PLANS to hold a second disability pride day in Reading will be enhanced by the feedback from people who attended the inaugural event.
Reading Borough Council held the day as a way of championing people who live and work in the borough and have additional needs.
A recent meeting of its Access and Disabilities Working Group on Thursday, September 7, asked members for their feedback to the wet day.
Rosa said: “We were at the mercy of the elements outdoors; we could have an indoor event or something that can be moved inside if needed.”
Cllr Anne Thompson (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said that any building that could be used for a future event would have to be wheelchair accessible, while Cllr Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) suggested that the event could be held in Market Place, relocating into St Laurence Church if downpours persist.
He said: “If the weather does turn inclement, there is space, and it is still pretty much in the town centre.”
Another group member said the council could have had more information about the services it offers, such as disabled parking badges, council tax grants and disability grants for home adjustments.
It was also felt that the stall arrangement could be a more fluid mix and include performers and voluntary organisations such as Fab4All day care centre and Me2Club, which supports children and young people.
At the event this year, the performer tent, council services and volunteer stalls were separate.
One member of the group said that the pressure of having it on a single day ‘can be quite daunting’ and suggested that the event could be spread across more than one day and more than one venue.
There was debate about the merits of a parade, something that happens at a similar event in Brighton.
Overall, it was agreed that a second event should be organised next year.
Helen Bryant, the council’s access officer, said: “I find the feedback very moving when people said how much it meant to them, it was a very tiring and wet day, but it was very moving.”
Councillors agreed to a follow-up meeting later in the autumn to work through the ideas raised and start planning the 2024 event.
