Archive Council News

17.07.06

Disability - It's Time to make a Difference

A disability event “Disability – it’s time to make a difference” has been arranged for Saturday 22 July in Queens Square in Wrexham Town Centre.

The event will run from 11 to 3.00pm and a limited number of stalls are available (free of charge) to organisations and groups that would like to raise public awareness of the services and support they offer to disabled people and their families and carers.

The new Disability Discrimination Act that comes into effect in December this year requires organisational changes within public bodies to ensure that disability equality is at the heart of what they do, rather than individual rights as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 did.

The new laws which provide a unique opportunity to make a real difference in improving the quality of life of disabled people by ensuring that public bodies publish a Disability Equality Scheme with action plans by December this year.

Wrexham County Borough Council, Wrexham Health Board and the North East Wales NHS Trust are working in partnership and are all committed to reviewing their working practices and policies to ensure the needs of disabled people are met. Each member of the partnership is working to create a disability action plan for their organisation that will promote equality for people with disabilities, carers and families.

The purpose of the event is to put the spotlight on disability equality in Wrexham. Disabled people and other people will be asked to highlight areas and issues they are keen to see improved so that disabled people can begin to enjoy the same access and rights as other citizens as they go about their day to day business.

If you would like more information about the Disability Equality Duty or about the disability event and booking a stall on the 22nd of July, please contact either Celia Gibson, Equality Manager on 01978 292808 or Roger Davies, Assistant Policy Officer on 01978 292176.