Time to Get Equal as campaigners march for disability rights in Chester

Jun 18 2009 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

DISABILITY charity Scope held a march through Chester city centre in a bid to promote equality for disabled people.

Service users, staff and supporters from Chester Skills Development Centre took to the street as part of Scope’s Time to Get Equal Week.

The annual awareness-raising week brought together disabled and non-disabled people to celebrate disabled people’s contribution to society and to challenge the discrimination which many disabled people face on a daily basis.

Starting at Chester Town Hall at 11am, marchers with drums and placards paraded through the town, handing out leaflets and encouraging people to put their name to a new pledge which seeks to improve the lives of disabled people.

The pledge enables them to take a small step to make a big difference to disabled people’s lives by committing to do something or complain if they see a disabled person being treated unfairly, such as restaurants which are not accessible for wheelchair users.

Fred Lines, Chester Skills Development Centre service manager, said: “Disabled people in modern Britain face a huge range of barriers in their day-to-day lives, from prejudice and discrimination to difficulties with physical access. However, they are equal members of our society and have the same rights as everybody else.

“This pledge is a great opportunity for people to put their support for disabled people’s rights into action.”