York Disability Week 

Promoting an Equal, Inclusive and Accessible York 

On Tuesday 24th November, York Disability Week will take over York Castle Museum Twitter feeds. York Museums Trust are keen to reflect our community in their collections and displays and this is the first step in working together. 

Disability Week organises a programme of events from 28 November to 4 December to mark the United Nations International Day of People with Disabilities on 3 December.  Its aim is to promote an equal, inclusive and accessible York.  Its organisers say that both adults and families – disabled and non-disabled – will find something of interest and almost all are FREE.  Given the Covid19 pandemic, most events this year are online and the organisers are keen to make them as accessible as possible.  Many events will use subtitles and BSL interpreters and anyone who needs any additional support to take part is encouraged to contact the organisers beforehand. 

Eighteen events are planned and offer the chance to learn more, to debate and to have fun!  There will be talks, panel discussions, bingo, a cookery demonstration for people with sight loss, a quiz on eye health, art exhibitions, a virtual drop in with City of York Council Adult Social Care team, a dance class and more.  Amongst other subjects, there will be a talk on how to find employment as a chronically ill or disabled young adult; an interview with a visually impaired ex-York student who went on to become a world champion marathon runner; and an introduction to Signalong, a sign supported communication system.  York Explore are putting on two events – a talk by Ellen Clifford, author of the much-acclaimed book ‘The War on Disabled People’ and a fascinating look into the ‘Unlikely History of Disability Arts’.  York’s new Disability Rights Forum will be holding its first meeting at which it will present the results from its recent survey of what disabled people and their allies in York consider their most pressing issues. Another highlight will be the chance to attend a ‘Grease The Musical’ singalong! 

The programme is supported by York Human Rights City Network and is put together by local disability organisations and individuals. 

For our Takeover, we will be looking at some of our events in more depth, discuss disability representation in museums and have some responses to our collection from York Disability Forum.  

To get details of events: 

• visit the website at www.yorkdisabilityweek.org  or  

• visit facebook at https://www.facebook.com/YorkDisabilityWeek (@YorkDisabilityWeek)  
• phone 01904 702060 
• write to the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York, 6 Innovation Close, York YO10 5ZF