{"id":304952,"date":"2026-07-24T18:21:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T18:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/304952\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T18:21:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T18:21:26","slug":"queens-college-holds-annual-americans-with-disabilities-act-barbecue-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/304952\/","title":{"rendered":"Queens College holds annual Americans with Disabilities Act Barbecue \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

Attendees of the event enjoyed food, music and games as they celebrated disability and pride next to the Queens College<\/a> Student Union building.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There were plenty of activities, games and more available at the barbecue. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

\u201cCDS is pleased to work with the Office of Student Life and members of the College Administration in bringing this event to fruition,\u201d Committee for Disabled Students of Queens College President Jocelene Ramnanan said. It\u2019s quite an undertaking and requires a team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Committee for Disabled Students of Queens College President Jocelene Ramnanan at the barbecue. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

The barbecue began with opening remarks from Queens College alumnus and CCSD Vice Chair of Public Service Arturo Soto.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>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<\/p>\n

\u201cOn 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,\u201d Soto said. \u201cThis 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.\u00a0We are proud to work with our university leadership in implementing innovative programs like CUNY Accommodate<\/a> 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Arturo Soto at the barbecue. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d Weprin said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Assemblymember David Weprin (third from left) presented Citations of Merit to multiple Queens College students. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

\u201cToday 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,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cBut 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\u2019s called invisible disabilities, where you don\u2019t readily see them, but they\u2019re 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\u2019m grateful that we have thousands of students across this university system that battle through and don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson and Queens College Communications and Marketing Vice President Jay Hershenson. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much work that still has to be done,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cPrograms 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz and Steven Raga. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

CUNY and Queens College representatives also spoke at the event, as well as New York City Council Member James F. Gennaro\u2019s Chief of Staff and Budget Director Henry Yam and Council Member and Council Finance Committee Chair Linda Lee\u2019s Chief of Staff Keith Felsenfeld.<\/p>\n

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