The largest ever gathering of disabled Asian people, due to take place in Bradford next week, is aimed at breaking taboos.

DIAL, which stands for Disability Information and Advice Line, has organised a special evening to raise awareness among Asian communities about services on offer.

It will include stalls with information about help available, entertainment, a buffet dinner and short speeches as well as the opportunity to meet other families living with a disability - be it mental, physical or sensory.

Now the event which hoped to attract about 100 disabled people is on course for a crowd of about 400 to 600.

One of the organisers Mahfooz Shar said: "The problem within the Asian community is that disability is not talked about.

"It's taboo. The Asian community need to accept disability and in order for them to do this they need to discuss services which are already available to them.

"There are gaps in the service providers in Bradford for Asian disabled people. That's not the fault of any one party. The users as well as the providers are ignorant of the others needs."

Bari Malik, another organiser, said some Asian people feel that they should not be asking for help from those outside the family, even though it is their right.

He said he hoped the evening would help establish how many disabled Asian people there are in Bradford.

Current statistics based on the voluntary disability register shows 12 per cent of the disabled population of Bradford are Asian. But, because few Asian families declare the fact, it is thought to be far higher.

The Asian Disability Awareness Evening will take place at Dixons City Technology College, Ripley Street, Bradford from 6.30pm on Friday, March 6.

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