I was delighted to have been invited along to the Disability Expo in London this week. It was a free two-day event, focussed on the ‘i’ in disability – ‘I matter’. There were hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in independent living and mobility aids, technologies and services along with advice from a variety of charities and organisations. All geared towards attendees with lived experience of disabilities. A wonderfully inclusive event.
Throughout the day there was also panel discussions and presentations from a wide variety of people and businesses, sharing their own lived experience and knowledge, offering the audience a chance to participate and connect.
What really impressed me, was the disability intersectionality of the event. The diversity and overlap of disabilities bought everyone together with a shared goal; to learn how to improve lives for the disability community, together. Creating a better future – (Hearing Loss – An Impending Pandemic | Deaf.Club).
Being deaf, I struggled towards the end of the day with the acoustics of the event, mainly because it was so busy and well-attended. But the atmosphere made it a wonderful experience nonetheless. I have never been to an event before, where shared lived experience meant so much, or where the passion for helping others was palpable in the room. It was great to meet old friends and make new connections.
The wealth of knowledge shared at Disability Expo 2023 was fantastic. The carefully curated panels and presentations gave people an understanding of various disabilities. They also shared challenges still faced by individuals and focussed a lot of discussion on how we can overcome issues with further support and advocacy. Time and again, I spoke with others who agreed that they are not ‘disabled’ themselves, but rather that they are disabled by society.
I hope everyone takes the inspiration and knowledge they left with and puts it in to some form of action. We can all make a difference by challenging discrimination, supporting accessibility initiatives, and promoting inclusivity in every aspect of life.
I met many amazing people and initiatives this week and I’ll be reaching out to them in the next week or so. I’d like to thank the organisers for a wonderful person-centred event. I matter. And you matter – more of these events please!
Our Deaf Club is open for membership and you can find out more by registering here: Deaf.Club. We are a worldwide hearing loss and deaf community based online / on an app and we foster an inclusive, uplifting community. We’re focussed on living our personal and professional lives to the full, whilst making real connections with people who have shared lived experience, and solutions, across the world. We also like to reward our members who actively participate, ensuring that everyone feels a sense of community.
