Disabled group make DVD

John Paul Woods, Donna Marie Sloan, Alison Douglas and Craig Grayson launch the Hate Crime DVD

A group of people with disabilities put forward their ideas and experiences on the issue and joined forces with Universal Comedy with the aim of encouraging more people to report disability hate crime.

The DVD, funded by North Lanarkshire Council’s Social Work and Learning and Leisure Services, includes a number of sketches written and presented by members of the group.

Councillor Sam Love, convener of Housing and Social Work Services said: “The feedback received from the first DVD screening is very positive and I would like to thank Universal Comedy for their ongoing technical support.

“Initiatives like this one help raise public awareness and we will continue to ask for public support to help change people’s attitudes and reduce the number of disability hate crimes.”

Those involved in the project received training in presentation skills and the DVD was informally launched at a special family screening.

One of the participants John Paul Woods said: “It was good to be a part of making the DVD and coming up with the material.”

Viv Gee, Universal Comedy tutor, added: “I loved working with this group, we felt like a big family and everyone was involved from start to finish.

“It was great to witness the confidence grow in individuals each week as their ideas began to take shape. Feedback from parents tells us we are improving the lives of participants.”

Sergeant Alan Mulholland of Police Scotland commended the group for their work.

He said: “Police Scotland is very supportive of the work of the North Lanarkshire Disability Hate Crime Project.

“PC Garry Cook contributed to the film, reinforcing the seriousness of any hate crimes or incidents reported to the police and that they are investigated thoroughly.

“There is no tolerance for anyone who is ignorant or abusive towards any particular groups or individual within society and thankfully we have legislation to deal with this.”

The DVD is available to view on You Tube, and plans are afoot to present it to various peer, staff and community groups.