UK Disability History Month: creating a space for discussion, community and celebration
A month-long series of activities highlighting the research, practice and wider societal contributions of those with lived experience of disability and neurodivergence now, took place at our University at the end of last year as part of the national UK Disability History Month (UKDHM).
The activities were launched with the first of its kind conference in Southampton which attracted speakers passionate about the research they are doing into this subject area from the arts and sciences. If you missed some of the activities, Staff Matters takes a look back at the month.
Wendy Appleby is the Co-chair of the Disability Equality Steering Group and Chair of the newly established UK Disability History Month Working Group. Reflecting on the event, she said:
“This year, for the first time, we created a working group to oversee our University’s UKDHM plans and I’m delighted that, together, we created a space for discussion, community and celebration. I want to thank everyone who was involved in our UKDHM working group and those who contributed and participated in our UK Disability History Month 2025 events, making them a great success.
The launch conference was organised by Dr Ben Whitburn, (Southampton School of Education), Vanessa Mar-Molinero, (Centre for Higher Education Practice) and Dr Ronda Gowland-Pryde, (Public Engagement with Research unit).
Vanessa says: “It was exciting to see Disability Now! bring together disabled scholars, practitioners, students, and allies to reflect on disability scholarship, practice, and lived experience. While we initially anticipated around 20 participants, the overall attendance exceeded 120, pointing to a clear appetite for these conversations. The event created space to make everyday experiences visible and to consider disability as a site of knowledge-making, while also generating important feedback, including critical reflections on accessibility. Rather than offering conclusions, these reflections emphasise learning from what emerged and will inform the careful development of future disability-focused events.”
The Sports Centre and Halls of Residences also took part in the month’s events with specially created display boards which promoted the message of accessibility for all in sports and placed in the new Jubilee and old reception areas. Phil Malatesta, Associate Director Sport & Community Services, says:
“We had some good feedback from customers on us marking the occasion and sharing stories of those that compete/train with a disability.”
And Ross Carpenter, Residences Operational Programme Manager arranged for Halls sites to put together displays for UKDHM. The boards celebrated inspirational sporting figures using poetry, features and images. All three of the sports people featured are from Southampton and James Clowes is an alumni of our University.
The events and activities extended to John Hansard Gallery, some of them are still available to view this February.
Woodrow Kernohan, Director of John Hansard Gallery said:
“We presented two powerful exhibitions exploring disability experience as part of UK Disability History Month 2025. Aaron Williamson’s solo exhibition ‘Outlandish’ showcased the work of this pioneering disability arts activist, while our colleague Juanrie Strydom premiered ‘Out of Order’, documenting her six-week isolation when the lift broke in her apartment building – unable to leave her flat as a wheelchair user until it was fixed. ‘Out of Order’ continues at JHG until Saturday 28 February.”
View Juanrie Strydom’s exhibition and accompanying bookwork.
If anyone has any ideas for what to include for UKDHM in 2026, please contact Dr Ronda Gowland-Pryde at: rjg3@soton.ac.uk
