Disability History Month 2023

Disability History Month (DHM) is currently taking place in the UK and will run until Saturday 16 December. It's a chance to celebrate the achievements of people living with a disability.

This year, DHM is focusing on the experience of disablement among children and young people. This includes the past, present and what they need for the future.

The aim is to make sure that all children and young people with long term impairments will not experience  social exclusion. This includes stigma, stereotypes, negative attitudes and socially created barriers.

One of the most important ways to bring about positive change, is how we think about impairment and disablement. We must learn to challenge our prejudices and discriminatory practices.

New staff network group

At the council, we are starting a staff network group. The group will focus on the experiences of staff with disabilities or health conditions that have an impact on day-to-day life. This will include staff who are neurodivergent. The network will offer a safe space for people to connect and talk.

Disability advisory and access forum

The first disability advisory and access forum will take place on Tuesday 21 November. The purpose of this forum is to create opportunities for people with disabilities. It also aims to create opportunities for the people that support them and disability organisations in the borough. The forum will enable them to:

• have a strong collective voice on all issues of disability and accessibility - to achieve positive outcomes for the community
• consult with the council on services and facilities which affect people living with disabilities
• make a positive difference and improve the lives of people with physical, mental, learning or sensory impairment

This forum will allow us to better understand:

• the experience of people with disabilities
• the impact of plans, policies and the services provided by the council

AccessAble webinars

AccessAble Consultancy host quarterly online webinars focused on accessibility and inclusion. Attending these webinars is a great way to learn more about specific topics and hear from diverse voices. You can watch their previous webinars on the AccessAble website.