Birmingham Citywide Disability Festival to take place in the city

• Birmingham Disability Festival is taking place in the city during Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate being proud of being disabled  

Details of the citywide Birmingham Disability Festival, hosted by Aston University on Saturday 5  July, have been announced today.

Created by Birmingham Disability Festival Committee (BDFC), this FREE event showcases a wide range of disabled talent through performances, sport, interactive games and disabled business owners and aims to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the UK’s second city.

The Festival features a packed day of events including live performances, arts and crafts, a ‘Human Library’ featuring key speakers, invaluable networking opportunities and essential resources to empower disabled people to thrive in their future life.

Highlights of the Festival include; dance performances from wheelchair based Freewheelin and Cerebral Palsy West Midlands, and music from DJ Charlie McNeill and Ben Love, who has a regular set at Birmingham’s famous The Night Owl.

Games and sports for people of all abilities will also be on offer including boccia, curling, blind football, volleyball, wheelchair basketball and inclusive tennis.

Attendees can also take part in workshops including: Ways for Wellbeing UK and Birmingham Metropolitan (BMet) College’s nature and wellbeing workshops around the themes of planting.  Running alongside these events is a dedicated marketplace featuring a variety of organisations run by people with disabilities who will be sharing their experiences and services.

Richard Parker, Mayor the West Midlands said: “Nearly 800,000 people living in the West Midlands have a disability. These are people living, working and travelling through the region like anyone else, and we are determined to ensure they can do just that, whatever they want to do in their life or wherever they want to go. The West Midlands is proud to be diverse and inclusive, and we are committed to becoming an Exemplary Region for Disabled People. It is a bold ambition and we all have a responsibility to acknowledge the significant challenges, play our part in reducing inequalities and empower disabled people to celebrate and succeed.

It’s why events such as the annual Birmingham Disability Festival and Disability Pride Month are so important. Last year’s event brought together over 600 people and it’s hoped this year’s will be even bigger – helping to raise the profile of disabled people, and the vast contribution they make, in our region.”

Nabila Gardner, Director at Ways for Wellbeing UK CIC a health and wellbeing coaching organisation led by disabled women said: “We are very proud to lead the coordination of the citywide Festival, the first of its kind in Birmingham. We know what it is like to not be seen and recognised for our work. We want to motivate others like us to see how they can make a difference just by being who they are and doing what they do.  We all have different ways of being included in our world and we are proud that we do things differently.”

The day will also feature a ‘Human Library’ where people can attend discussions with keynote speakers including , Dr Amo Raju. Dr Mark Esho, Nadia Johnstone-Smith, Alfie Ford and Charlotte Berisford and many more. The ‘Human Library’ is facilitated by Dr Mark Fosbrook.

Isaac Harvey MBE will be at the Disability Festival as the roving reporter for the day.

Birmingham Disability Festival is organised by Festival partners Ways for Wellbeing UK CIC, BMet College, Aston University, Arts Therapies UK, Augmented Lifestyle CIC.

The Citywide Birmingham Disability Festival is FREE to attendees and takes place at the Aston University, Aston Street Birmingham B4 7ET (near to Millennium Point) on Saturday 5 July between 12:00 PM and 18:00 PM and is fully accessible. 

British Sign Language interpreters and quiet spaces will be available. Assistance dogs are fully welcomed. Food and drink and seating areas on site. Festival organisers will be present throughout the day for information and guidance.

Free parking at Millennium Point car park is available for blue badge holders. Whether travelling by train, bus, tram or car, please check for delays, cancellations or road closures ahead of your journey. 

Birmingham Disability Festival is FREE to attend. Attendees will need to register for a ticket.  For more information and to register your attendance, visit: Birmingham Disability Festival Ticket

For further information please email bhamdisabilityfestival@gmail.com.

Birmingham Disability Festival is funded by key partners including Ways for Wellbeing UK CIC, Arts Therapies UK, Augmented Lifestyle CIC, SIC, Birmingham Metropolitan College, Colmore BID, Midland Mencap. South and City College Birmingham.