DJ McDonald testifies on Cultural Accessibility NYC and disability justice

Good afternoon, Deputy Speaker.

Staff members, and all my friends, colleagues, and fellow art advocates.

DJ McDonald speaking, visual description, pale-faced male, shaved head and face, dark-rimmed glasses with blue arms, wearing a black bag over my shoulder.

Over a blue jacket with under over a white t-shirt with culture for all outlined in red.

Thank you for allowing me to testify.

You may know me from the dance parade which wheeled for the 21st year minus two virtual ones during the pandemic.

Will fill the streets of Manhattan and the whole of Tompkins Square Park on May 15th with the dancers of all five boroughs and beyond, representing the colorful diversity of cultures that constitute the dance community of our city.

Our work goes on year-round through the community engagement program in city schools, senior centers, recreation centers, and parks.

I want to thank the deputy.

Speaker, Chair, and Committee and members and staff.

I also appear today as the steering committee chair of the Cultural Accessibility New York City, or CANIC, project, currently completing its initial

research and planning phase and hoping to publish its findings and recommendations for furthering disability justice and cultural access for artists.

Culture workers and audiences across New York City's cultural landscape.

At least three of my colleagues and advisors working on this initiative also plan to testify in the course of this hearing.

We hope to demonstrate

That equitable access looms large in the shadow of the Create NYC plan and its subsequent action plan.

Here I want to pause and thank the Deputy Speaker for raising these aspects of the plan directly with the Commissioner during this hearing.

Canuck believes that if we collectively, with the help

of this and other committees, the council at large, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and other offices of the administration, our own arts organizations,

and philanthropic partners, if we can address the promises that

that fell through the original plan and action plan.

We can together try to reach their goals and recommendations to make disability justice and equity among the first and not the last considerations in approaching the possibilities inherited in the vast wealth

of our city's cultural landscape and heritage.

As a dancer aging as fast as nature makes necessary, this is as much an affordable, this is as this as much affordable space

will make this a more livable, colorful, and vibrant city we love for ourselves as well as many of our fellow New Yorkers as possible.

Thank you.