Accessibility At Pride 

I feel this so hard. I’m able-bodied but autistic and a recovering alcoholic and I feel like most celebrations during pride just aren’t accessible to me.

The last time I went to Pride, ASANA had a big "quiet space" tent set up for people to decompress and play with stim toys, sensory-friendly stuff, etc. I loved it.

"Maple Water" As a Brit, I did not know maple created water. You've entered new levels of canadian. *We, we have our leafy water over here in the empire.*

Yall can I just boast about toronto prides accessibility for a hot second? They've got wheelchair/Walker lending service, electric mobility charging stations, accessible seating areas, they have ASL interpreters, live audio description and braille accessibility centre and like alot more I'm just really proud my city has put this effort ok I dont wanna brag lol

The word you were looking for is “tactile” 🙂❤️

Lolol I just went to investigate, and my city's pride event doesn't even have a way for me to contact them to ASK about accessibility 🙃

I'm very sensitive to sounds and I don't really like being stared at cause I'm wearing headphones in those situations xD I do that in the cinema cause the sound is too loud and people are ,understandably, surprised :') But the little squishy thing for the ears are a very good idea tho! Nice tips :)

we love aaron getting ads on his videos💖

And your skin cells are like *kiss*kiss*kiss*...man I love you. 💖😸💖

GAY MONTH _WHOO_ (also ur tats are nice)

OMG THIS IS SO TRUE! Montreal is so not accessible it’s insane. All the bars and clubs are up an actual mountain of stairs or down a mountain of stairs, in a basement. Not to mention the ones that have a BIG ASS GIANT ASS step just to get in. It’s so hard to go out in Montreal if you have a physical disability, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of the less accessible citie in North America.

As someone in London, "up rusty stairs.. 4 flights.. Who can go here who is this for"... IT'S HERE TOO SAVE US.

Perfumes can actually make it hard for me to breathe because of allergies and asthma so that's really cool they did that

Sometimes I really appreciate being hard of hearing because I can just turn off my hearing aids whenever sounds get to be too much and get that nice calm feeling. It’s pretty handy.

It is not just a Montreal thing. I mean, like, I don’t personally use a wheelchair, but I live near NYC and their public transport system accessibility is a joke. There’s like 1 out of order elevator 5 miles away from your subway station. It’s gross. Thanks for speaking up for us Aaron!

You have just reminded me to bring my acoustic ear plugs. They reduce the noise just enough for me to feel less attacked by it.

I can not believe I got 2... *2!!!* 50 seconds advertising clips before this video!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 yeeeyyyy!!! 😊👍💕

i actually found out that (in some us towns) building permits can be denied based on "preservation" - meaning if you're in a historical district they can deny the permits to install an elevator, unless you prove that it won't "harm the historical integrity".... which i think is up to committee interpretation, but sometimes might involve using older lift models or service elevators instead of passenger elevators - potentially dangerous. (some committees are less strict but they don't *officially* have to allow modern elevator installation.) idk if montreal has similar ordinances, but it's worth that bc laws like that can never be changed if ppl aren't aware. off-topic kinda: i actually found this out when my church wanted to replace the windows (to save on heating costs), and we were told we had to use a specific type of custom-cut glass if we wanted double glazed windows, because the more common type aren't the right colour. (early 19th century glass is often slightly tinted, i guess?? idfk) and we would have to have glassworks ppl do the installation, despite the fact that our pastor is a carpenter and has put in plenty of windows, bc there's a specific installation method that's different somehow. anyway, we ended up just heat sealing instead of replacing them bc it was too much of a hassle. historical preservation is a huge problem when the buildings actually see everyday use (as opposed to like museums, visitor centres, etc)

This is so important!!! I have hearing issues and spine issues pride was fun but a lot

Going to my first pride this year!! Super stoked for it ❤💛💚💙💜

Did you say *maple* water? Because that sounds like a thing I should try.

Thank you for highlighting the scent sensitivity issue 💜

“Okay, we get it, it’s old spice”

Thank you for posting this ❤️ I hope you have a happy pride

At my local pride they have a signer & a safe space tent, its great!

2:30 It's tactile. Also, thanks Aaron for making this. I only recently have needed a mobility aid since it was only recently I found out I have fibromyalgia. All of this, except for sensory issues (which are a big deal for me all my life), would have probably been new for me. So thanks. Sorry this was a mess.

We have to wear ear plugs at my work and they are fucking amazing

last year at Toronto Pride there was supposed to be a viewing stage for disabled people on either side of the parade at a certain spot, but when I got there it was on the opposite side to me. the only way to get there was to walk all the way up the parade route and back down and around. as someone with a mobility aid it's rlly frustrating to feel excluded from events held for my own community, yk? i rlly hope this year is better!

I went to my first 3 pride parades this year and thankfully accessibility wasn't an issue for me personally for the first one. For the second one, it was extremely loud, but that was mainly because there were some very vocal protestors following us with a megaphone. The most recent one however was my first time going to the one in the town I live in. It wasn't loud and there were no protestors, so I took my cat in a stroller so I had something to hold onto and had the emotional support of having my cat there (my cat is very sociable and was fine throughout the whole thing). The problem with the parade here was SO. MANY. HILLS. So a tip to anyone who has mobility issues and plans to participate in a march: look at the march route first just so you have an idea of if it's something you're comfortable doing.

Me and my best friends had a sleep over last night. We stayed up till midnight to say “happy gay day” because according to a calendar one of them found, June first is the gay pride day.

I know that last year Philadelphia Pride had an ASL translator at the stage there, of course I can't be certain if that was standard or someone specific asked for it, hopefully the first.

I have EDS and need a wheelchair sometimes but I'm too scared to get one. I'm scared people will think I'm pretending to be disabled. Any advice?

I have a very sensitive nose, smelling perfume gives me instant hedaches and makes me sneeze a lot. Even scented lotions and shampoos bother me. I can't even walk past a candle store bc its overly fragrant. One place i worked at had a no perfumes policy, and it was really nice! Another place I worked at didn't, so I asked about the policy and they didnt care to impliment it. So people would spray perfume in the staff washroom and I had to use the customer washrooms. Regular smellers would complain about it and the management still didnt care. yes, this sensitivity is very hindering and it's so appreciated when that is taken into account. ❤

Omg Lol that’s exactly why I don’t get out often, yo respect my atoms rights to personal space! I hate stairs with a burning passion, I already hurt after work, I walk at least a 10k a day and my legs are almost literally a sack of jello by the end of the night

im in the closet so i cant go for that reason but i wouldnt be able to go to due to physical issues :( thanks for this video!

This is a list of things crowd sourced from several disability communities that you can share with event organizers to help them learn things they can do to make their events more accessible. docs.google.com/document/d/1-lEI2_NIXMPp0HKEBZP4OVXI82BRNpJ1lbyxlP1_eRM/edit?usp=sharing

The word you're looking for is tactile. Re: the wheelchair providing a space bubble, while I agree that's true to an extent, I find that people trip over me A LOT in crowds, so YMMV.

❤️ as for earplugs, I have ones that are silicone instead of foam. I originally started wearing them to protect my hearing, but then noticed how much they helped sensory issues. They cost a little more, but can be cleaned so they can be used a lot longer, plus they actually filter noise. Another option is fitted earplugs but those are expensive af.

I've not actually been to the big pride event my city does annually, which involves a march and then a lot of stalls at the end (I'm assuming at least some other place's pride events would be somewhat similar). One of the reasons behind me not going, even when I know people who are going who I could go with, is at least for the past few years the event's online information doesn't mention accessibility at all and I don't feel like I should jump through hoops trying to contact the main organisers just to find out if it's actually accessible for my needs as a disabled person. I feel that even if it turns out it would be accessible for me personally, not having that information readily available is a form of inaccessibility as I would need to go out of my way to speak to the organisers to make sure I could attend and I can't just read that information on the website.

Your ideas are inclusive to all! Happy Pride... from Reno NV

Thank you! I’m at Toronto Pride this weekend, and every year I’ve gone it’s been so hard and I keep forgetting. It’s tricky not to feel like I don’t deserve to be there because it’s inaccessible to me. This helped make me feel less alone in the frustration with accessibility and pride.

Aaron the word your looking for is tactile

thissss. my local pride moved to the opposite side of town and is no longer in the centre so i cant get there without a ride and then its on a really uneven field so not accessible in the slightest (not a mobility aid user)

This is really useful, thank you so much!! I'm not sure I can get to pride anyway (no wheelchair...) but I might try these sorts of things for other situation e.g. protests and all 💕 wishing everyone love and hope this month and forever xxx

This was really helpful, but I would definitely discourage event organizers from asking for volunteers who sign to try to interpret at events. Interpreting is really really hard and (at least in America) most states require interpreters to pass an exam to get certified so they can provide proper accessibility to Deaf/HoH people. I’ve been put on the spot to interpret in informal situations and it’s a disaster even tho I know ASL. Also, if a Deaf person requests an interpreter, I’m pretty sure events have to comply and provide a (certified) interpreter to be in compliance with the ADA

This video was very helpful for me. I'm going to pride with my friend and I know that they have sensory issues so now I what I can do to help them. Thank you Aaron

I only need noise-cancelling sometimes, if I'm aproaching overload from too much light or too much human contact. So I keep a pair of foam earplugs in my bag. (They came with a little plastic box for easy storage) It's convenient for me to have them there for when I need them, without taking up a lot of space or being heavy.

I have problems walking my legs hurt and my legs get hard to move .

Are you and Chase still doing the You're so Brave podcast? If not, why did you stop (if you don't mind answering). I hope your day is going well and thank you so much for making this video (and all the other ones you make).

Skin cells: 😙😙😙

Yep yep yep... In Norwich, UK there is a great pride access group that work hard to make it inclusive... Hope that this kind of thing happens EV3 where. (eds, autistic, d. I. D , Label machine ftm here)

I've got Multiple Sclerosis & POTS. I've ended up sick laying on filthy sidewalks, not even being able to watch the parade almost every year I've gone. I haven't been in a couple years now because it just takes to many spoons. It's sad to realize so many other people struggle with the parade. Thanks for talking about this.

I'm glad my local pride is super accessible. My friend gets to ride in a bike carriage thingy because they can't stand for too long. Being able-bodied I guess I take a lot of stuff for granted, like pride.

Atlanta pride is in October. It's extremely inaccessible and most people, even friends, aren't willing to help with planning it out to be accessible. Unfortunately for me that means I can't usually go. I don't have the energy to call 50 bajillion places myself, especially since a lot of Uber drivers will either cancel the ride or force you to cancel if you have a mobility aide.

As someone who is extremely HOH, people tend to forget, because I adapt very well. But that’s due to having to, I always have to accommodate for people who are able bodied. Because I feel as though I have to, I am the minority so that means I have to push myself and make myself feel uncomfortable, right? I know it’s not anyone’s fault in particular but it sometimes brings me down, it reminds me that im not disabled enough almost. I sometimes wish I didn’t hear at all because then maybe people would handle my disability better. The type of hearing loss is an entire extra add in. I have mixed hearing loss (middle ear and auditory nerve damage) which complicates things even more so. It’s why my hearing aid and my BAHA don’t make my hearing 100% better or “normal”. So even though I pass as an able bodied person, reminding people or informing people that I’m not puts me in a sticky situation. They either think I’m lying or that I’m making my situation sound worse to get the things that I need. 2018 was my first pride, and fortunately I didn’t have to do anything for that. I got to enjoy myself! But I went to another pride and performed and because of my hearing it made it extremely difficult and I messed up. Someone came up to me and said “how could you mess something up so simple, while being so cocky about it.” What they misunderstood as cockiness was actually confidence. Because I had no idea that I screwed up until after. That kinda ruined that day of pride for me. I was feeling so good until an uninformed able bodied person unknowingly crushed me. I had been debating all year if I wanted to go to that pride again (despite me being on the pride planning board for the pride) but because I was on the board this year I was able to work with lovely people in trying to my this pride more inclusive for the disabled community within the LGBTQ community for the town. So I’m performing again this year to try and set an example that it’s okay to not fit in the binary of the LGBTQ.

Ugh so relatable. The gay bar closest to me barely has chairs besides stools around the bar and I can barely enjoy my time there because of all the pain from standing 😫

For auditory sensitivities I use Mack's Moldable Silicone Putty Earplugs and they come in adult and kids sizes. Usually they are used for swimming and reduce noise 22 decibels. For touch repulsion I enjoy wraping my pride flags around my neck to use as a cape and they are *usually* light weight and allow a layer of protection between you and others that wont cause you to over heat Happy Pride you guys!!!!!

Thanks for opening up about this. I've had issues with ear plugs lately though... it makes me feel uncomfortable to wear them, but I'd like to have them just for the regular effect of cancelling out extra noise. It seems the more I wear ear plugs, the more deaf I become, and also become more spacially aware of my surroundings when my hearing is impaired with the plugs. Any suggestions on how to be aware of traffic but not overwhelmed?

Yup sensory... I get that!! Why I usually don't go out or to prides, I get too anxious because I know I can't handle the noise and the many people.

AW! Aaron! You're not "Canadian trash" :) (I know you meant that partially offhanded) I would love to be to a pride parade, I DO agree, earplugs are a MUST! To me, accessibility is just to get there in the first place (I don't drive because of anxiety and social anxiety) I don't like big crowds, but I would love to go to one just to see what it's like to be in a community that accepts me the way I am

Hello hi.

In ottaw we have one bar that's not up a flight of stairs...its down the flight of stairs. Just as bad.

Tactile?

here in Toronto, the village is all stairs too. :/

Ok but the real question is, what are the top 3 things at Montreal Pride that someone coming for their first time has to do (other than the parade) and having been to Montreal many times before just not for Pride.

😆 🐢 (there should be a disability emoji, but i thought a turtle could work)

I currently have some kids earmuffs but they don’t muffle sound as much as I’d like when I’m really having a bad day looks like I’ll have to invest in some construction earmuffs if I have a hope of ever attending a big event much less pride

Welcome to Aaron is confused by tall buildings without elevators

ive only really been to one gay bar and yeah it was up a rickety flight of stairs. since ive only been to the one, i didnt realise this was a common thing ugh

I don't go to the parade anymore. It's just so c r o w d e d and my poor anxious little heart can't handle it. What I've done in Toronto in the past is hang out in the glass-fronted marshalls 2 stories up so I can watch in a cool, uncrowded space

tactile?

Pride is a bit too much for my anxiety... we get ~50,000 people attending every year and it's too much

All the lgbtq places I can think of in NYC are accessible.

Imma buy you an electric wheel chair when I have the money you think I’m kidding but I’m not I love you so much❤️❤️❤️

Aaron, your reflection in your glasses is sensory problematic