Kidz to Adultz North

One of the UK’s most important events for young people with disabilities – Kidz to Adultz North – returns to Manchester’s EventCity for one day only on Thursday November 16^th 2017. Organised by Disabled Living – one of the region’s oldest charities currently celebrating its 120th year – Kidz to Adultz North is a unique, inspiring and vital free annual event.  It is a celebration of independent living, and offers a one-stop shop for the most up to date advice, support and information for youngsters with disabilities up to the age of 25 and their carers – as they strive for a continually inclusive life transitioning from childhood to adulthood.

Kidz to Adultz North– organised by Disabled Living – welcomed almost 5000 visitors to its Manchester show last year. Launched in 2001, the Kidz to Adultz team now organise five of these annual events across the UK.  These are the only events of their kind totally dedicated to children and young adults up to 25 years of age with disabilities and additional needs. Hundreds of experts are on hand throughout the event offering valuable advice and support on all areas of disability; from mobility, funding, seating, beds, communication, sensory, transition, education, housing, employment to accessible vehicles, transport, sports, leisure, independent living and much, much more.

This year, as part of its year-long anniversary commemoration, Disabled Living will be looking both forwards and backwards at this year’s Kidz to Adultz North event. As a homage to its beginnings in 1897 under the guise of the “Band of Kindness and Children’s Help Society” – to encourage people to be kind to donkeys and in turn their fellow citizens – visitors can come and visit the donkeys in the Activity Area. Old equipment and an early model of one of the first disabled cars will be on display highlighting both the contributions Disabled Living has made to enhance independent living over the years, but also to highlight how far things have improved and changed since its early stages.

Looking to the future, this year’ event will also have innovation very much at its heart with its own Innovation Hub. Young people and their carers are encouraged and invited to enter this futuristic space, to share and draw any ideas of their own of life-enhancing equipment. Staff and engineers will be on hand in the space, to help discuss and design these thoughts on equipment and products for the future. There is every chance that at least one of these imagined ideas could very well be realised by Disabled Living in the future.

The charity is hoping that many young visitors with disabilities and additional needs will attend the day and take part in the many hands-on activities. Entries will also be open on the day for the charity’s Design a Christmas Card competition where the winner’s design will be turned into the very one that Disabled Living will send out in 2017. The charity’s archives show that the tradition of sending out Christmas cards to its young service users dates back as far as its launch in 1897.

Debra Evans, Disabled Living’s Chief Executive says: “We are delighted to be bringing our annual Kidz to Adultz North event back to Manchester this November in a very special year for us. The past 120 years has seen us transform from a small and unique outfit teaching people about kindness into an acclaimed organisation that has transformed thousands of lives across the region. And so this year’s event will very much celebrate all that we have achieved to date, with a special emphasis on heritage and celebrating history whilst very much looking to the future to show that we are always looking for new and pioneering ways to help makes lives better and more independent.”
Entry to Kidz To Adultz North is Free. It runs on Thursday November 16^th from 9.30am – 4.30pm at EventCity, Barton Dock Road, Manchester M17 8AS