International Day for Disabled People with new Me, Being Active films

The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) has released a new collection of Me, Being Active films ahead of International Day for Disabled People. Two years since the first collection, viewers meet seven disabled people and learn more about the benefits they gain from being active. The national charity hopes the new films provide disabled people with useful information to lead an active lifestyle.

Meet Anoushé, Evie, Richard, Sam, Shona, Tesfai and Zack. They are seven disabled people with a range of impairments and long-term health conditions, who all lead active lives. In their own words, each individual shares their personal story. They talk about how they first became active and explain the way it makes them feel.

The Me, Being Active films are supported by Disability Rights UK and funded by Sport England. EFDS worked again with production company Fuzzy Duck to capture the stories that highlight climbing, horse riding, karate, fitness, dancing, yoga and rugby.

The films follow the successful Being Active Guide released in 2014, which talks directly to disabled people. This Guide gives those, who are inactive, access to relevant information, so they can have control over where, what and how they start being active. The new collection of films add to the Guide’s success, allowing viewers to hear other disabled people’s advice.

Barry Horne, Chief Executive for EFDS, said:

“We are delighted to release our next set of Me, Being Active films ahead of International Day for Disabled People. Not only do they promote disabled people’s motivations in sport and active recreation, they amplify findings in our own extensive insight.

“To increase the number of active disabled people, we need to understand more about disabled people’s lives. Everyone has different reasons and influences for being active. The new people involved in these films show their love for their activity and its benefits. We are grateful for their time.”

Mike Diaper, Executive Director of Sport England, said:

“Disabled people are half as likely to be active. That’s not right, especially as many disabled people want to be active or play sport and gain a great deal from it; something that these new films demonstrate so powerfully.

“At Sport England we’re working hard to reduce the inequalities that exist for disabled people and increase the number who are active. We want to make taking part in sport or being active an easy, practical and attractive choice for disabled people.”

Kamran Mallick, Chief Executive for Disability Rights UK, said:

“We are delighted to support the next set of EFDS’s ‘Me, Being Active’ films. Disabled people tell us that they do not have the confidence to try sports and activities because they don’t know what is available locally and whether it is accessible or welcoming to people with impairments.

“The good news is that with the right information at the right time through the right channels disabled people enjoy getting active and benefit particularly from the social aspect of sports and activity. The films demonstrate this through the stories of individual disabled people. We must continue to work with providers of sports and activities to remove barriers and open up access to all. ”

Since 1992, people from across the globe have celebrated the United Nation's International Day for Disabled People on 3 December. The annual celebration adopts a theme every year. In 2017, the theme is-“Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”.

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.

The new collection of Me, Being Active films is available on EFDS’s YouTube channel. From Monday onwards, EFDS’s website will focus on a film each day.

To watch Anoushé, Evie, Richard, Sam, Shona, Tesfai and Zack’s stories, visit the Me, Being Active 2017 playlist here. EFDS