University News Last updated 13 November 2017
World Health Innovative Summit, Include Me TOO and Birmingham City University have come together to build and strengthen a national platform for Disability Inclusion and Rights with a host of disabled champions.
The national summit event is taking place on Saturday 18 November 2017 between 10am and 4pm at Birmingham City University.
United Nations
This event marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations’ (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and will provide an insight into the numerous areas overlooked that are impacting on the lives of disabled people. The event will also offer opportunities for people to their share expertise, offering learning and inspiring examples to help attain the future all partners aim to achieve; a disability-inclusive and safe society for all.
The UK has over 12 million disabled people of which over 800,000 are children under the age of 16.
Among the guest speakers are disability advocates and personalities including Kamran Malik, CEO Disability Rights UK, actress Sam Renke, journalist Mik Scarlet and TEDx speaker and World Champion para-triathlete (swim, bike and run) Steve Judge.
Include Me TOO
Wolverhampton-based charity Include Me TOO is a national organisation supporting disabled children, young people and their families from diverse range of backgrounds.
Parmi Dheensa, Executive Director, Include Me TOO, said:
“The national summit will be providing a platform to review the challenges and the progress made over the last 10 years since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We aim to share ideas, create solutions and offer opportunities for building a disability-inclusive society. We are delighted to have such a diverse range of speakers sharing their knowledge, experiences and achievements.
“Furthermore, they are supporting the event as they recognise to make real progress for disability rights and inclusion, and the many issues the disabled community experience throughout their lifetimes is a collective effort, and is crucial. This event is a start of a much needed conversation as we all have a role in creating a world where our diverse disabled community can truly have a sense of belonging and are valued.”
The event will cover many topics, including:
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP) and what the reality is in UK
- Inclusive technology to support independent living and access
- Building stronger foundations for disability inclusion through the media
- Safeguarding and ending violence, and all forms of abuse against disabled children and adults
- Ensuring there is a disability-inclusive implementation of the UN’s global Sustainable Development Goals
- Increasing opportunities and choices to disabled persons’ inclusion and contribution towards sustainable economic growth and access to employment
- Building a disability-inclusive, safe and accessible society with inclusive transport and public spaces
World Health Innovation Summit
Established in 2015 the World Health Innovation Summit builds financially self-sustaining infrastructures focused on the health, vitality, and wellness of local communities in over 20 countries.
Gareth Presch, Founder and CEO, World Health Innovation Summit, said:
“In societies which function well, every single member of that society both contributes to and benefits from the collective energy and productivity created by everyone working together for the common good.
Student support
Birmingham City University offers advice, information and practical support to all students with a disability, medical condition, illness, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia.
Its Disability Support Team includes a Pre-entry Disability Adviser, who will offer applicants information about the support which may be available to them at Birmingham City University.
Amanda McCabe, Disabled Students Officer, Birmingham City University's Student Union (BCUSU), said:
“I’m proud to be an elected student officer who campaigns on behalf of students with disabilities, to ensure they get the best possible student experience whilst they are studying at Birmingham City University. Myself and my colleagues within BCUSU, and the wider institution, work hard to ensure Birmingham City University is a fully inclusive place to study.”