EFDS marks International Day for Disabled People
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is marking International Day for Disabled People, 3 December 2016, by revealing brand new engagement resources. Building on the success of the inclusive communications animation, EFDS has released its next film for engaging disabled people. Complementing the animation is a collection of free fact sheets that enable organisations to plan, target and deliver activities more effectively. The national charity hopes these resources will lead to more successful engagement ideas for disabled people to be and stay active for life.
Sport England’s Active People Survey consistently reveals low numbers for active disabled people. Year on year, statistics indicate disabled people are still half as likely to be active as non-disabled people. In order to tackle low participation rates, through their new strategies, Government and Sport England emphasise their funding focus will be on inactive audiences.
This stronger focus makes EFDS’s new resources extremely timely for providers across many sectors. Supported by Sport England, EFDS wants to help others to strengthen their engagement with and increase opportunities for disabled people.
Emily, a disabled character within the animation, talks viewers through the top engagement principles. This includes insight, marketing and workforce. The seven downloads provide useful information on these topics as well as how to better target supporters, disabled children and young people and older people.
Watch the engagement animation
Barry Horne, Chief Executive for EFDS, said:
“The reality is that the most people access activities at a local level. We want to empower those who plan and deliver these opportunities by providing the right support, connections and insight, so that we can all improve opportunities for disabled people. These new resources add to our growing offer of support and I would encourage activity providers to contact our engagement team to find out more.”
It is tradition that EFDS marks International Day for Disabled People with new resources. Last year, EFDS in partnership with Disability Rights UK released the Me, Being Active film series. In 2014, EFDS released the successful Being Active Guide, which supports disabled people to make the first move to being active.
Sport England’s Director of Insight, Lisa O’Keefe, said:
“Our vision in Sport England is that everyone, regardless of their age, background or level of ability, feels able to engage in sport and physical activity. We know that disabled people are half as likely to be active as non-disabled people. This is something that the sports sector needs to recognise, understand, and help to change – especially if we’re going to get more inactive disabled people moving more.
“That’s why celebrations, like the International Day for Disabled People, are so important. We need to put disabled people and what they want and need at the very heart of everything we do.
“We think these Engagement resources will really work towards making this vision a reality and to help more disabled people to get active, both now and in the future.”
Since 1992, people from across the globe have celebrated the United Nation's International Day for Disabled People, 3 December. The annual celebration adopts a theme every year. This year’s theme is “Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want”.
The United Nations created The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), as it is also known, in 1992. It aims to promote awareness and gain support for critical issues relating to the inclusion of disabled people in society. The Day raises awareness about disability issues and draws attention to the benefits of an inclusive and accessible society for all.
- To access the set of downloadable resources, visit the engagement page on our website.
