Michael will not be put off by his disability

Michael will not be put off by his disability

4 December 2013

A DARRAGH Cross man facing his own battle with Motor Neurone Disease is behind the international Disability Pride event coming to Northern Ireland.

Michael Holden is hoping the parade and carnival event set for Belfast in September 2014 will help change the way people think about and define disability.

Disability Pride is an annual, international event founded in America over ten years ago, which has never before been held in the UK or Ireland.

One of the reasons the Chicago-based organisation brought Northern Ireland on board for September 2014 was to acknowledge the work on disability issues carried out by Michael’s website Trip-Ability — a website which shares experiences of travel and entertainment with the disabled community.

“I was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a life limiting and progressive illness which for the moment means I sometimes walk with a crutch and sometimes need a wheelchair,” said Michael.

“I need to think about access, transport and face new challenges every day but I am also a businessman, a husband and a father of two primary school children, so I am also a carer.

“Over 17 per cent of the people in Northern Ireland are living with a disability including over 200,000 adults. Many of those, like me, are also parents, carers, employees. Every one of us will be cheering next September that I am able to do it.”

Michael, who recently featured in the Down Recorder after his children were chosen as mascots for the ATP tennis tour final in London, explained that Disability Pride would include a colourful carnival through Belfast city centre followed by a concert and family market.

“Disability Pride Belfast 2014 will bring people together to celebrate what they can do — to celebrate being equal to those who don’t have a disability, to celebrate that we are all able to do it,” he said.

“We have already received encouragement and support from several government departments and Belfast City Council and we hope to announce the full parade and festival details early next year.

“Charities and individuals are also already registering on www.disabilitypride.co.uk, the concert is taking shape and we have attracted great interest from the retail sector to assist with the market.”

Although it is 10 months away, Michael and his business partner Nigel Millen wanted to announce the news to coincide with International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3.

Nigel said he hoped Disability Pride Belfast 2014 would change the way people think about and define ‘disability’.

“Almost two out of every five (37 per cent) of Northern Ireland homes include at least one person with a disability,” he said. “Disability Pride Belfast 2014 will promote the mindset that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can take pride.

“Quite simply, Disability Pride Belfast 2014 will be a lot of fun but it will also change the way people think about and define disability.”