Disability History Month is an informative and entertaining, four week long series of events to learn about, discuss and debate disability in the UK and it starts today!
The overall idea of the month is for disabled people to celebrate their heritage, understand the struggle that has taken place towards equal rights and accessibility and to create a platform for further change.
There a loads of different events – activities, exhibitions, tours, workshops and discussions – taking place throughout the month for people to participate in. They come in all shapes and sizes from one hour, to month long events in areas across the country and all offer chances to meet like minded people as well as celebrated disabled artists, activists and role models of many kinds.
UKDHM began four years ago, when many various disability groups came together to ask how to raise the profile of the less able in this country. It was agreed that there should be a Disability History Month in order to shed light on this sometimes marginalised group – much in the same way that Black History Month, LGBT Month and International Women’s Day celebrate the achievements of other minority groups. Since then every year Disability History has been celebrated during the time period which roughly corresponds with Sagittarius star sign (it just happens to do that – it’s not how or why this period was chosen!).
One of the guiding principles of the month is to “raise awareness of the unequal position of disabled people in society and to advocate disability equality; to develop an understanding of the historical roots of this inequality; to highlight the significance of disabled people’s struggles for equality and inclusion and the ‘social model’ of disability”.
The theme for this year will be “Celebrating our Struggle for Independent Living: No Return to Institutions or Isolation”. The theme demonstrates that the events are about bringing together passionate less able people to look back at the ways in which things have improved and to establish what needs to be done in the future to maintain momentum towards equality. This seems an important message in 2013, a time where it is clear that things have improved but where one also feels that the positives – particularly those of the post-Paralympic boom may be about to start sliding away again.
The events begin today so that they can conclude on the 22nd of December – just in time for the Christmas celebrations to takeover (not because the decision makers looked to the stars then). There are far, far too many things going on to mention all of the events here, so to find out more head to the UKDHM website, but here’s a little taste of what to expect:
- Friday 22nd November- Thursday 19th December, Together! 2013 – an open exhibition by locally based disabled artists in Stratford Old Town Hall
- Saturday 30 November – Edinburgh: Speakers including Emma Black from the Royal College of Surgeons Museum, Robin McAlpine of the Jimmy Reid Foundation, Adrian Sinnfield, Professor Emeritus, Edinburgh University and Sally Witcher, Inclusion Scotland.
- Tuesday 3 December – lecture in Bristol with Medieval historian Dr Irina Metzler exploring “Disability in the Middle Ages: Before Institutions” and Eva Fielding-Jackson presenting “ A contemporary perspective of our struggle for Independent Living”.
- Saturday 7th December, UKDHM Social Event in Lambeth – including music, open mic, food and drink, crafts, stalls, displays etc.
Take a look at the events, find something that interests you and get involved yourself. This is a fantastic chance to learn about our country’s history and to celebrate our diversity!
Happy Disability History Month!