Celebrating people with disabilities

Tower Hamlets Council marked International Day of Disabled People on December 3 with a series of events this past week.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “We support this national day locally in order to encourage a better understanding of people affected by a disability, making people more aware of the rights, dignity and welfare of disabled people.”
Mile End Park Leisure Centre in Burdett Road hosted a morning of sporting activity from 10am-12noon for disabled adults on Monday, December 1.  Activities on offer included cycling, basketball and trampolining.
And service users from Day Opportunities based in Stepney showcased their artwork at a celebratory event, Breaking Down Barriers, at the Art Pavilion in Mile End Park, Clinton Road, on December 3.
Cllr Abdul Asad, lead member for adult and health services, said: “The day was a great chance to showcase innovative art projects and encourage residents to get active with a range of fun activities.”
Day Opportunities which has been running for more than ten years provides services for residents with sensory and physical disabilities
Organised by the Tower Project and council, Breaking Down Barriers had a pop up gallery highlighting arts, crafts and enterprises set up by disabled people from the borough.
Entertainment included Bollywood dancing, a tasty buffet and competitions; the fun day ran from 11.30am-2.30pm.
Over at the Tower Hamlets Local History Library, a new exhibition Out of the Box was launched on December 3, which has been put together by disabled residents.
Out of the Box is a pioneering project supported by the council and Arts Council England that invited disabled people and artists from East London to take the lead in bringing archives ‘out of the box’, exploring them and asserting their own personal local histories.
The exhibition will be running until the end of January. To reserve a place email or call 020 7613 5856.