Festivals, Fairs & Special Events, Theatre & Performing Arts
2026 Accessible Juneteenth June 16, 2026
2026 Accessible Juneteenth
Tuesday, June 18th, 2025
4 to 7:30 PM CDT
Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
115 West Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60607
Join the UIC Disability Cultural Center, Access Living, the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition (supported by UIC’s Institute on Disability and Human Development), and the Center for Racial and Disability Justice for the sixth annual Accessible Juneteenth, where we celebrate the Black disability community! We want to make Juneteenth a fun and accessible experience for everyone, including disabled, neurodivergent, and Deaf people in the African Diaspora. We will have the following at the event:
Food
Performances
Exhibitors
Family-friendly, Non-alcoholic Event
About Accessible Juneteenth 2026
This year, DJ Matt returns to bless us with music fit for our Accessible Juneteenth celebration. We will have performances from Double AA, Cherlnell Lane, Jada Thompson, Victoria Djembe, and Ms. Mamas.
We are excited to share food from Cook It Mama Café (sandwiches & salads with vegan & gluten-free options).
We’ll have tables where you can meet people from Black-owned and disability-owned/friendly organizations and businesses. If you’re a Black and/or disability-owned/friendly business or organization and would like to be an exhibitor, sign up at: https://forms.gle/
We are also looking for volunteers to help run many aspects of Accessible Juneteenth; if you’re interested, sign up at: https://forms.gle/
Access Information
ASL and captioning will be provided for the showcase portion. A room will be available for a quiet, cool-off space! To protect immunocompromised people in our community, please wear a mask indoors. We’ll have extras on hand! Accessibility requests, questions, or event inquiries can be sent to dcc@uic.edu
What to Expect
4:00 pm Doors Open
4:30 pm Welcome and Announcements
5:30 pm Featured Performers’ Showcase Begins
Throughout: Food! Exhibitors! And more
7:30 pm Event ends/doors close
Getting there
Accessible Juneteenth will take place at Access Living, 115 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60654
Bus Routes
22 Clark Bus
66 Chicago Avenue Bus
156 LaSalle Street Bus
‘L’ Trains
From the Red Line
Take the north or southbound lines to the Chicago Avenue Red Line stop. Walk two blocks west to 115 West Chicago Avenue or take the 66 Chicago Bus to Clark Street.
From the Brown Line
Take the north or southbound line to the Chicago Brown Line stop. Walk two blocks east to 115 West Chicago. You can also take the 66 Chicago Avenue bus to Clark Street.
Paratransit
Pace, WAV, and other vehicles can pick up and drop off riders right in front of Access Living. There is a dedicated paratransit space directly in front of Access Living’s front doors, with a curb cut, tactile pavement, and a ramp.
Driving Directions + Parking
Parking
Metered street parking is available on Chicago, LaSalle, Clark, Dearborn, and other streets surrounding Access Living. Additionally, there are several paid parking lots nearby.
From the Northside near the Lake
Follow signs for US-41/N Lake Shore Dr. Take the ramp right and follow signs for N Lake Shore Drive Plaza/ North Michigan Avenue. Turn right onto E Chicago Ave. Arrive at 115 West Chicago Avenue.
From the Southside
Follow signs for I-90 West. At exit 50B, take the ramp right and follow the signs for East Ohio Street. Keep straight onto West Ohio Street. Turn left onto North Lasalle Street. Turn right onto West Chicago Avenue. Arrive at 115 West Chicago Avenue.
From the Westside
Follow signs to W Congress Pkwy. Take the ramp left and follow the signs for I-290 East/ Eisenhower Expy E. Take the ramp right for I-90 West/I-94/Kennedy Expy West toward Wisconsin. At exit 50B, take the ramp and follow the signs for East Ohio St. Keep straight onto West Ohio Street. Turn left onto N Lasalle Street/ Turn right onto West Chicago Avenue. Arrive at 115 West Chicago Avenue.
From the Northwest side
Follow signs for I-94 East /Edens Expy toward Chicago. Take the ramp left for the Express Lanes toward Ohio Street. Keep straight onto I-90 Express/I-94 Express/Kennedy Express. Take the ramp left and follow the signs for East Ohio Street. Keep straight onto West Ohio Street. Turn left onto N Lasalle Street. Turn right onto W Chicago Avenue. Arrive at 115 West Chicago Avenue.
This event is brought to you by:
Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition
The Institute on Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago Disability Cultural Center
Center for Racial and Disability Justice (University of California, Los Angeles)
UIC Black Studies
UIC Chancellors Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities (CCSPD)
Access Living
And more collaborators to be listed soon!
Contact UIC Disability Cultural Center for more information or if you have any questions about the event: dcc@uic.edu.
