Disability Week
Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) will host an annual celebration of People with Disabilities through a Virtual Disability Awareness Week 2020 (Monday 30th November 2020 – Friday 4th December 2020, inclusive of International Day for People with Disabilities.
This is the fifth annual celebration in DCSDC and this year we are going to celebrate in a different way through the development of an online programme of activity. This will reach beyond DCSDC and aim towards a regional and international audience, supporting International Celebration of Persons with Disabilities (#idwpd 2020).
The aim of this week of celebration is to:
- Join together to support people with disability in our communities to promote health and social wellbeing through the arts, during these challenging times
- Raise awareness of the importance of creating the conditions where people with disabilities experience equal opportunity and face no barriers to participation in any element of their lives.
Virtual programme coming soon.
What a successful year it has been for DCSDC’s Access and Inclusion Project.
The Access and Inclusion project, supported by PHA, objectives are about tackling the economic, physical, social; attitudinal and communication barriers to participation in arts and culture activities for the pan disability community.
Much work has been carried out that recognises the issues and barriers of the pan disability community and identifying potential actions to increase access, to increase engagement and to increase participation in the arts.
An extensive work programme continues to be implemented and further developed which includes a series of activities and actions that have knowingly ensured that a benchmark standard for disability is met within arts and culture and within DCSDC.
Success in numbers include:
Approximately £335,000 invested in Access and Inclusion initiatives in 2017/2018.
18 venues across DCSDC working towards becoming autism Friendly achieving Autism Impact Awards.
23 accessibility audits completed with arts and culture venue.
12 arts and culture venues achieving capital investment through DCSDC Accessible grant Aid which includes investment for a Changing place facility in Millennium Forum, Lifts in The Void Gallery and Strabane Brass Band arts centre, with signage and loops systems in many of the venues along with other essential adjustments.
Innovative arts and culture programme with Strabane Brass Band, Ulster Orchestra and Knockavoe School, supporting 10 children
Introduction to traditional music to youth with Learning disability in partnership with Tuned in and An Culturlann, supporting 16 children.
Over 100 individuals attend monthly Energy of Light discos in both Derry and Strabane by DJ Oliver B who received training in event management through Access and Inclusion Project.
Since January 2016 over 20,000 individuals have participated in Access and Inclusion initiatives.
Over 800 training provisions have been successfully completed which included training in Dementia Awareness, Autism Awareness, visual awareness, disability and equality and deaf awareness for front line staff and volunteers within cultural activity.
There are exciting new initiatives coming through in 2018/2019 which will continue the momentum and further strengthen partnerships that will embed practices into our everyday lives.
If you would like further information on the Access and Inclusion Project please contact by email: [email protected] or phone/ text 07713707912