Our Buffalo Debut: Disability Pride of WNY!

We made our debut at Disability Pride of WNY in Buffalo — and what a day it was!

The festival filled Canalside with incredible organizations and fabulous people, and our table stayed busy from the moment the doors opened. By the end of the day, we’d filled many pages with new connections — connections with people, providers, and possibilities we can’t wait to get to know better and connect directly to inclusive adventures that our Inclusion Partners offer.

Opening photo: Mary Anne welcomes visitors at the RAA booth, ready with information and a warm hello.

One of two big arenas packed with organizations — the energy in the room was contagious.

What is an Inclusion Partner, anyway?

If you’re new to RAA, here’s the heart of what we do. An Inclusion Partner is a recreation provider, park, or community organization that works with us to intentionally welcome people with disabilities — not as an afterthought, but as part of how they do business. RAA’s team provides the training, the resources, and the ongoing support, often in 1 to 3 year contracts, so that access becomes the standard, not the exception.

Many of our partnerships are made possible through our contractual relationship with the New York Power Authority and the NYS Canal Corporation. Through the Accessibility Education Program (AEP) — part of the On the Canals initiative — we’re able to bring inclusion training, adaptive-recreation expertise, and hands-on support to providers all along the canal corridor. That contract is what turns “we’d love to be more inclusive” into “here’s exactly how we’ll do it.”

Which brings us to a partner we were thrilled to spend the day with.

Highlight: Elevator Alley Kayak

It was so cool to hang out with our Inclusion Partner and AEP participant, Elevator Alley Kayak, and owner Jason Mendola — right alongside our friends from the NYS Canal Corporation.

Jason has leaned all the way in. NYPA recently had an adaptive BoardSafe kayak launch installed at the water’s edge by Elevator Alley. This has elevated the area to an amazing new level of accessibility – especially given that the previous dock had some really inaccessible spots.  We have been working closely with Jason to implement additional enhancements to his processes and staff training so that he can welcome more people with disabilities onto the Buffalo waterways.

The Disability Pride festival offered an incredible opportunity for Jason to ask guests, “Have you ever thought about going kayaking?” and then be responsive to their questions about how he can help make that possible. We are pretty sure there will be more people kayaking this summer!

Read more about Jason and EAK in the Spotlight On…Elevator Alley Kayak series and make sure to swing by for a rental or a guided tour!

Here’s a photo of when Dee and Anita trained EAK staff at the BoardSafe kayak launch — check out those amazing elevators you get to paddle alongside! And yes, the owners of all of those chairs are out in kayaks exploring those elevators!

BIG callout: Momentum Refresh is now serving New York State!

Here’s a huge win for New York!

We spent time in the Momentum Refresh mobile restroom — and friends, it is the hottest take on the accessible restroom experience EVER.  Inside, our guide, Q, showed us the mechanical lift and the adjustable adult changing table, a fabulously accessible toilet, a shower option, and an adjustable-height sink — the kind of dignity-centered features that so many people need and so rarely find at a festival, a trailhead, or a public event.

Connections create change! New York Power Authority and the NYS Canal Corporation sponsored Momentum Refresh for the Disability Pride festival, and RAA has been quickly moving to connect communities to this option for accessible restrooms – including festivals in Rochester as well as others across the state!

Momentum Refresh will be at the New York State Fair this year!

So here’s our ask: get them to your next event. If you’re planning anything where people gather — a festival, a race, a paddle day, a community celebration — a truly accessible restroom changes who gets to fully participate. And now that option exists right here in New York.

psst! HUGELY Important: Tell Gov. Hochul to sign into the law the Traveling With Dignity law!

Momentum Refresh guide Q shows us the mechanical lift and the adjustable adult changing table — accessibility done right. Photo Credit: Q from Momentum Refresh

Extra Connections!

We got to meet Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan and chat with him about the new adaptive launch at Elevator Alley and the broader work of making Buffalo’s waterfront a place where everyone can get out on the water. 💙

Great company at Canalside — Anita with Buffalo Mayor Sean M. Ryan, Elevator Alley Kayak’s Jason Mendola, and the NYS Canal Corporation’s Darby Racey.

A fun day in Buffalo! 🏙️

New partners, new friends, five pages of connections, and a whole city’s worth of possibility. Our debut at Disability Pride of WNY was everything we hoped it would be — and just the beginning of our work on the Buffalo waterways.

Find your next accessible adventure

Every connection we made in Buffalo is a step toward the same goal: getting people directly connected to welcoming, accessible recreation across New York State. That’s exactly what our DirectConnect Resource Guide is for. Explore it here: DirectConnect Resource Guide

Run a recreation business, park, or event and want to become more inclusive? Let’s talk — partnerships like these are how we #MakeInclusionHappen, one welcoming place at a time.

With gratitude to our partners and friends: Disability Pride of WNY, Elevator Alley Kayak, the NYS Canal Corporation, the New York Power Authority, Momentum Refresh, BoardSafe, Buffalo Mayor Sean M. Ryan, and REI Cooperative Action Fund!