Disability History Month

14 November to 20 December 2024

From 14 November to 20 December 2024, Strathclyde celebrates Disability History Month (DHM). DHM provides a space to focus on the history of the disabled rights movement and the struggle for equality and human rights.

The month is also an opportunity to challenge the myths and stereotypes that permeate the lives of disabled people and to elevate the voices of disabled people of the past and present. DHM also allows us to reflect on how ableism has shaped society, law, medicine, policy, and public and media discourse.

DHM includes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December.

We have organised various events that provide opportunities for the Strathclyde community to engage, connect and reflect.

Find out more

Disability inclusion at Strathclyde

Driving forward disability inclusion

The University recently established a Disability Inclusion Steering Group and a Neurodiversity Working Group to lead our work on advancing access, equality, and inclusion for disabled and neurodiverse people in the Strathclyde community.

Supporting disabled applicants

Our new online resource for disabled applicants provides bespoke information and guidance on applying to study at the University as a disabled applicant. The resource was developed by an autistic recent graduate of Strathclyde via a paid work placement arranged by the Careers & Employability Service and hosted within the Widening Access Team.

Supporting disabled students

Disabled Students' Rep: Jo Fitzpatrick, strathunion.disabledstudentsrep@strath.ac.uk

Disability & Wellbeing Service

The Disability & Wellbeing Service has a range of advisers with specialist expertise in disability, health, mental health, and counselling. They offer a broad range of support to students with any disability, mental health, and wellbeing-related needs.

Careers & Employability Service events

Check the Careers & Employability Service calendar for events throughout the month, hosted by employers and the Careers team.

Clubs & societies

Disabled Students Group: a space for students to share experiences, voice concerns and work together on campaigns addressing issues around accessibility.

Neurodiverse Students Association: a community group for neurodiverse students at Strathclyde. Join them to meet students who might be facing similar experiences at university.

Quiet Hour at Strath Union

Strath Union hosts a quiet hour every day from 9am to 10am.

During this time, no music will play on Levels 1 and 2. Screens are also either turned off or display a notice that it's a quiet hour.

By establishing a quiet hour, we're helping to create a less sensory-stimulating space for all, which will be particularly helpful to those who may be neurodiverse or have mental health conditions.

Supporting disabled staff

Disabled & Neurodiverse Staff Network

The Disabled & Neurodiverse Staff Network provides an opportunity to build a more inclusive and diverse university community and to enhance channels of support as well as community and visibility for disabled and neurodiverse colleagues at Strathclyde.

Staff Disability Advisor

Strathclyde has a dedicated advisor for staff with disabilities, including long-term health conditions. To contact Doug Ross, the Staff Disability Advisor, email douglas.ross@strath.ac.uk.

Events

Exhibitions throughout Disability History Month

Exhibition: Disability History in the Strathclyde Archives

Date: Thursday 14 November 2024 to Friday 20 December 2024
Location: Level 3 of Andersonian Library, 101 St James Rd, Glasgow G4 0NS. The venue is accessed via stairs or platform lift.
Time: During library opening hours

This year's Disability History Month theme, 'Disability, Livelihood and Employment,' is reflected in an exhibition showcasing materials from the Occupational and Environmental Diseases Association (OEDA) Archives at the University.

Founded by Nancy Tait, OEDA originated as the world's first asbestos action group, SPAID, which became a charity in 1978. In 1981, which was the International Year of Disabled People, the Society for the Prevention of Asbestosis and Industrial Diseases (SPAID) launched the SPAID Fellowship to support individuals disabled by industrial exposure to asbestos, providing a space for connection and sharing experiences.

The display includes documents, posters, and photographs related to the Fellowship and the International Year of Disabled People.

Exhibition: My Cultural Inclusion Story

Date: Monday 18 November to Friday 29 November 2024
Time: During building opening times
Location: Jackie Kay Plaza Foyer, Level 4 of the Learning & Teaching Building. It can be accessed via 51 Richmond Street.

Dr Andrea Tonner and Fiona Dawson, Department of Marketing, share a photography exhibition for DHM 2024. Featuring images and poems about cultural and digital inclusion created by people with learning disabilities during research workshops, this exhibition allows us to explore the experiences of cultural inclusion.

Poster of exhibition showing people with family and 'feeling included'.