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Disability History Month


What is Disability History Month?

Disability History Month is an annual event celebrated from the 16th November to the 16th December that looks at creating a platform to focus on disabled people’s struggle for equality and human rights.

DHM Sticker - Person with prosthetic leg DHM Sticker - Person talking

It is important to recognise that disabled people have multiple identities, are sometimes members of other groups subjected to discriminatory practice, and that disability is diverse in nature in terms of the range and types of impairment that affect people e.g. Neuro-diverse, mental health issues, learning difficulty, physical, invisible and sensory impairments.

What are the aims of Disability History Month?

During Disability History Month, we aim to...

  • Celebrate the experiences and achievements of disabled people.
  • Create greater understanding of the barriers in society that disabled people face.
  • Look at the history of how such barriers are fuelled by negative attitudes and customs, whilst reflecting on how far we have to go.
  • Develop and campaign on what needs to be changed for disabled people to achieve full equality in all areas of life.
  • Make equality a daily reality.

How can you be an 'amazing ally'?

  • A - Awareness: You can help this DHM by spreading awareness on social media to keep others informed using #DisabilityALLY #Diversability
  • L - Learn: You can educate yourself on what ableism is and how to detect it
  • L - Lookout: Consider accessibility in your environment, and prioritise inclusion in ways that you can
  • Y - Year Round: Do your best to support the disabled community all the time not solely during DHM
 

Online Launch


This year's theme for the official UK Disability History Month campaign is "Disability, Health & Wellbeing"; to kick off this year's campaign, they are inviting all who wish to attend their online Zoom launch to register interest via email.

You'll find all the details on how to sign up below, as well as a statement by UKDHM on the current state of the rights of disabled people in the UK.


"The Covid Pandemic has demonstrated across the UK and around the world just how fragile are the Rights disabled people have secured for themselves and how easily we become expendable.

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At the heart of this appalling state of affairs is that we are only conditionally human. Our rights whether we live in institutions, care homes or independently in our own homes and the community, can be ridden over by politicians, medical professionals or the population in general judging the world by ableist standards and practising deeply entrenched disabilist responses. Where we are counted in a disaggregated we find disabled people were not protected and had by far the highest preventable death rate. Where more progressive Governments such as in Wales are facing up to this situation, a disabled led enquiry is leading to real change.

Because of the obsession with a medical model approach to disability, the barriers that compromise our health, now and in the past, are not identified and acted upon. We are held responsible for our conditions rather than providing us with the support and health care we need."

- UK Disability History Month 2022


Interested in joining?

Email your interest here and you will be sent the Zoom link 24 hours before the event.

Please include your name, telephone number and any relevant organisation you are from.

UKDHM will be producing resources to raise the theme in your workplace, college or school before the launch.

You can also register your interest to attend the campaign's online launch via Zoom below:

 

Disability History Month
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