A seminar programme covering a wide range of topics will headline the UK’s first national consumer show for people with disabilities, enABLE ’08 to be held at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 28-29 November. Presented by Centaur Exhibitions and supported by Leonard Cheshire Disability, the two day show, which is completely free to enter, is dedicated to people with disabilities who seek an active and independent life. The wide-ranging programme of seminars planned will cover several aspects to ensure it accurately reflects their needs.
Among the topics to be covered is Financial Entitlement, a procedure often seen as highly complicated and intimidating resulting in more than £6bn of benefits being unclaimed in the UK each year. The seminar will guide visitors through the maze of grants and payments that may be available including Incapacity Benefits and Disability Living Allowances to people with disabilities and their carers.
For many people with varying degrees of disability, building a career or returning to work can be a daunting prospect so enABLE ’08 will be running a Work and Careers seminar outlining practical advice to those needing support and guidance. On hand at the seminar will be a number of people who have overcome this hurdle, none of whom have had their disability prevent them from continuing or embarking on a new challenge, keen to impart their knowledge.
There are around 2.6million people in the UK now classified as disabled, including not just adults but children too. An Education seminar will cover a wide topic to help children and their parents as they prepare for adulthood. Experts will be on hand offering practical advice on how to work through the system of inclusion through school and college as well as a number of students themselves sharing their own experiences.
Following on from education, two seminars focusing on Family Life and Holidays will offer advice about where to go to enjoy a ‘disabled-friendly’ trip. While taking a holiday may seem an easy option for able-bodied people, it can be a logistical nightmare for those with a disability. The Holiday seminar will include advice from travel operators who have made a serious commitment to ensuring everyone can enjoy their time away both here and abroad, together with a number of travellers who will share their positive experiences with visitors.
Some of the best known sports people will be on hand to offer advice on where to get help to fulfil a dream of continuing or commencing a new sport or hobby. With exercise and a healthy eating programme being the cornerstone of health, this can often be seen as a barrier for people with disabilities. There are however a number of activities that can still be enjoyed no matter what the disability, from biking to golfing and even diving. The Health and Support seminar aims to show that whatever the disability, there is no end to the enjoyment that can be achieved and some of the UK’s top sports stars will share their secrets about what motivates them.
Notes
To be held at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 28-29 November 2008, the very first enABLE show will be free to attend and will meet the information needs of visitors while offering an engaging seminar programme. The Ricoh Arena, which offers the most disabled-accessible exhibition halls in the UK and thousands of free parking spaces, also boasts excellent travel links by car and train. Around 120 exhibitors will be at the show covering a wide range of areas from aids to holidays, from fitness equipment to health and beauty and training and recruitment to education. Visit the official website at www.enableshow.co.uk for further details.
For further information contact:
Emma Spearing
Tel: 01202 862 410 Mobile: 07736 341 828 E-mail: enABLEpr@hazelpr.com
Cathy Metcalfe
Tel: 01327 352 199 Mobile: 07802 332 398 E-mail: enABLEpr@hazelpr.com