International Day of Disabled People (IDODP) happens every year on 3 December. It is celebrated all around the world and is recognised by the British
Government as an important part of UK Disability Policy. The aim of the day is to promote greater understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of Disabled people. The principles of IDODP are Celebration, Learning, Optimism and Action.
Forum Central has celebrated IDODP every year since 2019 in collaboration with The Disability Hub at Leeds City Council and other third sector partners.
The Leeds for All working group was established in 2021 to coordinate a city-wide event. The annual event brings together organisations and advocacy groups to network and showcase the services they offer for Disabled people in Leeds to professionals and members of the public, helping to pave the way towards a sense of pan-disability community.
The aim of the event is to bring people together to make new connections and strengthen existing relationships. And to raise awareness around disability challenges and solutions – promoting the social model of disability. It provides an opportunity to showcase ongoing work to make Leeds a more inclusive place for everyone, and gives an opportunity for system partners to hear what people with lived experience have to say.
2024
520 people came along to the International Day of Disabled People Marketplace event on Tuesday 3 December 2024, 11 AM to 3 PM at Leeds City Museum. Theme: “Advocating for accessibility”.
People with a wide variety of physical, sensory and learning disabilities, their families and carers were all welcomed. 26 organisations were represented at colourful and engaging stalls. The Quiet Sensory Room, run by Leeds Autism Service’s was used by 40 people, and around 70 people took part in the Art Zone run by Pyramid of Arts, who said: “International Day of Disabled People is a really lively event and it is wonderful to see people with learning disabilities, carers, and people working in the sector coming together to share good practice and have fun! I always meet new people when attending and this has led to exciting new collaborations and projects. The event is well organised and feels really inclusive and friendly.”
For more information and photos go to the IDODP 2024 event page.
2023
Around 380 people came to the 2023 celebration of IDODP on Thursday 30 November at Leeds City Museum. The theme was ‘Transformation, Inclusion, Innovation’. 28 stallholders represented a wide variety of organisation who support people with learning disabilities, mobility and physical impairments, sensory impairments and autism. Through the event we supported organisations to reach new audiences, network, build new partnerships and strengthen existing ones.
A Small Grant Fund was distributed to 12 organisations, whose events and activities involved 511 people. Evaluations of organisational activity showed that the small grants fund had sparked new activity, connection, ideas and partnership working across the city.
For more information and photos go to the IDODP 2023 event page.
Marketplace Event – Highlights Video
Audio Described – Marketplace Event Highlights Video
IDODP Grant Funded Activities – Highlights Video
Audio Described – Grant Funded Activities Highlights Video
2022
IDODP 2022 was the first marketplace event since before the pandemic to take place in person.
Forum Central members, worked with and for people with physical disabilities, sensory impairments and learning disabilities. There were over 20 stalls on the day. It was a really lively and informal day where people were able to meet and mingle and share useful information about the services, activities, groups and support options that their organisations offer.
IDODP 2022 Highlights Video
2021
Due to Covi-19 restrictions, IDODP 2021 was held virtually and was based on the theme of ‘Recovery from Covid -19′.
There was an array of week long events consisting of face to face, online and hybrid activities were planned commencing Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December throughout the City of Leeds, with a celebratory event on 3 December at Leeds City Museum.
Events and activities were either online, in person and in a hybrid format.
242 people attend the events and activities from Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December.
IDODP 2021 Highlights Video
2020
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a face-to-face event was replaced with a week of accessible, online, live, on demand and at home activities to celebrate the event and help keep people connected.
Leeds for All gave organisations and individuals the opportunity to showcase and celebrate. It included films, performances, workshops and exhibitions. 300 people attended the live events, 1,144 people viewed our films, activities and workshops on YouTube and 612 individuals engaged in the offline/website activities.
2019
This was the first Leeds For All IDODP celebration event to take place. The theme focussed on ‘The Future Is Accessible’.
The event gave organisations and individuals the opportunity to showcase and celebrate. It included films, performances, artwork and stalls. There was a ‘comfy corner’, to encourage people to stay awhile and socialise with others and a creative feedback space, with a message tree and post box where people could write comments and thoughts: both on the event itself and wider thoughts on what it’s liketo be a person with a disability living in Leeds.