What’s the intention behind The Disability Ally NYC?
The CDC describes it best:
A: Acknowledge and respect people’s experiences and abilities.
L: Learn about different disability types.
L: Leverage your influence to promote accessibility and inclusion.
Y: Yield the floor to people with disabilities to help identify and eliminate barriers.
Hi, I’m Kristen Birkelbach
I’m Manhattan’s first disability publicist, the founder of DisabiliTea®, and the creator behind The Disability Ally NYC. I bring a lived experience lens focused on disability and access to the New York cultural scene and beyond, and the goals above are my purpose.
I’m originally from Galveston, Texas, with a background in special education teaching. In 2015 I traded a small coastal town for big city life in New York, and what a ride it’s been. Working privately for a family on the Upper East Side taught me a great deal about disability intervention, life skills, and awareness, and showed me how many resources exist for a community that is too often underserved.
I’m grateful to the advocates who came before me and worked so hard to open access to countless programs. Because of your success, I know anything is possible.
During the 2020 lockdown, I pictured a hub of up-to-date information for Manhattan residents with disabilities and for visitors planning accessible trips. I designed it especially so people with intellectual and learning disabilities can find programs on their own, giving them a sense of agency and the tools to suggest those programs to their caregivers and parents. That hub became this site. Today I also share film festivals, red carpets, theater, and museums, along with Hot DisabiliTea® interviews and positive disability news, and I help brands, artists, and organizations reach the community they’re trying to attract.
Say Yes, Kristen
Let’s stay in touch and work together! Follow along on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thedisabilityallynyc/)
and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@thedisabilityallynyc/featured) to see what’s happening all over Manhattan.
If you’d like to collaborate, see my Work With Me page. I can’t wait to see you around town.