Disability Pride Cymru 2010

I’m not in Wales, but I am thrilled to see a Disability Pride event being covered by the BBC!

A celebration of the talents of people with disabilities is being staged in Cardiff Bay.

Thousands of people are expected to attend Disability Pride Cymru 2010 at Roald Dahl Plass.

Among the entertainment laid on are disabled rock, magic and comedy acts, and food stalls and advice desks.

“It’s a positive event looking at disabled people and what we have to offer,” said Paul Warren of Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People.

The free event, which heralds National Epilepsy Week, was last held two years ago, Mr Warren explained, but on a much smaller scale.

“Today is much larger,” he said. “We’re aiming for between 7,000 to 8,000 people.

“We’re looking to hold it as a regular event, at the moment every two years, but we are reliant on the time of volunteers to make it happen.”

Mr Warren described the event, run by charities including Mind, Mencap, Disability Arts Cymru, Scope, Disability Cyrmu, Bobath Cymru and Epilepsy Wales, as a fun day out and a celebration of disabled people.

“Too often it’s the negative stereotypes of disabled people that are portrayed in the media,” he said.

“When you fill out a benefit form, they want to know what you can’t do. It’s always the negative. This event is very much looking at the positive.”

“This is a celebration of what we can do and what we have to offer.”

Up to 15 entertainers from magicians to rock bands will appear on the main stage on a bill topped by Brighton-based punk band, Heavy Load.

Brighton punk band Heavy Load top the bill at Disability Pride Award-winning

“They count Kylie Minogue among their fans and do a punk version of I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” Mr Warren explained.

Also appearing are the award-winning Julie McNamara, JJ & Co, Unusual Stage School, Contagious Spirit, Kaite O’Reilly’s ‘d’ Monologues, Batuwe Beatz, Vaguely Artistic (Odyssey Theatre and Community Music Wales) and UCAN Productions.

The event, running on Saturday between noon until 1900 BST, is being compered by actor, writer and musician Mat Fraser.

At 1500 BST, Fraser will interview Cara Readle from BBC’s The Story of Tracey Beaker and Wesley Nelson, who played the young Ian Dury in the biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.