Access and Inclusion at Northwest LGBT Pride
Northwest Pride strives for genuine inclusion, aiming for our activities and events to reflect and involve the Full Spectrum of LGBT people, their families, friends and supporters. As such, we have developed policies and guidelines with regard to including the Deaf and people with disabilities.
There is also a designated Access Officer on the Committe, Isolde Carmody. It is Isolde’s role is to ensure that there is general accessibility and inclusion at all events, and to assist individuals wishing to participate in meeting their needs.
| Isolde can be contacted by phone or SMS on 086 2565480, or by e-mailing northwestpride@gmail.com. Please put “Access” in the subject line. for more details. |
Accommodation & Travel:
- Everyone attending the Northwest Pride festival is assigned accommodation at a special rate, including some accessible rooms. It is essential that you contact the Access Officer (details above) to discuss your needs to ensure that you will get the right accommodation.
- There is transport available over the weekend to get participants to some events. This includes some transport suitable for wheelchair users and people with guide/assistance dogs, but we will need to know numbers in advance. Get in touch with the Access Officer as soon as possible if you need transport assistance.
Events:
- We have done our best to hold events in venues with good physical access. If you know of or experience any difficulties accessing a venue for a NW Pride event, please contact our Access Officer (details above) This year sees the return of the Pub Quiz on the night of Friday 12th August at an event hosted by OutWest. This is an inclusive event with supports for Deaf and visually impaired people. It will be followed by Karaoke, open to singers and signers, and a disco. Not to be missed!
Greenbow will be providing ISL interpretation for selected events. There will also be Deaf Awareness Training and basic ISL tuition for young people on Friday 12th August.
The parade on Saturday 13th August is followed by a big sing-along of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. We want to bring sign-language users to the front of the crowd to sing it in ISL!
If you would like assistance getting around Sligo and the other event locations (Art exhibition, Beach BBQ), please contact the Access Officer. Our volunteers will receive training in accessibility awareness and sighted guiding. If you find yourself lost or stuck, make sure you have your mobile phone with Isolde’s number saved in it – 086 2565480. Give her a call or a text and someone will be along to get you on the right road!
Don’t be afraid to ask any volunteer for help and information. We want to have you with us for this fantastic community celebration!
Isolde Carmody
Access Officer
- This year sees the return of the Pub Quiz on the night of Friday 12th August at an event hosted by OutWest. The quiz is being devised with input from Greenbow (national Deaf LGBT organisation) and Isolde Carmody, (a visually impaired artist, writer and pedant) to make it a multi-sensory inclusive experience. This will be followed by a unique Deaf / Hearing Karaoke, where Deaf and hearing people share the stage to produce signed and sung performances. Not to be missed!
- Greenbow will be providing ISL interpretation for selected events, Deaf Awareness training and basic ISL tuition over the course of the Festival. Check regularly for details on our Events page!
- If you would like assistance getting around Sligo and the other event locations (Manorhamilton, Beach BBQ), please contact the Access Officer. We have many hard-working volunteers to keep things running smoothly, and they will receive training in accessibility awareness and sighted guiding. If you find yourself lost or stuck, make sure you have your mobile phone with Isolde’s number saved in it – this will be provided in an email correspondence, so please do ask! Give her a call and someone will be along to get you on the right road!
