UK Disability History Month (UKDHM), observed annually between November and December, is an event that focuses on the history of disabled people and the fight for equality in an often ableist society. It amplifies disabled people’s voices and champions their achievements, contributions, and progress towards equity but also reminds us of the considerable steps yet to be made and for which the struggle continues.
A national conversation
The theme for UKDHM 2025 is ‘Disability, Life and Death’. In light of recent and ongoing news surrounding the legislation of assisted dying, many disabled people are greatly concerned about the impact such a bill might have on their lives. Arguments against the bill fear a potential slippery slope, with provision expanding from terminally ill patients at the end of life, to the revival of a eugenicist attitude that would favour death over the accommodations and support needed to empower disabled people to live their lives to the fullest. While the issue is a complex and nuanced one with strong emotions on both sides, it is clear that many disabled people feel that they have been left out of key conversations surrounding this bill, rather than being central to them.
Not ‘one-size-fits-all’
In the Learning Success Hub, we strive to create an environment for our students that is as inclusive as possible and understand that we support a community with diverse needs and study preferences. With this in mind, we created our Accessibility Tools page, which gathers together useful information to help you customise your reading and learning experience and get the most out of our online platforms. You’ll also find a link to SensusAccess, a self-service tool that allows you to convert documents into more accessible formats, and information on how we can support you through RNIB Bookshare if you have an eligible print disability.
Here to guide you
If you’d like to know more about these accessibility tools and services, and learn some useful customisation tips in your browser settings, you can book a place on one of our regular ‘Introduction to Accessibility Tools’ workshops. If you would like to talk one on one and discuss your experiences and needs directly, you can also book a one-to-one appointment with one of our Librarians. They can give you pointers on the ways we can support you in your use of our learning materials and resources, and signpost additional teams and services for further guidance where appropriate.
eBooks on important topics
We also have a dedicated Spotlight eBook collection focusing on disability and neurodiversity. You’ll find titles on study skills, inclusive workplaces, the perspectives and experiences of disabled people, and more. We’re keen to keep developing our Spotlight eBook collections to reflect with what’s important to you so if there are any eBooks you’d like to see in the collection that we don’t currently have, you can make a request using our Request it! service and we’ll buy them if we can.
Talk to us
As we mark UKDHM 2025 and beyond, we’d love to hear from you so if you have any comments or questions regarding how the Learning Success Hub can empower and support you throughout your learning journey, please do get in touch with us through email, live chat, or by booking a one-to-one.