Disability Awareness Day

Disability Awareness Day (DAD), is Europe's largest 'not for profit' voluntary-led disability exhibition, and is held annually in a huge tented village within the grounds of Walton Hall Gardens.

37 million disabled people live in the European Union, many of us acquired our impairments during our early adulthood or have a child that was born with an impairment.

Where do you look for help and support, what information is available, how do I contact my local support group, who can advise me about my rights? If you were like me you probably thought that life wasn't worth living, well that's not the case, we just need to know where to get information and we need to know what we can do, but its not that simple, after all we live in a society that if full of negative images about disabled people and if you were treated like I was you are probably being encouraged not to do things in case you hurt yourself or others, well how do we get to know what we can do for ourselves?

Disability Awareness Day is all about these things, we have over 280 exhibitors providing information about the latest equipment, service or support group, a Sports area where you can have a go at archery, shooting or basketball, you will get an opportunity to join in or simply be entertained in the arts marquee or the main arena. DAD 2004 will be informative and it will give you a chance to enjoy yourself with your family and friends.

During the past twelve years DAD has already attracted interest from our European partner's. In 1995 we had fourteen visitors from the HELIOS II working group, with colleagues from, Denmark, France, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Scotland, and Germany. In 1996 four members of the Gibraltar Disability Group visited Warrington and on their return set up DAD Gibraltar, which I was proud to officially open in 1997. (well somebody had to do it)

To visit the website and learn more please click here.

Thank you.

Dave Thompson MBE
DAD Coordinator