York Disability Week
Promoting an Equal, Inclusive and Accessible York
Now in its 5th year, the twenty four events in York Disability Week (27th Nov to 4th Dec) offer something for people of all ages, disabled or not. Mainly led by disabled people and free to attend, some are online (or both online and in-person) and some are in-person only. Making them accessible is very important to us so if anyone needs additional support to take part, they can contact us and we’ll try to help.
The organisers are delighted to this year have the support of York Paralympian, Beth Moulam. Beth represented GB at boccia at the Tokyo Paralympic games in September. She came to the University of York in 2013 and said “The welcome, acceptance and on-going support that I received here in the city, as both a student and athlete, means I am now proud to call York my home.” Beth is right behind our aim to promote an equal, inclusive and accessible York. However, all our events are, sadly, held outside the footstreets area this year given the ongoing ban on Blue Badge users.
There are musical events (including one using Makaton), an ‘open-mike’ poetry evening, an inclusive Christmas Fayre, and art exhibitions. Events for those interested in learning more about their rights include getting heard in Parliament, using equalities and human rights law locally, and hearing the results of a survey by York Disability Rights Forum about what disabled people want for York. There’s a lecture on the experience of disability in higher education, an event on moving into employment with a chronic illness, and one featuring a photography project about what it means to be autistic. A completely new venture this year, at York Explore (central library), involves young people becoming living, breathing ‘human books’ talking about living with visual impairment. Discussion opportunities include ones on Church, Disability and Faith, on race and disability and a social meet up.
There’s the chance to hear about The Snappy Trust (with disabled children and young people) and Brunswick Organic Nursery (with adults with learning disabilities) including volunteering opportunities. And Live Well York, a City of York council service, has a session about how to use their service and that of York AccessAble, which provides accessible information on venues in York.
The week includes the fifteenth anniversary of United Nations International Day of Disabled People on 3rd December. It promotes their rights and well-being in all spheres of society and development, including political, social, economic and cultural life ( www.idpwd.org ; www.ukdhm.org ).
If you want to find out more, or get a copy of the printed programme, our contact details are: –
email: [email protected]
website: www.yorkdisabilityweek.org
tel: 01904 702060
Facebook at https://facebook.com/YorkDisabilityWeek