ESCANABA — Residents will have a chance to learn about living with disabilities at the Delta Plaza Mall Saturday. The disability awareness event Disable the Label, sponsored by the Delta County Regional Inclusive Community Coalition (RICC), will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

RICC Diversity Coordinator Brenda Crow said she believes Disable the Label has increased in popularity since it was first held in 2014.

While the annual event has been held in the area for a few years now, it was not always called Disable the Label. When it was introduced, it was known by an entirely different name.

“It was ‘Walk A Mile In My Shoes,'” Crow said.

The event’s previous name was a reference to the activity that makes up the core of Disable the Label — a mile-long walk around the mall. Registration for this walk will be in the mall’s food court.

“They’re going to have to walk around the mall four times, which is a mile,” Crow said.

However, this will not be a normal walk. Before they start, participants will select a random disability. They will then be given equipment to simulate the effects of having that disability, such as wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, canes, blindfolds, and more.

Crow said the RICC’s main reason for hosting Disable the Label is to help children become aware of people who have disabilities.

“The primary goal is to educate … children about people with disabilities and the amazing things that they’re able to do and the struggles that they often have to overcome,” she said. As part of this goal, information and activity booths will be stationed along the walking route.

In addition to the walk itself, prize drawings will take place for participants in the event and a raffle in support of DATA will be held by the Friends of DATA.

Crow said by attending Disable the Label, people in the community will be able to have fun while learning about disabilities.

“It’s just a great community event,” she said.