UN International Day of Disabilities celebrated
Two young sportsmen who have had international success this year will be officially opening the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities event in Pembrokeshire on Monday, 3rd December as Paralympian Jacob Thomas and Special Olympian James Tyler will launch the event at the Withybush Showground.
Breaking down barriers
The UN International day will focus on the themes of breaking down barriers for people with a disability, raising awareness about issues which concern them, and celebrating achievements.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has praised the event, which is being organised by Pembrokeshire County Council.
She said:
“I am delighted that Pembrokeshire County Council has chosen to mark the International Day of Disabled People in such a varied, innovative way.
“These are challenging times for disabled people, and an event such as this can only help to promote a greater understanding of disability.â€
Activities galore
The UN event will take place in the Parkhouse Building and the Brithdir Hall, and will feature talks and demonstrations by Jacob Thomas and James Tyler about their sports.
Pembrokeshire Access Group will be demonstrating their beach wheelchairs and their Pembrokeshire Passport initiative and will show a short film about their meeting with Iolo Williams at the opening of the All Wales Coast Path.
Pembrokeshire BikeMobility will be providing supervised opportunities for people to have a go at cycling throughout the day.
Norman Industries, which currently employs fifteen people, fourteen of whom are disabled, specialises in the design and manufacture of furniture for a wide range of applications and will be exhibiting examples of their work.
Workshops and presentations
There will be theatre workshops on hate crime, delivered by Pembrokeshire People's First at 11am and 2pm.
Pembrokeshire Young Voices for Choices will deliver a presentation at 12.15pm about their experience of Travelling around Wales by Public Transport.
Groups and organisations who support disabled people will be offering information and advice, from Hywel Dda Heath Board to MENCAP, Pembrokeshire MIND, Dyfed Powys Police, Pembrokeshire County Council's sensory impairment units, and many more.
Nice catering and good music
Catering, beverages, Welsh cakes, and soup will be provided by disabled people from Pembrokeshire's Adult Day Centres at Portfield, Haverfordwest, and The Anchorage in Pembroke Dock, who have received training and certificates in food preparation and hygiene. They will be joined by the Avenue Centre in Tenby, who will be exhibiting their artwork whilst popular band 'Wings Across Pembrokeshire' – an orchestra of around 40 disabled people - will be there to help the day go with a swing.
Cllr Simon says 'Come along'
Councillor Simon Hancock, Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Equalities, said the Authority was pleased to organise the event.
“We will be marking the occasion with presentations where barriers have been overcome and personal goals realised.â€
There will also an opportunity to enter a free raffle with completion of evaluation forms.
The UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the Parkhouse Building and Brithdir Hall, Withybush Showground will open at 10am and continue until approximately 4.30pm.
A free accessible bus service will be available from Haverfordwest Bus Station. Please phone in advance (by the end of Thursday, 29th November) to book this service on 0800 7831584.
For more information, please contact Stephen Butler on 01437 775706.
Captions:
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Jacob Thomas (pictured) and James Tyler (pictured) will be officially opening the event.
Readers' Note:
As member of GB's elite boccia squad, 17-year-old Jacob Thomas of Bethesda, near Narberth achieved a place in the final 16 in mixed individuals Boccia at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He is also the current British and Welsh BC3 Boccia Champion.
22-year-old athlete James Tyler, of Milford Haven, competed for Great Britain in the recent Special Olympics European Games in Russia, winning gold in the 200m, silver in the 100m and running the anchor leg for GB to secure gold in the 4x100m relay race.
PHOTOS:
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
James Tyler shows off his array of medals
Jacob Thomas with Jessica Ennis at the Olympic celebrations