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Harrogate event shines light on the disabled experience

Disability Action Yorkshire’s Harrogate event shines a light on the disabled experience with sex, sport, and the arts.

The conference was created to shine a light on prominent members of the disability community and their relationship with sex, sports, and the arts.

The keynote speaker asked to attend was ex-rugby player Jimmy Gittins, who broke his neck in two places in 2002, discussing his injury and running award-winning rehabilitation services currently.

Other speakers at the seminar included British Paralympian Laurence Whiteley MBR, non-binary drag artists Dan Khan, award-winning artist Jason Wilsher-Mills and sex and disability expert Lorraine Stanley.

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The conference was held at The Pavilions of Harrogate and featured an exhibition space with a number of commercial organisations from around Yorkshire, as well as hands-on activities. The seminar – named the Slightly Alternative Seminar – was set to change attitudes around disability, as well as give a chance for disabled people to get to know local accessible businesses in the area.

Jackie Snape, Disability Action Yorkshire’s Chief Executive, said about the event: ‘Disabled people have told us sport, arts and sexuality are areas that are often skirted over, and ones they feel underrepresented in, hence us shining a light on them during our conference.

‘I would like to thank all the guest speakers for their invaluable input, which, together with the stalls and attendees, made the event a real success.

‘We were delighted to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress. In addition to listening to Jimmy Gittins’ fantastic talk, they toured the various stalls meeting and speaking with those working on them.’

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