Able Magazine was again proud to have been selected as Headline Media Partner with Naidex, the biggest and best independent living event for disabled people.
Naidex is always impressive. It feels like, for two days, that the entire disability community enjoys a festival of accessibility and inclusivity, where disabled people can share their journeys with others and pick up vital information and advice while selecting from thousands of adaptations and equipment, displayed on the show floor.
A tradition trusted to Able Magazine is to single out the product or service at Naidex we judge as the ‘Best In Show’. With hundreds of exhibitors and an enormous range of things to see, it’s always a challenge. However, though the field for this year’s award was predictably strong, a worthy winner emerged.
The eFOLDI Lite Mobility Scooter is an ultra-lightweight, portable and practical way to get around. The secret of its success is in the details, since it folds and unfolds in seconds, making it ideal to take around in the car boot or even up to the door of an aeroplane. Best of all is the use of magnesium alloy within its sleek frame, which because it’s only a third as heavy as aluminium but three times as strong, not only helps to keep the weight down but also makes for a smoother ride, as it absorbs vibrations as you go. The trophy was awarded by Able Magazine editor, Tom Jamison.
The Best In Show Awards is also an opportunity for us to meet our many advertisers and partners and to demonstrate their valuable contributions to the lives of our readers.
The buzz at Naidex 2024 was centred around this year’s special guest. Again, as headline media partner, Able Magazine was able to get involved with the keynote theatre session which saw our editor, Tom Jamison, talk candidly with television presenter and mental health advocate, Roman Kemp.
The interview took place on the Main stage in front of 300 people, perhaps all with a story of their own to tell, so it was important that the interview wasn’t only informative but hopeful and entertaining – and Roman Kemp proved to be the ideal guest, sharing his fascinating and heartfelt experiences.
Elsewhere, disabled people were able to engage with lighter theatre sessions and fun stuff in the Village Green area, that saw demonstrations of sports and exercise activities as well as some really interesting panel discissions, and of course, the Business Without Barriers area was a popular part of the show for disabled people aiming to make their mark in the workplace.
Naidex wouldn’t be Naidex without the visitors. Happily, so many dropped by the Able Magazine stand to say hello and let us know how much the publication means to them – and in our 30th year of publishing Able Magazine, we definitely appreciate the opportunity to return our thanks to them too.
