Disability History Month

Q: When is Disability History Month?

UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) runs each year from 15 November to 15 December. It was established in 2010 by disabled people and allies to explore and celebrate the history of the disability rights movement. Find out more at ukdhm.org.

Q: What does Difference North East do for Disability History Month?

Each year, Difference North East delivers a programme of public events, creative workshops, training sessions and institutional talks across the North East. In 2025 this included photography exhibitions in Newcastle and Hartlepool, zine-making workshops for young people, a public talk at Billingham Library, disability equality training at Alphabetti Theatre, a Lunch and Learn on digital accessibility attended by 39 people, and a book donation drive with Drake's The Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees.

Q: How can I get involved in Disability History Month?

You can join Difference North East as a free member or ally to receive early notice of events and take part in discussions. Organisations can book Lunch and Learn sessions and training. During Disability History Month, Difference North East runs public events open to everyone across the North East, and members-only workshops. Keep an eye on the events page for announcements from autumn each year.

Q: What is the history of the Disability Discrimination Act?

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) became law in 1995, following decades of activism by disabled people in the UK. The DDA was the first legislation to make disability discrimination unlawful in employment and access to goods and services. It was won through direct action by groups including the Disabled People's Direct Action Network (DAN), who protested by chaining wheelchairs to buses outside Parliament. The DDA was later strengthened and replaced by the Equality Act 2010.

Disability History Month in the North East | Difference North East

What is Disability History Month?

UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) is an annual commemoration held every year from 15 November to 15 December. It was established in 2010 by disabled people and allies to create a dedicated space for exploring the history and ongoing struggle for disability rights.

Each year, UKDHM adopts a national theme chosen by the national organisers. Events, exhibitions and discussions take place across the UK, led by disabled people and disability organisations. Find national resources and the latest theme at ukdhm.org.

When

15 November to 15 December, every year. International Day of Disabled People on 3 December falls within the month.

Who leads it

Nationally organised by UK Disability History Month (ukdhm.org). Across the North East, Difference North East leads delivery, working with local venues, schools, NHS trusts, arts organisations and community groups.

What happens

Public talks, creative workshops, exhibitions, training sessions and institutional learning. Some events are open to all; others are for members or organisations.

Where in the North East

Newcastle, Hartlepool, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, and online. Locations vary year by year depending on partners and theme.

Difference North East approaches Disability History Month not as a celebration divorced from the present, but as a space to understand how the past explains today: why systems exclude, where rights came from, and what disabled people won through organising. History is a guide for action.

Why disability history matters

Disability history is largely absent from school curricula, mainstream media and public commemoration. Most people, including many disabled people themselves, have never heard of the Disabled People's Direct Action Network, the Block Telethon protest of 1992, or the decades of resistance that preceded the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. That absence is not accidental. It is part of why disabled people continue to face the same battles, generation after generation.

Our 2024 film club discussion of Then Barbara Met Alan captured the impact of recovering this history. One member reflected: "The biggest emotion I felt was pride, proud of a community that cares so much about what they're passionate about." Another remembered the DAN protests at Monument in Newcastle: "It was exciting and empowering."

          Key moments in disability rights history
          In 1880, sign language was banned in education worldwide. In 1920, blind workers marched on London against poor pay. In 1992, disabled activists stopped a charity telethon. In 1995, the Disability Discrimination Act became law after more than a decade of resistance. In 2010, the Equality Act replaced and strengthened it. Each of these moments was won by disabled people refusing to accept the world as it was.
        

The 30th anniversary of the DDA, marked during Disability History Month 2025, showed how much that history connects to today. The legislation was won by protesters who chained wheelchairs to buses outside Parliament, who demanded "rights not charity", who organised collectively in the face of indifference. As we wrote that year: the activists of the 1990s didn't wait for permission to demand their rights. Neither should we.

Disability History Month is also where local history becomes visible. Mary Greaves of Whitley Bay, who shaped the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, is not widely known, but she was one of the most significant disability rights figures the North East has produced. We celebrated her legacy and challenged the erasure of that story.

Our work: 2024 and 2025

Since 2024, Difference North East has run a full programme each year across public, creative, institutional and online formats. Below is what we delivered, and what it achieved.

Disability History Month 2024

Theme: Disability, Livelihood and Employment

Dates: 14 November to 20 December 2024

Our first full Disability History Month programme centred on the North East's own history: the work of Mary Greaves, disability and employment, and the ongoing fight for equal participation in economic life. The North East has the highest proportion of disabled people in England (21% of residents) and some of the worst employment outcomes. That context made the employment theme urgent rather than historical.

We hosted a film club discussion of Then Barbara Met Alan, exploring the story of Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth and the DAN protests that forced the Disability Discrimination Act onto the statute book. Members shared their own experiences of activism, transport barriers and the fear that surrounds disability organising today.

Disability History Month 2025

Theme: Disability, Life and Death

Dates: 15 November to 15 December 2025

The 2025 programme was the most ambitious we have delivered, spanning multiple locations, audiences and formats. The theme marked 30 years since the Disability Discrimination Act and asked how society values disabled lives, from the institutionalisation of the past to the welfare cuts of the present. Read the full impact report: From Insight to Impact: Disability History Month 2025 Across the North East.

attended the digital accessibility Lunch and Learn online

VCSE colleagues at the VONNE reasonable adjustments session

at the Stockton Independent Advisory Group intersectionality session

at the Billingham Library public talk on International Day of Disabled People

Events and activities in 2025

What happened and what it achieved

At Alphabetti Theatre, we delivered Disability, Equality, Awareness and Etiquette Training for staff. Feedback described it as "really useful", "insightful" and "right to the point with no fluff." This is the kind of institutional work that influences programming, access planning and how disabled audiences and artists are welcomed in practice.

The Claiming the Normal photography exhibition, created with Kev Howard from January 2025, brought images of disabled people living ordinary lives into Newcastle City Library and Hartlepool Art Gallery. The project was a direct response to the absence of authentic disability representation in stock photography. Visitors described the impact of seeing disabled people represented outside the "inspiration" or "tragedy" frames that dominate.

Zine-making workshops in Newcastle and Hartlepool, led by artist Miki Rogers (Teeszineworks), gave young people aged 12-16 space to explore disability history through creative work. Comments included "fabulously fun" and "a great way to relax and socialise." The completed zines were added to a growing regional zine library.

The online Lunch and Learn on digital accessibility drew 39 attendees from local businesses, police, healthcare and VCSE organisations. Most participants reported improving their self-rated understanding from 2-3 out of 5 to 4 out of 5 during the session.

The book drive, in partnership with Drake's The Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees, attracted international attention when Tiffany Yu, author of the Anti-Ableist Manifesto, shared our call to donate on Instagram. Disability history can find its audience in unexpected places.

The full account of what happened, where, with what impact and what participants said, is in the From Insight to Impact review. Our annual impact report Driving Difference 2024-25 also sets this work in the context of the organisation's wider activity.

It reminded me of the protests in Newcastle when DAN stopped buses at Monument. It was exciting and empowering. Difference North East member, film club discussion, November 2024

If you attended one of our events and have not yet told us what you thought, our feedback form is still open.

Disability History Month 2026

Disability History Month 2026 will run from 15 November to 15 December 2026. Planning is already underway and we are recruiting people to help shape the programme.

We are recruiting for DHM 2026 We are looking for disabled people, artists, educators, community connectors and organisations who want to be part of what Disability History Month looks like in the North East next year. This is not a token invitation. We want people who will shape the programme, not just attend it. Find out more and express your interest.

The national theme for 2026 will be announced by UK Disability History Month in autumn 2026. Our programme will respond to it while connecting to the specific history, needs and activism of the North East.

If you are an organisation that wants to book a Lunch and Learn, a talk for staff, or disability equality training linked to Disability History Month, the best time to plan is now. See our training offer or get in touch directly.

Watch our events page and follow us on social media from October 2026 for the programme announcement.

Get involved

Join as a member

Free for disabled people in the North East. Get early access to events, join discussions and shape our programme. Join here.

Become an ally

Free for individuals and organisations who want to support disabled-led work. Become an ally.

Book training

Disability equality training, digital accessibility and more, delivered by disabled people. See our training offer.

Help shape DHM 2026

We are recruiting people to help plan and deliver next year's programme. Find out more.

Share your story

Your experience of disability, rights and history matters. It feeds our campaigns and our programme. Share it here.

Give feedback

Attended a past event? Tell us what you thought and what you want more of. Feedback form.

Frequently asked questions

When is Disability History Month?

UK Disability History Month runs from 15 November to 15 December every year. International Day of Disabled People on 3 December falls within the month and is often a focus for public events. National resources and the current year's theme are at ukdhm.org.

What is the theme of Disability History Month?

UK Disability History Month adopts a new theme each year, chosen by the national organisers. The 2025 theme was "Disability, Life and Death", marking 30 years since the Disability Discrimination Act. The 2024 theme was "Disability, Livelihood and Employment". The 2026 theme will be announced by UKDHM in autumn 2026.

What does Difference North East do for Disability History Month?

We deliver a programme of public events, creative workshops, exhibitions, training and institutional talks across the North East every year. In 2025 this included photography exhibitions in Newcastle and Hartlepool, zine workshops for young people, a public talk at Billingham Library, disability equality training at Alphabetti Theatre, a Lunch and Learn on digital accessibility attended by 39 people, and a book drive with Drake's The Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees. Read the full account: From Insight to Impact, DHM 2025.

How can I get involved in Disability History Month?

Join Difference North East as a free member or ally to receive early notice of events. Organisations can book training and Lunch and Learn sessions. For DHM 2026 we are actively recruiting people to help shape the programme: find out more.

What is the history of the Disability Discrimination Act?

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was the first legislation to make disability discrimination unlawful in the UK. It was won through decades of activism, including protests by the Disabled People's Direct Action Network (DAN) who chained wheelchairs to buses and demanded rights, not charity. It was replaced and strengthened by the Equality Act 2010. We explored this history in depth in 30 Years On: Reflecting on the Disability Discrimination Act.

Who was Mary Greaves?

Mary Greaves was a disability rights pioneer from Whitley Bay in the North East of England. She worked to improve the lives of disabled people for decades and was central to the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, one of the earliest pieces of UK legislation to address disability rights. Difference North East celebrated her legacy during Disability History Month 2024. Read more about our Mary Greaves event.

Can my organisation book a speaker or training session for Disability History Month?

Yes. We offer Lunch and Learn webinars covering topics including everyday ableism, reasonable adjustments, the social model of disability and inclusive digital communications. These are delivered by disabled people with lived experience. See our training page or contact us to discuss your needs. Booking early, from October onwards, gives you the best chance of your preferred date.

Help shape Disability History Month 2026

We are looking for disabled people, artists, educators and organisations who want to co-create what DHM looks like in the North East next year. This is an invitation to lead, not just attend.

Get involved in DHM 2026 Join free