Disability History Month
Disability History Month 2025
Disability History Month
Disability History Month is a yearly celebration, highlighting achievements and issues to do with disability. At Kent, it is an opportunity to explore disability history within the institution, highlight University support and issues of social injustice, and run events celebrating people with disabilities. In 2025, DHM is 14 November - 20 December.
What's On in Disability History Month 2025
We have a full calendar of events and activities planned throughout Disability History Month 2025 in partnership with Kent Students' Union.
The Arts and Disability Inclusion
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Exhibition: This is ME!
Children and young people who are disabled or care experienced reflect on who they are
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Accessibility Poster Competition: “Design for Everyone”
This competition celebrates accessibility, inclusion, and disability through art and design
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Laughter, Joy and Pride
An uplifting online afternoon of performance, creativity and connection
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Movie Night
Grab your friends, bring your cosy vibes, and join us for a laid-back movie night!
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Kent Students' Union (KSU)
KSU have a Disability History Month page, including events like plant pot painting and badge making
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Free access to Libby e-books & audiobook collection
Explore the richness of diverse voices with our large e-book and audiobook collection!
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Library resources
Fiction, memoir, non-fiction, podcasts, audio books and audio-visual books
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Accessible films and shows
The Gulbenkian provides a platform for disabled performers and makes shows and films accessible.
Deaf Architecture Front
Wednesday 10 December, 15:00-17:00, in Marlowe Lecture Theatre 1
Join us to learn more about Deaf Architecture Front (DAF) - what it is, what we do, and how we aim to bridge the gap between the architecture industry and the Deaf community. The event will highlight our ongoing research and projects, as well as founder Chris Laing's plans to strengthen connections between Deaf culture and architecture design.
Other School events:
Kent students from the School of Humanities will be delivering short presentations to celebrate DHM (16:00-17:00) on Wednesday 26 November in the Templeman Lecture Theatre.
Kent Sport
Wheelchair Tennis Group Coaching
£5 sessions in the Kent Indoor Tennis and Events Arena at the Pavilion, with all equipment provided including sports wheelchairs
ALL Active Programme
Fun, social sports and activities for all ability levels, including a social Paralympic session
Exercise Referral Programme
For anyone with an existing health condition that is physically inactive
Kent Sports Clinic
Qualified physiotherapy and massage for everyone, with discounts for Kent Sport members
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours in the gym every Wednesday and Friday morning
Neurodiverse Running Group
Wednesday running group for students with a diagnosis or who feel they may be neurodiverse
Inclusive Facilities
Inclusive facilities including accessible toilets, changing facilities, and parking
MyPlus Students' Club
MyPlus Students Club, an award-winning website that provides disabled students with advice, resources and support to land a dream job with disability-confident organisations. A Pathway is a series of self-directed mini modules, e-books and quizzes that help you understand more about a particular employability topic. In addition, you can access the contact details of disability experts at over 50 employers, and gain priority access to their jobs, placements, internships and events.
Careers and Employability Service
Supports students and recent graduates with career choices, job applications and future study
Careers Hub
Students can book one-to-one appointments, and those with disabilities may benefit from a longer appointment
Empower
Supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds in developing confidence, identifying their skills and understanding recruitment processes
Equality at Work
Information on finding inclusive employment, reasonable adjustments and other support and opportunities
Other Opportunities
Opportunities for students with disabilities
Getting in Touch
If students prefer to contact a named person, they can email Hannah Greer on hrsg@kent.ac.uk to book an appointment or discuss employability needs
Wellbeing Zone
Discover a range of relaxing activities, and navigate the different wellbeing zones on campus, including mindful music playlists, poetry, walks, and seasonal activities
Curiosity Hub
The University and Kent Students' Union have collated a wealth of resources for you to explore at your leisure to learn more
Support Processes
Please find below links to support policies and processes that you may not be aware of
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Inclusion Passports for Staff
Inclusion passports are documents designed to capture workplace adjustments made for employees
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Inclusive Learning Plans for Students
ILPs specify reasonable adjustments for a student's course, including assessments, and exams
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Inclusive Language Guide
A short guide to take you through the principles of inclusive language
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Accessible Content
Access your digital content your preferred way
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Report + Support
You can report an incident and get support by speaking to an adviser or giving an anonymous report
Film series: Our Stories
Students, staff and alumni on their lived experience of disability, and ways to reduce stigma and improve inclusion in our Kent community, and beyond.
To access larger or full-screen view, click the name beneath each video. Full transcripts are available at the bottom of this page.
Maisie
Staff member, Canterbury campus. (2 minutes)
Josie
Undergraduate student, Medway campus. (2 minutes 18 seconds)
Anna
Staff member, Medway campus. (5 minutes 40 seconds)
Millie
Former student. (2 minutes 21 seconds)
Jonjo
Former student. (2 minutes 29 seconds)
Jane
Postgraduate student, Canterbury campus. (1 minute 47 seconds)
Hannah
Staff member, Canterbury campus. (2 minutes 42 seconds)
Casper
Student, Canterbury campus. (8 minutes 48 seconds)
Our Stories - video transcripts
Download the transcripts for the Our Stories film series as accessible Microsoft Word documents:
- Maisie - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
- Josie - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
- Anna - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
- Casper - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
- Jonjo - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
- Jane - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
- Millie - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
- Hannah - transcript (Word document, 14 KB)
Disability support and networks at Kent
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Student Support and Wellbeing
Advisers can provide students support for disabilities, neurodiversity and specialist wellbeing
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Accessible Information Team
Students access learning through assistive technology and alternative formats of teaching materials
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Accessible Buildings
Find out information about accessible buildings on our campuses
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Templeman Library
The Templeman Library is set up to enable everyone access to what they need
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Occupational Health
Kent staff can self-refer to Occupational Health, who can help with work-related health issues
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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Information on accessibility resources are available for staff on our EDI Hub
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Disability Staff Network
For staff with a disability, health condition, neurodivergence, or interest in inclusive practices
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Student Societies
Kent Students' Union's inclusive groups include the Accessibility Network and Neurodivergent Society
Inclusive Employers
Disability Guide Series
Practical, expert-led guidance to support disabled colleagues and embed inclusive practices across your organisation
Inclusion Passport Guide
Empower individuals to communicate their workplace needs with clarity and confidence
Disability History Month Factsheet
This factsheet contains everything you need to know about this very important month
Staff Training
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Internal Training on Moodle
Explore EDI training, such as 'Digital Accessibility', 'Reasonable Adjustments' and 'Deaf Awareness'
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NEON Working Group
Access and Outreach for Disabled Learners
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STAART Workshop
The Importance of Disability Inclusive Language and the STAART Principles of Disability (SPoD)
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UNISON Training
Deaf Awareness
Timeline: our place in disability history.
This timeline was created in 2022 and displayed in the Marlowe building lobby from Thursday 24 November until Friday 16 December 2022. The physical exhibition was audio described on SoundCloud.
Explore the full timeline here as a narrated video (7 mins, closed captions available), or scroll down to read a slightly abridged version.
You can also download this content as a large-print accessible Word document.
Timeline panel
1965
Kent welcomes first students.
The first 500 students arrive at the University of Kent, including Ann Smith, a wheelchair user. The unprepared University hastily adds infrastructure to increase accessibility, including grab-rails in her room.
1970
New laws for equal access.
The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 is a breakthrough for disability rights. Local authorities must now provide equal access to educational facilities. This leads to the addition of some disabled parking on campus in 1971.
1975
Disability in prospectus.
At the time of its first mention in a prospectus, the admissions process for disabled students seems to be based on the medical model of disability: where the disabled person's body is viewed to be the barrier.
1979
First disability advisers.
David Reason, a disabled academic, is appointed the first Adviser to Disabled Students. Eve Wilson (pictured) also acts as Adviser in the 1980s. It soon becomes clear that the workload is too much for a single role.
1983
Social model of disability.
Kent alumnus and lecturer Professor Mike Oliver (pictured here in 2018) develops the 'social model of disability', a new way of thinking after years of a 'medical model'.
The MA he leads is the first course in what is later termed Disability Studies.
Read Mike's 1983 book online1980s
Progress on campus access.
Throughout the 1980s there is a sharp increase in the rate at which funding is allocated and works carried out to increase physical accessibility across campus. Funding commitments include ramps and accessible toilers in many buildings across campus.
1993
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).
The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is established to help disabled full-time students cover equipment, non-medical helpers and general costs. However, part-time students will not become eligible for the DSA until 2000.
1995
Support unit created.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 gave rights to disabled people to prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability. This law change is a factor in Kent making the decision to establish a coordinated Disability Support Unit around this time.
2004
Formalised review processes.
New requirements for reasonable adjustments to make buildings accessible take effect in 2004. As a result, Kent's Disability Support Network Group and the Disabled Access Working Party gain importance, and are set to be merged into one review body.
2015
Disability to accessibility.
In 2015, Kent partners with DisabilityGO (now AccessAble) to create an online accessibility guide to its buildings.
From 2017, the Kent Inclusive Practices (KIPs) make teaching more accessible by anticipating the needs of disabled students.
2017
DHM: raising awareness.
From 2017, Kent staff and students start collaborating to celebrate Disability History Month (DHM) with many events and initiatives. For DHM 2018, a series of humorous films feature students describe some odd attitudes towards disabled people.
'People are Weird' on YouTube2018
Kent leads on accessibility.
Kent wins a Times Higher Education award for Outstanding Student Support, recognising innovative proactive rather than reactive approaches to access requirements.
In 2019, Kent hosts a Digital Accessibility Conference with local public sector bodies.
July 2022
Honorary graduates.
Among many alumni who have contributed to improving society for people with disabilities, this year Dr Howard Leicester (pictured) and Kush Kanodia are awarded Doctors of Science for their work on social justice, accessibility, and social enterprise.
Read more2022
Integrated support.
From the mid 2000s, the Disability Support Unit began to grow, incorporating dyslexia and mental health. In 2011, it became Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW), with around 40 full-time and sessional staff. In 2022, SSW has grown to over 70 staff.
This is where we are today. Now let's shape tomorrow.
The future belongs to all of us. Email EqualityAndDiversity@kent.ac.uk to share your stories, ideas, and expertise.
#DHMKent25
Check out #DHMKent25 on social media to see what's coming up this year...
Here are some photos of some of the events that took place on our campuses to celebrate Disability History Month at Kent in 2022.
Image gallery
Useful resources
Invisible disabilities and identity
2021 Master of Research (MRes) thesis by Kent student Charlotte Aspland.
Inclusive workplaces report
Research from Kent Law School academics into how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted workplaces for disabled people.
UKDHM
Learn more about disability history and social justice on the UK Disability History Month website.
Inclusive Employers
Check out the Inclusive Employers website for podcasts, events and employment advice.
TED Talk
Watch Elise Roy's TED talk, 'When we design for disability we all benefit'.
Accessible Gulbenkian events
On the Gulbenkian site you can filter for audio described, captioned or 'relaxed' showings.
Disability Power 100 list
Kent alumni and 2022 honorary graduate Kush Kanodia is a judge for this celebration of Britain’s most influential disabled people and organisations.