www.wiltshire.gov.uk
After-event report from no barriers day 3rd Dec 2007
- Successful aspects
- Not-so-successful aspects
- How to overcome the not-so-successful aspects, suggestions for improvements
- Share ideas for ways to mark the International Day of Disabled People 2008
For summary of events see Appendix 1, and for more details see last year’s what’s on page
Successful Aspects
- Lots of interest
- Opportunity to try different activities
- A question and answer session was very successful and this would work well on a regional basis
- Received comments like ‘we should do this more regularly’
- Job profile raised – now people know who to come to
- Events were well-organised
- Those participating thought it was great and invaluable
- Raised the profile of access issues
- Explored advantages of networking and working in partnership with others
- Generated follow-up activities
- Eye openers for disabled people as well as non disabled people; Wilts people have it good compared to other countries
- Supermarkets and hospitals involved
- Rotary Club involved in fund-raising
- Chief Constable and Assistant CC attended workshops which sent out a good message
- Opportunity to give out lots of literature
- Wiltshire website on Google for International Day of Disabled people and Disability Equality (not to be found anymore – need to raise profile again), but still 2nd for “no barriers”
- Really good displays
- Events advertised in GP surgeries
- Opportunity to dispel some of the myths about disabled people, to raise issues around disability and to raise awareness of the broadness of the range of disabilities
- Messages conveyed through art, acting and poetry were effective
- Jane Scott (Leader of WCC) gave opening address
- Vision News good publicity and also attracted an inquisitive audience
- A good opportunity to do an accessibility to services survey
- Really good partnership-working
- Had really good constructive feedback that will lead to real actions
- Follow-up articles in Wiltshire residents magazine, keeping it alive
- Opportunity to promote services for disabled people
A questionnaire was sent to all event organisers. The results can give an indication of the scope of people’s views. The following graph summarises the responses (ratings: 0 for poor and 10 for excellent, square being the average, circle being the minimum and triangle being the maximum score):
It can be seen from this summary that more attention needs to be paid to organising events that will deliver the disability equality message
Not-so-successful aspects – could do better
- Nothing to ‘link’ all events apart from logo
- No-one turned up for our event because there was no transport
- All on one day was too much
- Access groups are dwindling
- Not many people turned up
- Not enough flyers or posters visible in communities
- Not many WCC staff involved
- Some schools said they knew nothing of the day
Suggestions to overcome not-so-successful aspects
- Need more managers attending, need more influence
- Take account of visual impairments
- Need to have events where the public are not expect them to come to you
- Possibly spread over 1 week
- More schools should be involved but need to target key people
- Report from one school - Lessons included writing biographies on Louis Braille, looking at Braille books and even making paper guide dogs! Year 3 children had taster sessions on signingand lip reading, whilst years 1and 6 had a life-sized paper wheelchair and investigated its' use around school. The activities concluded with an excellent assembly led by Andy Derry from the Wiltshire Blind Association. The children learnt about the work of the charity and found out about talking tin cans and blind archery; a session which was both fun and informative!
- Need more national publicity
- A wider survey of what the issues are and tailor events
- Linking in to other organisations would make more impact
- More time to plan
- Promotional material available sooner
- Smaller organisations need more resources (people and £s)
Ideas shared for 3rd Dec 2008
Some of the ideas are contradictory and others may be over-ambitious but at this stage we are open to all suggestions.
- spread across one week
- coordinate events so that there are no ‘clashes’; ‘diarise’ on a first come first served basis
- involve more ‘outside’ organisations like RAF, British Gas
- request sponsorship from large organisations like GWR
- involve all schools
- Invite churches to be involved
- Involve specialist hospitals (eg Frenchay)
- Get students from local colleges involved
- Have a 4-5 day lead up with smaller events around the county leading to the big day
- Set up a steering group
- Organise transport to events – get Passenger Transport Team and Community Transport involved
- Make more of art and music – get colleges and schools to put on art or drama events
- Organise a sports event eg wheelchair basketball
- Organise event with invited speakers
- Have a mental health survey for staff
- Get more older people involved
- Get BBC involved
- Organise concerts
- Have main emphasis on schools (could be considered as discriminatory)
- Use schools network well in advance so that the week can be planned into the calendar of school events
- Schools and early years settings – how to deal with issues of a disabled child and effect on other children
- Have same or similar events in different districts
- Organise smaller events under the same banner that ‘everybody’ can get involved in like recycling glasses
- Promote commitment to 3rd Dec
- Invite local press to meetings explaining what we intend to do – get them involved right at the start
- Invite photographs
- Have competitions leading up to day
- Ask for volunteers
- Make more of the logo
- Local children could do something like say what the logo means to them or draw a picture
- Design another logo
- Keep the same logo as it is good branding and cheaper as some promotional material can be reused (more popular)
If you have any further suggestions for 2008, or would like to be added to the event organiser mailing list contact the equalities team
Finally, a quote from the UN Enable website:
The annual observance of the International Day ofPersons with Disabilities, 3 December, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme of the Day is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities, established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by General Assembly in 1982. The official title of the Day was changed from International Day of Disabled Persons to International Day of Persons with Disabilities by General Assembly resolution 62/127 (pdf 44Kb) 
on 18 December 2007.
Appendix 1 – Summary of events held in Wiltshire on 3rd Dec 2007
Events and activities, promoted, supported and coordinated by WCC, but organised by locals
Bradford on Avon Library - Deaf Awareness Talk
Calne 1st Choice Stairlifts Ltd - Knowing Me, Knowing You - Information Exchange Event – cancelled at last minute
Chippenham Disability Awareness Raising and Consultation Event,North Wiltshire District Council, Westlea Housing, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Independent Living Centre, Shaw Trust at the Neeld Hall
Devizes - Disability awareness day for police staff and officers
Wiltshire Police Service
Devizes Library - Visual Impairment Help Session
Marlborough Library - Understanding Dyslexia, Marlborough and District Dyslexia Society
Melksham - 'Community Open Morning', Information display, coffee and cakes and talks with people who have had to overcome barriers, Shaw Trust,
Melksham Blue Pool - Promoting access to health facilities
- West Wiltshire District Council in partnership with DC Leisure
Pewsey - Launch of the King Alfred’s Trail - Pewsey Area Community Trust and Supporters of the King Alfred Trail
Salisbury - Information display and poetry performance Link Up Arts and Salisbury Shopmobility
Salisbury - Disability Awareness Day for pupils and staff (several activities all week), St Edmunds Girls’ School and Five Rivers Leisure, Laverstock
Semington - Celebrating International Day of Disabled People,
Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living, Talks on ’Disabled People in Asia and Africa’
Semington - West Wiltshire Access Group - Where are we at in Wiltshire?
Tidworth - Disability Awareness Display and free accessible leisure opportunities, Tidworth Leisure Centre, Kennet District Council
Trowbridge - Seasonal No Barriers Open Day
Shaw Trust Supported Employment, Shaw Trust Horticulture, Shaw Trust Progress 2 Work
Trowbridge Education opportunities, advice and options for young people with learning difficulties, Wiltshire Connexions and Fairfield Farm College, The Shires,
Trowbridge - Information for deaf and hard of hearing people on all issues related to deafness - RNID, The Shires, Trowbridge
Semington - Disability Awareness Display
Shaw Trust and Avon Rubber plc
Warminster - Disability Awareness for Warminster children
Sutton Veny Church of England School
Wootton Bassett - Signing in School, Lydiard Millicent Church of England Primary School
There were many more activities taking place throughout the county in schools, businesses and district councils. These activities were for staff or pupils only and it was not appropriate or preferred not to advertise.
WCC funded events and activities
Intranet Disability Equality Quiz, 1 day only, winner received tin of EQuality Street
Our Voice Theatre Group – 2 performances and workshop on choice, independence and respect
Rise to the Mark Baker Recruitment Challenge – job carving workshop for managers by Cabinet Member championing Equality & Diversity
Community meeting Disability Equality Duty and WCC – how are we doing?
Customer Care and Social Care Help Desk Open Day (for staff and invited guests)
Contact Details
By Post
Equalities Team
Development Services
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
By Email
By Telephone
01225 713510
By Fax
01225 713145
