Toronto’s 12th Annual Disability Pride March. July 15th, 2023. 1 pm to 4 pm. Marching 1.8 km from Queens Park at 110 Wellesley Street west, to the TMU Quad at 50 Gould Street. Accessible van and ASL interpreters will be available. Virtual live feed available on Facebook and Instagram @TorontoDisabilityPrideMarch. All disabled people and allies welcome! Please wear a mask!.”
The poster has an orange theme, with black text in the center on a light orange text box, and a black-and-white image of people marching in the background. At the bottom, there is the TDPM logo in the center, and TDPM is spelled out in ASL by four hands of diverse skin tones.
Hey everyone,
We’ve gotten some questions concerning the time of the marshall training, marshall trainings are at 2pm and 4pm. We’ve given two options but marshalls would only need to attend one of them, not both.
Excited to see you there,
-TDPM
Image Description: A square image with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame, surrounded by illustrated protesters. In the center is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the center reads “Marshall Training and Banner Making Party, June 10th 2023, North End of Trinity-Bellwoods Park (For Wheel-Trans: 257 Shaw St). Banner Making from 1-5 pm. Marshall Trainings at 2 pm and 4 pm.” On the right side of the main text, there is a green thought bubble with “join us” written inside.
Image Description: A square image with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame, surrounded by illustrated protesters. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the center reads “Marshall Training & Banner Making Party, June 10th 2023, 1-5pm, @ North End of Trinity-Bellwoods Park (For Wheel-Trans: 257 Shaw St). On the right side of the main text, there is a green thought bubble with “join us” written inside.
Image Description: Square image of a black and white photo of people marching, with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the center reads ” Save the Date! The Toronto Disability Pride March is Returning July 15, 2023 (In Person with Live Stream).”
Image Descriptions:
Image 1 of 2: Square image of a black and white photo of people marching, with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the centre reads ” Join Us!”
Image 2 of 2: Square image of a black and white photo of people marching, with an orange border and the TDPM logo in the bottom center of the frame. In the center, there is black text on a white background with an orange frame. The text in the centre reads “We are a march that is organized by disabled folks for disabled folks, so members of our organizing team must identify as disabled. We welcome those with invisible disabilities and/or those without a medical diagnosis! If you are passionate about disability justice and interested in organizing, please email us at torontodisabilitypride@gmail.com with your name, access needs, and availability for a Zoom meeting!”
We’d like to thank everyone who came out, spoke and supported us for our two virtual marched in 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 has definitely highlighted some of the challenges disabled people are facing, and it is really helpful to come together as a community.
We’re looking forward to coming together on the streets of Toronto in September 2022.
In the meantime, if you would like to connect with the Toronto Disability Pride March community, you can find us on our Facebook Group or Facebook Page.
Here are some other grassroots organizations doing amazing work:
Disability Justice Network Ontario
Hi everyone, Melissa here. A couple of months ago TDPM made the decision to hold this year’s march online on Saturday, September 19th. Although things seem to be opening up, keeping the march online this year still seems like the safest and most inclusive approach.
We’ve been asked a couple of times why the march does not take place on Disability Pride Day in July. I’d like to take a moment to address that, because I think it speaks to an important part of what TDPM stands for. Disability Pride Day was started in the United States as a celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a history of parades that followed its passing.
Perhaps it’s a worthy discussion whether there is some solidarity to be found in this celebration, but here are my thoughts. TDPM started out of the Occupy Movement, in direct contrast to the idea that government will save us out of the goodness of their hearts. In 2020, when disabled people are losing their lives to police violence and state neglect, this perspective seems critically important.
With that in mind, it also seems important that the voices we hear from be the voices most directly impacted by these issues. In other words, I’m asking any potential speaker who identifies as white, including myself, to step back and listen this year.
At the same time I recognize that those same voices do not have a responsibility to teach white people.
My question to the community is this, what do we need to say this year?If you’re interested in speaking, please contact me.
Dear Community Members,
We would like to take a moment to explain what happened with the ASL for the 2018 march, and express our regrets.
The Toronto Disability Pride March (TDPM) organizers had tried something new this year. We made a deal with the City that they would provide us with ASL and tokens in exchange for some of our speakers discuss the LEAG committee and its work.
We had set up a back-up plan for ASL, then cancelled it when the City told us they could follow through. We did not know there was a miscommunication until this year’s event began.
As such TDPM failed a significant portion of our community that relies on ASL for communication. We deeply regret that this occurred, and are taking steps to ensure that it does not happen again. It is unlikely that we would risk such a partnership with the City in the future without serious consideration and community input. At this time, we plan to fundraise for our own ASL supports for 2019 as we have in the past.’
We also recognize that it took longer than it should have to post this apology, and for that I take personal responsibility. I encourage anyone who wishes to respond to contact me directly.
Below is the response we received from the City of Toronto.
With our sincerest apologies.
Melissa Graham – Founder and co-organizer
Hi Kaarina and Kevin. [Two of our organizers.]
I am so sorry about the ASL interpretation mess up. In digging into what went wrong, it appears that despite confirming that they would be able to provide the service, the company that we contracted with was not able to come up with individuals who were available on Saturday.
The last minute notification only went to one of our support assistants by e-mail who happened to be off sick at the end of the week, and not you directly Kaarina, nor me, despite them having our contact information and the knowledge that the service was not being provided directly for the City but for TDPM. I would think at a minimum they would have alerted those who were actually organizing the event and were actively engaged in communication with, particularly as they were pulling out at the last minute?
This is truly unfortunate and we have learned an important lesson about the challenges of booking ASL interpretation. I just wish that that lesson wasn’t learned as a result of such a negative impact on your event.
Please accept our most sincere apologies that we couldn’t deliver successfully on our promise.
I’m glad to hear that despite this, the TDPM went off well and was a success. Look forward to hearing more about it and seeing the video once that is posted.
All my best,
Sean
Sean McIntyre
Policy Development Officer
Poverty Reduction Strategy
Social Policy, Analysis & Research
Social Development, Finance & Administration
City of Toronto
(416) 392-6488
At a press conference in Ottawa on August 14th, advocates released an open letter to Prime Minister Trudeau signed by over 170 organizations and prominent Canadians urging the Prime Minister to make good on his commitment to the right to housing by enshrining that right in upcoming National Housing Strategy legislation.
Over 150 individuals and organizations have endorsed the letter! You too can join the call.
Toronto Disability Pride March 
![2023 TDPM Poster [For Printing]](https://torontodisabilitypride.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/torontos-12th-annual-disability-pride-march-2023-poster-1.jpg){kind=link}