Written by Ghizzi Dunlop
History:
UK Disability History Month runs every year from 16th November to 16th December. Founded by Richard Rieser (former teacher and equality champion), after encouragement from those involved in LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) History Month and advisors on race equality suggested a need for a month to focus on Disability History. Founding supporting organisations included the Trades Union Congress, Disability coalitions and Scope. A parliamentary motion was made on 10th November 2010, signed by seventy-nine members of parliament, and can be viewed on the UK Parliament website. The motion reads as:
‘That this House welcomes the first ever Disability History Month that recognizes the history of the struggle for equality and human rights; notes that in running from 22 November until 22 December 2010 it will cover International HIV/AIDS Day, International Day of People with Disabilities and International Human Rights Day; calls on schools, colleges, universities, local authorities, employers, the public and the media to recognize and celebrate the first UK Disability History Month; encourages them to campaign to improve the unequal position of disabled people in society and work with disability charities and trade unions in the struggle for equality and inclusion; urges the Government to ensure that its policies and latest spending cuts are properly assessed in terms of their impact on people with disabilities so that they do not exacerbate existing inequalities; and looks forward to this month and future years of Disability History Month success.’
Meaning for me:
Every year it causes me consternation. I am conflicted by the necessity for ‘celebrating or memorializing’ our societies’ exclusive and inequitable norms. There is a painful history of ignoring disabled people. This othering is commonly exacerbated by intersectional characterisations:, race, gender, mental health, poverty and more. Othering of differences appears entrenched in our societies.
At the same time the month offers an opportunity to share stories and experiences, help us understand how we live, work, collaborate and study together. As people, organisations, and wider society we struggle to change our reality to something more inclusive, where our diversity is recognized, valued, and supported. I will always be an advocate, campaigner, and sharer of stories, whether my own or others. There is such richness of experience in all our stories. They are the source of so much, modern technologies, processes and increasing human understanding.
Image contains art work See the Ability, Not Disability By Korean artist Kunyo inspired by UNDP’s work in Kazakhstan 2013 via Flickr.
The danger is that this can be, or can be perceived to be, ‘performative.’ Disabled campaign groups are rightly skeptical of our current government’s disability initiatives and campaigns. Disabled people have felt abused, ignored and our suffering trivialized by members of government responsible for supporting us. The last two sentences of the original Parliamentary motion give the lie to our actual experience of government ‘care.’
In interview with the BBC Rieser said the aim of Disability History Month is ‘to celebrate the achievements of Disabled people, to look at the disablism and oppression that we’ve been subjected to over time in all sorts of cultures and to argue for the full equality that we are entitled to under human rights legislation.’
2010 is a long time ago, what have 13 years of Disability History Months succeeded in changing? A key purpose of the original document was raising awareness of the unequal position of disabled people in society. Most people are aware of this now, though some may choose to look the other way. Another purpose was advocating disability equality, I do not foresee the need for this ever ending. Our understanding of just how varied humans are in every way is always evolving. E.g., awareness of Neurodivergence, Long COVID’s expression and ME/CFS (Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome) for example.
We are still raising awareness and advocating, yet the position of disabled people in our society right now is sliding backward. At the same time, the proportion of disabled people in the population with physical, mental, and emotional health and neurodivergence, is growing. An aging population, Long Covid and post Covid morbidities (particularly worrying increase in children and young people disabled by COVID) and air quality and climate crisis induced health impacts are driving this together with record levels of poverty and destitution in the UK reported by the UN Special rapporteur Olivier De Schutter.
There is of course never a ‘good time to be disabled by your society.’ Right now, we need to be aware, is a particularly challenging time for colleagues, students, friends, and family. Let’s actively listen to each other, tell our stories, collaborate with open and honest hearts, and work together to make a just, humane, inclusive society.