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This year’s third annual Disability History Month (DHM) event series has now come to a close and we would like to say massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who took part and made it a success.

Building on the success of last year, this year’s month-long programme of events – led by the DisAbility and Wellbeing Network (DAWN) – celebrated the achievements of disabled people and raised awareness around disabilities, both hidden and visible. The theme for this year’s was Disability, Children and Youth.

Highlights from the jam-packed programme included:

• DHM comedy night featuring Britain’s Got Talent winner Lee Ridley aka , , , and .
• A ‘Disabled Women in Academia' panel event in collaboration with Royal Holloway University Gender Institute, Royal Holloway University Disabled Staff Network and the Women in Academia Support Network (WIASN) which highlighted lived experiences of women in academia with a disability.
• Trinity House was lit up in purple for #PurpleLightUp to mark the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
• A Disability Visibility Showcase hosted by the De Montfort Students’ Union, which highlighted a wide range of lived experiences from members of the ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ community living with a disability.
• An ‘Understanding ACEs: Healing from Childhood Adversity’ trauma-informed workshop which explored Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Leanne Herbert, co-chair of the DisAbility and Wellbeing Network said: “We’ve had some great events for Disability History Month this year which have been really well attended and I want to say thank you to everyone who attended and was involved in planning and organising the events.

“My particular favourite was the DHM comedy night as it was great to see disability representation at such a big event put on by ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ.

“This is our third year of running DHM at ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ and I am so proud that it continues to go from strength to strength and to raise awareness of visible and hidden disabilities and champion equality. I am already looking forward to next year’s DHM.”

Dedicated microsite

You can still check out the dedicated Disability History Month microsite, where you can find alumni interviews, tips for more inclusive meetings, and further resources.

DHM 2024

For the next season of Disability History Month, we are opening up the applications to the wider university to ensure we offer a variety of activities, workshops and events that best reflect ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ and engage as many people throughout the month-long programme as possible. If you would like to submit an idea to be considered please send a proposal to equality@dmu.ac.uk.