Disability History Month

What is Disability History Month?

Disability History Month 2023 runs from 16th November to 16th December.

UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) is an annual event that creates a platform to focus on the history of disabled people's struggles for equality and human rights.

The aims of the month are to:

Celebrate the lives of disabled people now and in the past.
Challenge disabilism by exploring our oppression over time and now.
Create a better understanding of the difficulites in society that disabled people face.
Campagin on what needs to be changed for disabled people in order for full equality.
Achieve equality.

This years' theme for 2023 is Disability, Children, and Youth.

When is it?

UKDHM happens during mid-November until mid-December - the exacts dates change every year.

This year, it will run from Thursday 16th November to Saturday 16th December.

What is Solent Students' Union doing for Disability History Month?

Throughout UKDHM, we will be sharing useful hints and tips, information, and opportunities for students to get involved and discuss current issues over on our Instagram page (@solentsu).

We are also in the process of finalising two exciting events to run throughout the month - so stay tuned as we will be annoucing more details very soon!

What is Solent University doing for Disability History Month?

Access Solent are running their autism social group called Simply Social. This is every Wednesday at 3.30pm – 4.30pm in the Workshop (JM108) until the final session on Wednesday 6^th December.

Disability Advisers are available for booked appointments Monday – Friday with student choice of in-person, by phone or on MS Teams for any questions about disability support. They also have lots of online information and advice on their Solent Online Learning Page.

How can you support?

Here is five ways you can support UKDHM:

Get involved in campaigning for the rights and equality of the disabled community.
Start a discussion with your flat mates about disabilism, and the barriers disabled students may face.
Listen to disabled students on your course and try to understand how their disability affects them.
Educate yourself by learning the correct terminology.
Join in on one of the many events different organisations hold to celebrate UKDHM, maybe even one of ours!

Make sure you check out these charities!

Disability Rights UK - The leading organisation for influencing regional and national change for better rights, accessibility, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities, Disability Rights UK is led by, run by, and working for disabled people.
The Disability Union - Disability Union's goal is to build a truly inclusive world. They offer volunteering roles and have even done local work in Hampshire campaigning for change.
Rose Road Association - The Rose Road Association is a charity providing direct care service to hundres of children and young adults with complex learning and physical disabilities in Hampshire and the surrounding areas. They have lots of opportunities to fundraise and volunteer.
Shape Arts - A disability-led arts organisation, Shape Arts mission is to improve access to cultue for disabled people by providing opportunities for disabled artists, training culture insitutions to be more inclusive, and much more. They are a great charity to find out more information on inclusivity in the world of art.