disability awareness day screenshot
A digital render of a virtual stall at this year’s online Disability Awareness Day event

Aiming to bring a new element of realism to the digital event space, Disability Awareness Day has announced it will launch its virtual show this October in response to the coronavirus crisis

The show is organised and managed by Warrington Disability Partnership and announcement to run the show virtually follows the charity’s decision to postpone its live event until 2021, citing ongoing concerns surrounding coronavirus.

Unwilling to let the pandemic prevent the world’s largest ‘not for profit’, voluntary-led disability exhibition from taking place, Dave Thompson MBE DL, Chief Executive of Warrington Disability Partnership, decided to look for another way to bring the event to the disabled community.

Working with a development team for 4WardFutures, Warrington Disability Partnership has created an innovative and interactive online platform that delivers all of the fun and entertainment associated with Disability Awareness Day along with the vital advice, information and guidance that the show gives visitors.

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Having run 28 live Disability Awareness Days, this year’s 29th event will be the first time the charity will host a purely online event.

Determined to make the virtual show as close as possible to the live event, the charity has created a digitally rendered version of the marquees and stalls that Disability Awareness Day’s usual 20,000+ attendees are accustomed to – the charity has even gone as far as to create the grass for added authenticity.

Taking place on the 25 October, the online event will see visitors that visit the site be able to visit different sections that make up the event, where they can interact and communicate with exhibitors, make donations to their favourite charities, see performances, pick up information and much more.

“The whole idea of Disability Awareness Day virtual is to literally transform the DAD event live into a virtual experience,” explained Dave.

“We would expect to see a huge tented village of marquees, outside exhibitors, a sports zone, an arts marquee, a centre arena, a silent disco, a funfair for the children at a DAD event.

“The idea of the virtual show is to have an oversight of the entire Walton Hall and Gardens park online where people will be able to enter into each marquee and go to the individual, 3D branded stalls where they can have a conversation by live chat with a representative from the charity or the company on the day. They can also pick up leaflets through pdf, watch videos on products and services and more.”

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Designed around its usual venue at Walton Hall & Gardens in Warrington, visitors will have a top down view where they can click to visit a specific section

As well as marquees for charities and businesses, Disability Awareness Day’s other attractions will also be available, including its sports zone providing insights into different sports and hobbies open to disabled people, as well as its arts marquee showcasing highly talented artists.

Importantly, Dave has also confirmed that mobility and access dealers and suppliers wishing to participate will be able to for free, providing companies with an unbridled level of free access to the potentially tens of thousands of loyal Disability Awareness Day attendees that will be encouraged to visit on 25 October 2020.

The website can now be viewed online, however, it is currently under development. According to Dave, the platform with full functionality will be up and running on the day.

Companies keen to become involved with the Disability Awareness Day virtual and secure their free digital stall can contact Dave Thompson at DaveThompson@disabilitypartnership.org.uk for more information

Watch the video below to find out more details:

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