Disability charities and campaigners in Jersey are using International Day of Persons with a disability to highlight how much remains to be done towards understanding and inclusivity.

The International Day of Persons with a Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations day observed internationally each year on 3rd December.

It aims to promote community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with a disability.

Enable Jersey will be at Charing Cross on Tuesday morning (3 December) to showcase its support services.

Later, it will join other teams and services at the Radisson Hotel for this year's 'Embrace our Difference' event (3.30-6.30pm).  The title for this year is 'Working together we can make a difference'.

More than 50 charities and organisations will be represented, to share their vision of better inclusivity and showcase the work of the third sector.

Enable CEO Sean Pontin says it is an opportunity to raise awareness, mobile support and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

"It is Enable’s job to shine a light on the issues that still affect people living with a disability or long term condition. As an island we still have much to do to make sure the impact of disability is understood and that accessibility and inclusion remains a priority."

Among the attendees will be Ports of Jersey, which has been working with AllMatters Neurodiverse, a charity that supports people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other neurological differences.

The collaboration has been looking at ways of making travel easier for everyone.

Sophie Alexander, PoJ Head of Sustainability and Community Value, says AMD has been providing feedback of what it is like to travel with neurodiversity.

"Since April, our front-line team has been learning how to ease the journey through the airport, and we have received many compliments about the new (assisted travel) service. We recognise that everyone’s needs are different, which is what we try to deliver to our passengers each day.”

Also represented at Embrace our Difference will be Jersey Cheshire Home. Chairman Jim Hopley says, despite disability discrimination laws being enacted five years ago, there is still much to consider.

"We have got the best part of 15,000 - 16,000 disabled people in the island.  

"It is not only people in wheelchairs, it is people with sight impairment, hearing difficulty, mental health issues... It is just trying to persuade people to at least think what they can do to assist those individuals to have a better life.

"We are still fighting a battle to change attitudes, so that people at least stop and think before they take actions that have got unforeseen consequences."

Mr Hopley has praised efforts at the harbour and airport.

"They are not perfect, and certainly they have got a long way to go, but at least they are trying.  They are listening, and they are talking to people who have got at least some knowledge of disabilities, to see what adjustments they can make."

Jersey Cheshire Home hopes we will wear something red this month to raise awareness of disability rights and issues.

The home's 'Red for Ability' campaign also encourages people to post videos of themselves completing a small challenge related to disability awareness, such as performing a task with one hand or navigating a mini obstacle course blindfolded, whilst wearing red of course.