Disability History Month written in white text over a blue background

Disability History Month

Welcome to the inaugural Disability History Month at Queen Mary Students' Union! This month invites everyone to think about disability with a nuanced approach, whilst incorporating the voices of disabled people, and striving to seek meaningful societal change. In 2024, it takes place from 14th November to 20th December.

Each year, Disability History Month has a theme to shine a light on a different aspect of life for disabled people. This year the theme is Disability, Livelihood and Employment, which is pertinent to every student with a disability and/or neurodivergence. From applying for reasonable adjustments to navigating financial assistance such as with Disabled Students' Allowance, every university has a duty to provide these to its students who need them.

We have engaged with various students, departments, and external organisations to create events and campaigns throughout this month. You are invited to join us in our panel events, intersectional workshops, social spaces, pop-up stalls on campus, and the raising of the Disability Pride Flag outside of Queens' Building! All of our events are open to both members of the community and allies, and we will strive to make each event as accessible as we can.

We can't wait to see you there!

Mx. Adam Khan, Disability History Month Community Organiser

Upcoming Events

see all events

Support and resources


Disability and Dyslexia Service (DDS)

Confidential advice, guidance and support for disabled students, including those with mental health conditions, Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and Specific Learning Differences such as dyslexia.

The service can provide support including one to one skills support, reasonable adjustments such as exam arrangements, screenings for Specific Learning Differences, mental health mentoring, support with applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) and more.

Click here

Liberation at the Students’ Union

At the Students' Union we recognise that forms of structural oppression marginalise some groups of students, including BAME, LGBT+, trans, disabled and women students. Each year, we elect two self-defining Disabled and SLD Representatives for Mile End and Barts and The London and who work to improve the experiences of disabled students by lobbying the University and leading campaigns and events.

View your representatives

Digital Library

Books – Fiction
  • A Room Called Earth by Madeline Ryan (Autism)
  • One Two Three by Laurie Frankel (Autism, Wheelchair use, communication device)
  • So Lucky by Nicola Griffith (Multiple Sclerosis)
  • Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (Chronic Pain)
  • My Heart to Find by Elin Annalise (Lyme Disease)
  • Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai (Anxiety and PTSD)
  • Pages I Never Wrote by Marco Donati (Dyspraxia)
  • A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard (Hearing Impairment)
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (Autism)

Books – Non-fiction
  • Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century Edited by Alice Wong
  • Sitting Pretty: The View from my Ordinary Resilient Body by Rebekah Taussig
  • What The **** Is Normal? by Francesca Martinez
  • The World I Fell Out Of by Melanie Reid
  • Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World by Laura James
  • An Adult with an Autism Diagnosis: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Gillan Drew
  • Able (2021) (Amazon Prime)
  • Silenced: The Hidden Story of Disabled Britain (2021) (BBC iPlayer)
  • Our Family and Autism (2021) (BBC iPlayer)
  • Strictly Amy: Crohn’s and Me (2021) (BBC iPlayer)
  • Wonder (2017) (Facial difference)
  • The Theory of Everything (2014) (ALS)
  • Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020) (Various)
  • Ray (2004) (Visual Impairment)
  • Five Feet Apart (2019) (Cystic Fibrosis)
  • Me Before You (2016) (Paralysis)
  • The Fundamentals of Caring (2016) (Duchenne muscular dystrophy)
  • Atypical (2017–2021) (Autism)
  • The Good Doctor (2017–present) (Autism)
  • Special (2019–2021) (Cerebral Palsy)
  • Raising Dion (2019–present) (ADHD)
  • Speechless (2016–2019) (Cerebral Palsy)
  • Mr ColitisCrohns on YouTube
  • Roll with Cole & Charisma on YouTube
  • Jessica Kellgren-Fozard on YouTube
  • wheelie_good_life on Instagram
  • iampayingattention on Instagram
  • theautisticlife on Instagram
  • autism_sketches on Instagram
  • BBC Ouch
  • Abnormally Funny People
  • The Accessible Stall with Kyle and Emily
  • Practice Makes Progress

Features

Why Is Disability History Month Important?

Thu 31 Oct 2024

Disability History Month has been part of the liberation calendar since 2010, when it was observed for the first time in the UK when a collective of disability organisations came together to devote a time of the year to focus on their struggle for equality and human rights.

 
Staff Training on Neurodiversity

Mon 18 Dec 2023

During Disability Awareness Fortnight, Giorgia Pigato (Education and Recognition Adviser) ran a training session on inclusive teaching with DDS (Disability and Dyslexia Service).

 
Disability Awareness Fortnight: Student Spotlight #2

Fri 15 Dec 2023

I think Disability Awareness and Disability Rights are such a complicated topic because there is such a wide range of disabilities.

 
 

Contact us

Rosie Nee
Disabled and SLD Rep (Mile End)
Amelia Pendlebury
Disabled and SLD Rep (BL)