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Join us to celebrate Disability History Month 18th November to 18th December

As part of our active equalities agenda, spearheaded by our Equalities Officer, Kathleen Kennedy, the branch is supporting Disability History Month 2020 which will take place from the evening of 18th November until Friday 18th December 2020. The theme is Access: How far have we come? How far have we to go?

As a branch we will be celebrating Disability History Month throughout the month to raise awareness of how disability impacts on our members and what we can all do to challenge disability discrimination.

We will also be celebrating the achievements of disabled people throughout our history and in the present. The branch will be posting regular Facebook posts of quotes related to disability to challenge and raise awareness.

Our main event will be held on Thursday 3rd December from 4-5pm when the branch will be launching our disability history booklet penned by Kathleen. This looks at disability over the last 200 years with fascinating North East Disability facts woven throughout this period.

Kathleen Kennedy

The event will be chaired by Kathleen and will include a number of excellent speakers. Watch out for more details of this event. Meantime please put it in your diary. The joining instructions are below.

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/197236589

You can also dial in using your phone.
United Kingdom: +44 330 221 0088

Access Code: 197-236-589

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/197236589

Kathleen said, “Disability History Month is a month that can often be overlooked due to where it falls in the calendar – in the lead up to Christmas it is half of one month and half of another! That probably says more about how we as society recognises disability and people with disabilities throughout history!

“Looking back through the centuries we see how people with disabilities have been treated and sometimes are still  treated. For example when Sign Language being taught was banned in 1880 and only lifted in 1970s!

“This year’s theme is access. This is very appropriate given the pandemic and difficulties people with disabilities have had over this year in dealing with Covid 19.”

For more information on Disability History Month go to the UK Disability History site.