The branch is inviting all our members, colleagues, friends and families to join us on 3rd December to celebrate Disability History Month and the International Day of People with Disabilities.
We are hosting an online event from 4-5pm which will also see the launch of a booklet, Disability History: Fascinating Facts, penned by branch equalities officer, Kathleen Kennedy.
Click here to join. You will also find the link on the poster.
The theme of the event, ‘turning disability into ability’ focusses on the achievements of disabled people. The Fascinating Facts booklet looks at disability over the past 200 years with a particular spotlight on the North East of Scotland. As well as the historical context it also includes features on prominent local disabled people who have achieved great things.
Kathleen Kennedy who is chairing the event said: “Disability History Month comes at a crucial time, given that people with disabilities have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic, with 56% of COVID deaths having been people with disabilities.
“The Disability Discrimination Act is now 25 years old and questions remain as to why, in today’s society, there is still such extensive disability discrimination.
“Many famous people have disabilities. As singer and Scottish personality Susan Boyle has pointed out from her own experience:
“I was slightly brain damaged at birth, and I want people like me to see that they shouldn’t let a disability get in the way. I want to raise awareness. I want to turn my disability into ability.””
Kathleen added, “I am delighted this will be our branch’s second time celebrating an equality history event this year and I hope that the event and the booklet will go some way to highlighting that the focus should be on ability and not disability.”