Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
UK Disability History Month 2015 - Portrayal of Disability: Then and Now
Leeds Beckett University in partnership with the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett Student Union will be celebrating UK Disability History Month from 22 November to 22 December 2015.
This year the month will focus on social attitudes and portrayal of disabled people, and how it has changed over the years. Strong stereotypes rooted in past attitudes and cultures persist and are often recycled, reinforcing negative treatment of disabled people. UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) is an annual event creating a platform to focus on the history of disabled people’s struggle for equality and human rights and moving towards a change of attitudes towards disabled people.
Research conducted by Leeds Beckett Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies, Dr James McGrath, assesses the changing public perceptions of autism in the last 80 years, read his blog here.
A vast programme of events are planned throughout the month, including:
UK Disability History Month: Photography Competition
Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Beckett Student Union and Leeds University were invited to enter a photography competition and be in with chance of a once in a lifetime opportunity to have their work judged by renowned filmmaker and photographer David Hevey.
UKDHM aims to raise awareness of “unequal position of disabled people in society”, highlighting the importance of their struggles for inclusion and promoting the use of the social model of disability. With this in mind we would like to invite budding photographers to “raise awareness of social barriers and exclusion and ways in which these can be challenged” through creative photographs accompanied by a short description and an explanation of how the image fits the aims of UK Disability History Month.
Shortlisting was carried out by a team of staff and students from Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds and the final shortlist was judged by David Hevey. The winners were announced at David’s talk at Leeds Beckett University on 7 December 2015.
Prize: The first prize is a £50 voucher for Dale Photographic and was awarded to Olivia Clarkson, Graduate Management trainee at Leeds Beckett.
For more information on UKDHM, please visit: www.ukdhm.org
"What is the social model of disability, and how is it relevant today?"
Wednesday 25 November, 18:00-19:30, Little Leeds University Union House, Clarendon Place, LS2 9JN
“UKDHM supports a ‘social model’ approach to disability – moving away from seeing disability as an individual deficit/burden to recognising that social and attitudinal barriers disable the rich diversity of humanity with a wide range of impairments”
Join in this topical student-led panel discussion followed by a Q&A session. This event is free and open to all.
UKDHM Tennis Coaching Taster Session
Thursday 26 November, 12:00-14:00, Carnegie Sports Centre Reception, Headingley Campus, Leeds Beckett University,
Learn how to coach tennis, focusing on methods taught specifically for disabled players. The session is being run by Louise Assioun, Leeds Beckett University, Carnegie Coach Education Manager. Louise has previously coached Students Edward Holt and Antony Cotterill who were among the world's best wheelchair tennis players selected to represent their country in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in 2014, she also co-wrote the CPD qualification for Tennis Coaches in Visually Impaired Tennis, which is being delivered nationally. The session is open to all - to learn coaching skills and have some fun playing tennis!
Film Screening: 'Lives Worth Living'
Wednesday 2 December, 19:00, Leeds University Union, Level 2, Room 1
“Lives Worth Living” traces the development of political consciousness of US-American disability rights pioneers who realized that in order to change the world they needed to work together. Through demonstrations and inside legislative battles, the disability rights community secured equal civil rights for all disabled people in the USA. We will be screening the film and it will be followed by a brief discussion. This event is free and open to all.
Please note: The film can be shown with audio-description, if needed for students with visual impairments. Unfortunately, it does not have subtitles or BSL interpretation.
Celebrating International Day of Disabled People: Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities
Thursday 3 December, City & Headingley Campuses, Leeds Beckett University
This day is celebrated every year on 3 December, the day proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) in 1992, and is now recognised internationally.
What is Disability Art?
Thursday 3 December, 17:30-20:00, Inkwell Arts, 31 Potternewton Lane, Leeds LS7 3LW
Disability art is art made by disabled people about their lives and experiences. Find out more and why it’s important to artists and activists Gemma Nash and Gill Crawshaw (alumni of the University of Leeds postgraduate Disability Studies programme). Also find out more about Shoddy, a disability art project being planned for Leeds next year. There will be a short subtitled film and time for discussion and questions. This event is free and open to all.
‘Disability and the Equality Act 2010: Removing Barriers to Equality and Human Rights Implementation?’ A Caroline Gooding Memorial Seminar
Friday 4 December, 14:00-17:00, Moot Court Room, School of Law, University of Leeds
Twenty years after the enactment of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, it is becoming clear that legal aid and other reforms in England and Wales are having a significant impact on the enforcement of disability equality rights (now contained in the Equality Act 2010). This half-day seminar focuses on the nature and extent of this impact and provides a space for reflection about how disability equality law might be harnessed to contribute to driving the social change for which it was introduced.
David Hevey
Monday 7 December, 18:00-20:00, Lecture Theatre B, Rose Bowl, Leeds Beckett University
Acclaimed journalist, filmmaker and photographer David Hevey joins us to talk about his new projects and discuss representation of disabled people in the media. David will also be judging and announcing the winner of our photography competition.
Education then and now: a deaf perspective
Wednesday 9 December 12:00-13:00, Meeting Room 2, Students' Union Offices, Portland, City Campus, free, all welcome
Guest speaker Janet Pearson will explain her experiences of going through the education system as a deaf person and how support and attitudes have changed. This talk will be followed by a discussion and will be supported by a BSL Interpreter.
Comedy Performance - Laurence Clark
Wednesday 9 December, 18:30-20:00, Maurice Keyworth Lecture Theatre, Business School, University of Leeds
A performance from comedian, actor, disability rights campaigner and alumni of the University of Leeds postgraduate Disability Studies programme Laurence Clark, who uses his productions and routines to challenge the general public’s conceptions of disabled people. This event is free to participants and is funded by the University of Leeds’ School of Law, Centre for Disability Studies and Equality and Policy Unit.
Film Screening: ‘Marvellous’
Friday 11 December, 17:30 with film starting at 18:00, Student Union, City Campus, Leeds Beckett University
Join us to watch the 90 minute 2014 film starring Toby Jones about the remarkable life of the much loved Neil Baldwin, a former clown, kit-man and honorary graduate of Keele University, followed by a discussion. This event is free and open to all.
The politics of disability
Tuesday 15 December, 12:00-13:00, Lecture Theatre D, Rose Bowl, City Campus
In this session Paul Wetherly will look at some of the key ideas and arguments developed by disability activists and the disability movement to challenge 'disablism'. What is the relationship of these ideas to 'mainstream' ideologies, and to what extent do they represent a distinctive new ideology?