Disability History Month written in white text over a blue background

Disability History Month

Welcome to Disability History Month 2025 at the Queen Mary Students Union!

This month is a time to reflect on the history and experiences of people with disabilities and to think critically about how we can build a more intentionally inclusive society. We also use the month to celebrate the achievements and strides made by individuals with disabilities. Disability History Month encourages everyone to engage with disability in a nuanced and empowering way, centring the voices of those with disabilities.

This year Disability History Month runs from the 20th November to the 20th December. Each year Disability History Month has a theme to highlight different aspects of life for those with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Disability, Life and Death.” The theme challenges the idea that the lives of individuals with disabilities are less valuable or worth living. It highlights the historical and ongoing struggle for people with disabilities to be included and valued in society.

Throughout the month the SU along with a few student societies will be hosting a variety of events including inclusive sports sessions, mixers, crafts, film screening, and workshops. All of our events are open to both members of the community and allies and we encourage everyone to come, take part, learn, connect, and celebrate!

Upcoming Events

A pink background with a lavender-blue ‘N’ and ‘D’ and a orange eye representing the society for neurodivergent and disabled student [DHM] SANDS Fortnightly Drop-In
21st November 1pm - 3pm
Engineering G2, Mile End Campus
Join for our fortnightly drop-in session
Disability History Month: BL Minds Movie Night
21st November 6pm - 8pm
Recovery Room, 2nd floor, Garrod Building, Whitechapel
Disability History Month Movie Night
Disability History Month Movie Screening
25th November 4pm - 6pm
G.O. Jones Lecture Theatre
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)
  • The Pretty One by Keah Brown
  • Gallant by V.E. Schwab (sign language)

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
  • Ramping Up Rights, Rachel Charlton-Dailey
  • The Boy Who Lived by David Holmes
  • 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)
  • Then Barbara Met Alan (2022) (various)
  • CODA (2021), (Deaf Representation)
  • Rising Phoenix (2020) (various)
  • A Quiet Place (2018) (Deaf Representation)
  • 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)
  • Sex Education (2019-2021), (Wheelchair use)
  • 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
  • Tasha Ghouri
  • Sitting Pretty Lolo, Youtube
  • Milly Pickles, TikTok, Instagram
  • Toby Addison, TikTok
  • Lucy, ludawinthesky, TikTok and Instagram
  • Ellie Midds, elliemidds, TikTok and Instagram
  • Amy Pohl, amy_pohl, TikTok and Instagram
  • BBC Ouch
  • Abnormally Funny People
  • The Accessible Stall with Kyle and Emily
  • Practice Makes Progress
  • The Disability and... Podcast
  • Access All: Disability News and Mental Health
  • Disability After Dark

Features

Wheelchair-Accessible Night Out Spots in London

Thu 20 Nov 2025

We have compiled a list of London’s more wheelchair accessible pubs and clubs for your next night out!

 
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.

 
Disability Awareness Fortnight: Student Spotlight #1

Tue 12 Dec 2023

Disability Awareness Fortnight allows people to share their stories and feel heard. Hear from some of our organising committee about their experiences!

 
Debunking Disability Myths

Tue 05 Dec 2023

Disability Awareness Fortnight is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to raise awareness of the various disabilities that exist and to dispel myths about people with disabilities.

 
 

Contact us

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