UK Disability History Month
Disability History Month (DHM) takes place in the UK between 14 November and 20 December this year. The 2024 theme is Disability, Livelihood and Employment.
Disability History Month provides an opportunity to challenge stereotypes, promote inclusivity, and advocate for equal rights for disabled individuals – all things which we are extremely passionate about at the University of Bradford. We have disability staff networks (N-Able and neurodiversity staff networks) and a Disability Service that work tirelessly to highlight these issues, promote change where needed, look at continuous development and aim to support us all to be an inclusive University. This work also involves senior leaders, staff, students and external partners with and without lived experience of being disabled.
Each year we recognise Disability History Month by:
- Celebrating the contributions that disabled people are making to our University and to wider society,
- seeking to educate ourselves and each other on disability rights,
- identifying and tackling barriers to inclusion.
What we are doing in 2024
- Launch event for staff network members
- Stand in the Richmond Atrium
- Disability In Archaeology - Guest lecture series with Jessica Gavin
- Talk on reasonable adjustments with Dr Libby Becket-Wrighton
- MaRiLU (Managing risk for impaired lab users) with Stuart Walker and Dr Sobia Kauser
Further details and dates to be confirmed.
As a disability advocate at our university, I urge both staff and students to embrace this Disability History Month as a time to champion inclusion in employment. Together, we can create a campus environment where every individual, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute their unique talents. Let's work collaboratively to ensure that our workplaces reflect the diversity of our community and empower all voices to be heard.
Steve Gilley, Director of Infrastructure & Advocate for Disability
Support the University offers
Support for staff
The n-able staff network has a focus on promoting disability equality and the benefits of a diverse workforce. Find out more or to join n-able please email [email protected].
The Neurodivergent staff network is ND-led and aims to bring neurodivergent staff together to offer each other support based on our shared experiences. To find out more or to join n-able please email [email protected].
The Disability Equality Action Group (DEAG). Key principles of this group are to empower individuals to build workplaces, services and communities where everyone can achieve their potential, and to understanding the lived experiences of staff, students so to directly inform institutional change, both in our physical environment and in relation to attitudes and culture.
If you you would like to join or find out more information, contact [email protected]
Support for students
The Disability Service. team work with students to identify and recommend disability-related study support and reasonable adjustments.
The team can help identify barriers and challenges students may face on their course. Students can disclose a disability at any point during their admission or studies with us. Students will need to provide evidence about their disability.
Adjustments are identified based on a discussion with the student and the evidence provided. The adjustments will be listed in a document called the Learner Support Plan. We can also support UK students, to obtain external support through the government's non-means tested Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).