Oxford Brookes University is proud to be part of the annual celebration of Disability History Month, providing an opportunity to promote, celebrate and raise awareness of the contributions of disabled people in our communities and society and highlight support for students and staff.
Disability History Month
14 November to 20 December 2024
Running from 14 November to 16 December, the Staff Disability Network will be marking Disability History Month with a range of activities and sessions. Nationally, this year’s Disability History Month theme is Disability, Livelihood and Employment.
Staff and students can also visit our Neurodiversity and disability resources as well as the Wellbeing at University reading lists created by the Library.
Wednesday 4 December, 6.00 - 7.00pm, CLC 1.12 (Learning Studio)
Author, historian, and disability activist Selina Mills will talk about what we think of blindness and how to define it, exploring the origins of our binary definitions.
Selina will look at how we can use the past to help us now. How academics, medicine and charities have looked at blindness, and how we can change very fixed notions of disability, particularly with notions of what blind people / disabled people can do and not do, whether in employment, parenting or in politics and public service. How can we all include everyone in what it means to be human?
Selina Mills is an award-winning writer and broadcaster who is legally blind.
This event is open to all and includes light refreshments afterwards.
Monday 2 December, Friday 6 December 2024
To kick start the celebration of Disability History Month, between Monday 2 December and Friday 6 December, we will be taking part in #PurpleLightUp led by Purple Space and lighting up Lloyd Building and Headington Sports Centre in purple.
Everyone is also welcome to join an informal lunchtime gathering organised by the Staff Disability Network 12:00 - 1:00 pm on Tuesday 3 December, The Forum, JHB which marks International Day of People with Disabilities. You are encouraged to show your support by wearing something purple.
Academics with Learning Differences: Challenges and Support Requirements in Teaching, Research, Leadership and Administration
Tuesday 26 November, 12.00 - 1.00pm, Online
In this session, Adrian J. Wallbank and Andrew Page-Towers report on the results of their recent research into the support needs of academics with dyslexia, ADHD and autism within English-speaking Higher Education institutions.