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Launching Our #MakingChristmasCount campaign this International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021
3rd December 2021

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021. This day is an opportunity to champion disability rights – to empower disabled people to tell their stories, be seen and understood.

This year’s theme is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.” Here at Disability Sports Coach, we’ve seen first-hand the impact that COVID-19 has had on our disabled community.

So, today we are launching our #MakingChristmasCount campaign, emphasising the importance of disability visibility as we continue to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are calling on the sports sector, the government and our supporters to place disabled people at the heart of their inclusion work in 2021. Throughout the month, our ‘My Winter, My Words’ series will share stories from our members, volunteers and carers, centering their voices and experiences in the conversation around disability rights.

 

One of the core challenges facing disabled people is loneliness – in fact, disabled people are four times as likely to experience chronic loneliness than non-disabled people. But, with social distancing measures in place at what can be one of the loneliest times of the year, this was exacerbated even further. Sport England also found that increases in loneliness since COVID-19 have been higher in disabled people than the non-disabled population.

With guidelines relaxed and vaccines rolled out, disabled people can finally get back to the activities they enjoy – and celebrate the festive period for the first time in two years. We are #MakingChristmasCount and give disabled people the experience they deserve this year.

Our Christmas events for disabled participants

On 30th December, we will be hosting our first large in-person event since the pandemic began in the form of our Christmas Club at The Castle Leisure Centre in Elephant and Castle. The Christmas Club will be a pan-disability multi-sports event, where disabled people of all ages can enjoy inclusive yoga, football, basketball, boccia, dance and boxercise with a fun, festive atmosphere.

For those who are still more comfortable participating from home, we are also running three days of online activities via Zoom from Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd December, including inclusive balls skills sessions, a virtual bake-along and a quiz with special guests.

So, join us in #MakingChristmasCount for disabled people this year. There are several ways to get involved:

  • Donate to the campaign to help us deliver more vital inclusive sport sessions and services to disabled people in the UK.
  • Spread the word by sharing our ‘My World, My Word’ stories and campaign content online.
  • Join our sector sessions to learn more about how to promote disability visibility in your work.
  • Invite any disabled people you may work with to join our Christmas Club events.

Together, we will be #MakingChristmasCount for disabled people, at the time of year they need it most.

Find out about our Christmas events
 
Learn more about the campaign

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