Monday 3 December was the International Day of People with Disability and this year’s main theme was ‘Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all’.
Over one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. These people – “the world’s largest minority”, often face barriers to participation in all aspects of society. Barriers can take a variety of forms, including those relating to the physical environment or to information and communications technology, or those resulting from legislation or policy, or from societal attitudes or discrimination. The result is that persons with disabilities do not have equal access to society or services, including education, employment, health care, transportation, political participation or justice.
KPAC hosted the awards night to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.
Awards were presented to the following:
Young Person of the Year Award (up to aged 18 inclusive)
Awarded to a young person with disability for the best positive contribution to peers, their school or college, or the Knowsley community in general.
Keiran Keating
Public Sector Hero Award
Award to someone who works in the public sector and has gone that extra mile to help people with disability in Knowsley
Jann Taylor and Jayne Martin – Disability Advisors at Jobcentre Plus
Volunteer of the Year Award
Awarded to an individual who gives freely and unselfishly of his or her time to help people with disability in Knowsley
Karen Harper – Knowsley Domestic Violence Support Services
Parent of the year Award
Christine Browne
Organisation of the Year Award
Awarded to the a businesses or voluntary and community groups that has made a significant contribution to improving life for people with disability in the Knowsley community
Supporting Parents, Events & Advice in Knowsley (S.P.E.A.K)
Lifelong Achievement Award
This award recognises a person who has advanced the rights of people with disability over a prolonged period of time.
Chris Roderick
Employers Award
This award recognises organisations that have improved access to employment, or created increased employment opportunities for people with disability in Knowsley
Viv Emmett of Active8
Individual Award
This award is for a Knowsley individual with an illness or disability, who has made a remarkable personal achievement in the face of adversity.
Margaret Harrison – Acorn Farm
Knowsley Entrepreneur of the Year Award
This award will celebrate the achievements of a Knowsley entrepreneur with disability.
Kathryn Reilly – The Wool Shop
Special Award
Awarded for ongoing support for organisations and projects that work with disabled people
Karl Hart – The Old School House Community Project
Congratulations also go to KDC and the other shortlisted nominees:
Stephanie Tomlinson, Brenda Kelly, Dot Ashton, Tom Baker, Chris Browne, Patricia Helsby, Wendy Weston, Tammy Edwards, Acorn Farm, Active Community Enterprise, Lisa Simpson, Care and Repair Knowsley, Diverse Road Safety, Kath Manley, Knowsley Carers Centre, Gerry Tyrell, Susan Cowley, Jeff Bailey.
