Two-time GRAMMY winnerSunny Saucedawill help kickoff the 15th annualAccessAbility Festin San Antonio at Hemisfair Park on October 2 with a live performance at the annual free celebration held in October during Texas Disability History and Awareness Month.
The Tejano singer and accordionist has become an advocate for causes that support people with special needs.
“If you’re a parent of special needs children you understand that it’s a difficult challenge to take your son or daughter to a concert,” Sauceda tellsTejano Nation. “This is a perfect opportunity to be able to play some music for them at an event that they feel they belong, that they’re a part of. We’re going to go play for them and I’m excited about it.”
Sauceda understands the challenges of parents with special needs children, as his son Jared suffers from severe epilepsy and is nonverbal. The singer-songwriter even penned a song dedicated to his son on his new albumAfter Party.
“It’s called ‘Niño’, it’s an actual ballad,” said Sauceda. “I started writing it when he was in the hospital, he was about three or four years old. He would cry, but my son is nonverbal so we never knew why he was crying. It starts off with ‘Niño,ya no llores‘ (Child, don’t cry anymore). It’s one of those songs that lends itself to not only parents with children who are sick, special needs, or severe injury but the song lends itself to the Christian community.”
Sauceda will perform at 10:30 a.m., after the third annual abilitySTRONG Parade and abilityMARCH which begins at 9 a.m. in downtown San Antonio with the theme “Superheroes… saving the world with unique abilities”. The abilitySTRONG Parade is San Antonio’s only disability pride parade seeking to change the way people think about and define disability, presented by disABILITYsa and the City of San Antonio’s Transportation & Capital Improvements Disability Access Office.
Currently, one in every seven individuals living in San Antonio has a disability. The parade is a public expression of the belief that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can take pride.
This year’s motto is “My Ability is Fierce”, and leading the parade and march with the parade banner will be the men and women of City Council followed by 2021 Grand Marshal, Batman of San Antonio, who reminds us that being “super” means doing the right thing, even when you aren’t being watched; to help without thought of reward; and by being brave, fierce, and always standing up for those who are different than you.
Following the start of the parade, the 15th annual AccessAbility fest takes place virtually from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. This annual event is a free, family-friendly experience featuring information sessions and exhibitors with information, products, programs, and services that promote independence and inclusion where individuals with disabilities live, work and play. The fest is a gateway to information, resources, and opportunities for individuals overcoming barriers to independence and inclusion due to physical, cognitive, sensory and mental health challenges. AccessAbility fest is inclusive of individuals of all abilities.
For more information, visitwww.disABILITYsa.org.
WHAT:3rd Annual AbilitySTRONG Parade, San Antonio’s Disability Pride Celebration, and the 15TH Annual AccessAbility fest —FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WHEN:Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 abilitySTRONG Parade [In-Person] (9 a.m. – 12 a.m.) AccessAbility fest [Virtual] (2 p.m. – 6 p.m.)
WHERE:Hemisfair in downtown San Antonio
WHO:Sunny Sauceda, City Council and Civic Members: Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, Melissa Cabello Havrda and Phyllis Viagran, and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar
Parade Entries include: Wave Healthcare LLC., Bexar County Sheriff’s Equestrian Unit, San Antonio ISD, the Fiesta Especial Royal Court; marching units; disABILITYsa members; and abilitySTRONG volunteers
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