Redbridge Disability Awareness Day Festival held in Wanstead, East London saw over 450 people pass through this summer…it’s biggest incarnation yet!
Disability Awareness Day Festival
The festival is a celebration of the outstanding work being produced by disabled people and those who work with them in Redbridge.
We provided drama and music drop in sessions similar to those that we offer day centres across London where clients take part in meaningful music making using assistive music technology and real instruments developing concentration, fine motor control and memory and express themselves and develop confidence and self esteem through drama work.
There was also tai chi, football, cricket, a games bus, tennis, boccia and a petting zoo!
Rachel Southern, a drama practitioner highly experienced in working with disabled people, and Dave Darch, a music technologist and music leader, delivered drop in sessions combining drama games and activities with music and song for the attendees of the festival.
Disabled people from Eastway Care bases in Leytonstone and Silvertown, who we have worked with weekly for several years now, came along to sing songs and play drama games in the summer sun with other non-disabled and disabled people.
The participants expressed how nice it was to do our regular sessions of drama and music outside. There was a sense of camaraderie as we found ourselves surrounded by people facing similar barriers to our lives.
We all had a lot of fun, made new friends and new connections were forged between the various organisations working with disabled people in Redbridge.
The festival has three main aims:
* To provide an opportunity to showcase what people with a disability have been doing in the fields of sport, arts and entertainment
* To highlight what statutory, private or voluntary services are available to enable disabled people to stay independent.
* To promote equipment and aids that could maintain or improve independence.
The festival is a celebration of what people with a disability or mental ill-health can do in an inclusive and accessible way, with an exhibition of art created by people with a disability or mental ill-health, live acts, inclusive and accessible sports, information, arts and crafts, family activities and much more.