Disability Festival in city for the first time

Visitors can take part in a wide range of games and sports including wheelchair basketball

A festival celebrating people with disabilities is taking place for the first time in Birmingham.

Disability Festival, hosted by Birmingham City University (BCU), will feature dance performances from wheelchair-based groups and interactive games for people of all abilities.

Visitors can also take part in sports such as boccia, curling, blind football, volleyball, wheelchair basketball and enjoy a tour for blind or visually impaired runners.

Taking place during Disability Pride Month, the event is to be held at the university's Curzon Building later.

Attendees can take part in wellbeing workshops that include planting, Tai Chi and on-the-spot muscle therapy.

The free event will showcase a range of disabled talent.

There will be dance performances from Freewheelin and Cerebral Palsy West Midlands and music from wheelchair user DJ Ben Linstead - regular DJ at music venue The Night Owl.

'Make a difference'

Nabila Gardner, director at ways for wellbeing UK CIC, said “We are very proud to lead the coordination of the first festival of its kind in Birmingham.

"We know what it is like to not be seen and recognised for our work. We want to motivate others like us to see how they can make a difference just by being who they are and doing what they do.

"We all have different ways of being included in our world and we are proud that we do things differently.”

Prof David Mba, BCU's vice chancellor, said the university was delighted to host this "extremely important event".

"Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of our University, as is our determination to continue fostering close working relationships with the city of Birmingham and its people," Prof Mba said.

“Occasions like this allow us to make those connections run even deeper."

The event takes place between 12:00 BST and 16:00 BST and is fully accessible.

Organisers say British Sign Language interpreters and quiet spaces will be available and assistance dogs are fully welcome.

Attendees can visit the event's website to register for a ticket.