UK Disability History Month Up and Running

The first UK Disability History Month (DHM) will take place from 22^nd November to 22^nd December 2010 and annually thereafter. Already supported by a wide range of disability organisations, trade unions and voluntary organisations, DHM will raise the profile of disabled people’s rights and struggle for equality now and in the past.

Disability History Month (DHM) will be an opportunity to focus on:

• Celebrating the struggles and achievements of disabled people
• Looking at the history of discrimination, negative attitudes, and oppression (disablism)*
• Enabling pupils, students and staff to challenge this
• Creating an understanding of the barriers faced by disabled people in schools, colleges, the workplace  and society
• Campaigning to change attitudes and practices to make rights a daily reality
• Understanding disabled people often also struggle against sexism, racism, homophobia and other of discrimination.

Schools and colleges are urged to introduce disability equality across the curriculum, hold assemblies, organise events and put up displays. We are holding a competition of the best wall displays. Send in a maximum of 5 digital pictures and 250 words of saying what you did by 31^st December. There will be prizes celebrating the most original display for EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3-4 and KS5/Post Schools. Photos will be posted on the website for all to see!

Workplaces are urged to raise issues of disability equality with their staff and customers. We are holding a competition for good practice in the workplace.

Hate crime, poverty and discrimination are a daily experience amongst the UK’s 12 million disabled people.

DHM is based on the ‘Social model’ of disability. This recognises that it is the barriers of the environment, organisation and attitude that disadvantage disabled people. You can explore where these attitudes have come from and develop new inclusive practices based on disability equality.

Richard Rieser, coordinator of UK Disability History Month said “ DHM presents a great opportunity to recognise and right historic wrongs. The law requires non-discrimination,  reasonable adjustments to be implemented with no harassment.DHM is about rights not charity.DHM is about solidarity in our struggle for equality, not feeling sorry for disabled people. Independence means having control over what happens to us, not having  to do everything for yourself.  Giving all disabled children and adults a powerful ‘voice’ is crucial”.

Contact Richard Rieser, Coordinator -07715420727 or 0207 359 2855 e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

UKDISABILITYHISTORYMONTH

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Discounting the voice of the vulnerable disadvantaged
written by Rodney Yates, December 03, 2010

Disabled people in continuing care are facing a new and worrying situation. It has long been the situation that disadvantage has been recognized and remediated by providing community care, which safeguards against relapse and a worsening situation for which statutory bodies like social services and Healthcare incur a multiplication of costs if they do not implement preventive intervention and provide a social base for vulnerable people to focus and rebuild their lives.

For mental health, the last few years have seen these bases for social and specialist support falling like a house of cards. In our area, first the Resource at Duncan Macmillan House changed its independent basis for clients and carers to being reclaimed by the Healthcare Trust to serve the trust

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