We are pleased to announce that LCiL will be hosting the first ever 24 hour newsroom, leading discussions and debates around the world alongside UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The newsroom will be reaching out to disability organisations across the world to capture stories, projects and role models.

The newsroom will go live from Wednesday 2nd December at 6pm through to 6pm on Thursday 3rd December. We aim to discover others around the world are involved in the social model delivery of services for disabled people.

As well as the UN 2015 theme being: “Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities.” LCiL will also look at the sub themes of: “Making cities inclusive and accessible for all”,

“Improving disability data and statistics” and “Including persons with invisible disabilities in society and development.” Social media and live streaming will be utilized to bring different people from the around the world together.

Organisations can get involved in an array of different opportunities will be available throughout the day. Twitter Q&A sessions, workshops and a presence in our marketplace are just a small number of the exciting opportunities. The event will be live streamed through our YouTube page and updates through Facebook and Twitter.

Disability Policy Day

Leading up to (UN) IDPD 2015, the LCiL will be supporting a Disability Policy Day on Wednesday 18th November at the Hansom Hall in Leicester.

This free event will run from 10 am till 7pm and shall be documenting Disability: Policy, Politics and the Personal. Debates around disability, policy and politics (chaired by Paul Darke, 10am) and asking why we need an international disability day (led by the Leicester Centre for Independent Living, 6pm). With a photographic exhibition by DMU PhD student Damla Nailer and a screening and discussion of University of the Arts’ PhD student Pratap Rughani’s documentary film Justine (11.30, re-shown at 4.30 but without the discussion).

During the afternoon (2-4pm), speakers from the University of Leicester, De Montfort University and elsewhere will deliver a punchy ‘Peccha Kucha’ style event presenting new research on disability, its representation, and social engagements with ideas around disability.

The event organised by John Coster from LCiL shall be in association with curator Dr E Anna Claydon SFHEA, Director of IDeoGRAMS, College of Social Sciences Director of PGT Programmes, Department of Media and Communication, University of Leicester. Also with contributions from special guests, Dr Paul Darke and Margaret Montgomerie from DMU.