Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Attendees of the event enjoyed food, music and games as they celebrated disability and pride next to the Queens College Student Union building.

There were plenty of activities, games and more available at the barbecue. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

“CDS is pleased to work with the Office of Student Life and members of the College Administration in bringing this event to fruition,” Committee for Disabled Students of Queens College President Jocelene Ramnanan said. It’s quite an undertaking and requires a team effort.”

Committee for Disabled Students of Queens College President Jocelene Ramnanan at the barbecue. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

The barbecue began with opening remarks from Queens College alumnus and CCSD Vice Chair of Public Service Arturo Soto.

Committee for Disabled Students of Queens College President Jocelene Ramnanan and CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities Vice Chair of Public Service Arturo Soto. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

“On behalf of CCSD, I want to thank all of you for traveling from all across the city to celebrate with us today, especially our students,” Soto said. “This weekend marks the 36th anniversary of the ADA, a federal civil rights landmark that protects the rights of people with disabilities in America. We use this occasion to renew our commitment to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, especially students with disabilities at CUNY. CCSD, CDS and other disability groups throughout the university do just that on a daily basis. We are proud to work with our university leadership in implementing innovative programs like CUNY Accommodate that enhance student access to disability services. I am proud to say that CUNY is once again leading the way in providing important programs for students with disabilities. And in many ways, CUNY is the gold standard and a model for other colleges and universities, but we must remember that there is still much work to be done.”

Arturo Soto at the barbecue. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Several local elected officials were on hand and spoke at the ADA Barbecue, including New York State Senators Toby Ann Stavisky and John C. Liu and New York State Assemblymembers Khaleel M. Anderson, Catalina Cruz, Alicia L. Hyndman, Steven Raga and David I. Weprin. Anderson is also a Queens College alumnus.

“I come each and every year to this event, and it gets bigger every year, and even more important every year to celebrate people with disabilities, students with disabilities, and to make sure that we have the funding that we need,” Weprin said.

Assemblymember David Weprin (third from left) presented Citations of Merit to multiple Queens College students. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

“Today we celebrate here at Queens College the 36th anniversary of one of the most consequential pieces of legislation to help to recognize, to see, to hear, to feel and to understand our brothers and sisters in the disability community,” Anderson said. “But also, we acknowledge and celebrate those in government who have fought tirelessly for those who live with disabilities. Many individuals who serve in government have what’s called invisible disabilities, where you don’t readily see them, but they’re fighting alongside you and living through those disabilities. One such is myself, who fights and battles as I work through my disability, which is ADHD and emotional disturbance, which I was diagnosed with at age seven. So I’m grateful that we have thousands of students across this university system that battle through and don’t allow their disability to stand in the way of their fight to get an equitable and adequate education here at Queens College and all of the campuses across our CUNY system.”

Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson and Queens College Communications and Marketing Vice President Jay Hershenson. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

“There’s so much work that still has to be done,” Cruz said. “Programs that have been underfunded historically, people that need to be pushed in the right direction, even in government and even in our educational institutions, to make sure that our students with disabilities, our adults with disabilities, our workers with disabilities are treated the right way.”

Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz and Steven Raga. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

CUNY and Queens College representatives also spoke at the event, as well as New York City Council Member James F. Gennaro’s Chief of Staff and Budget Director Henry Yam and Council Member and Council Finance Committee Chair Linda Lee’s Chief of Staff Keith Felsenfeld.