This year sees the first ever UK Disability History Month taking place from 22nd November to 22nd December. This event is supported by CSIE and a number of teaching unions and disability organizations including the NUT, NASUWT, SCOPE, RADAR and UKDPC.

The timing of this event covers HIV/AIDS Day (1st December), International Day of Disabled People (3rd December) and International Human Rights Day (8th December). The purpose will be to make schools, colleges, universities, adult education, local authorities, employers, the public and the media focus on:

• Celebrating disabled people’s struggles and achievements

• Sharing examples where disability equality is being realized

• Fostering greater understanding of the barriers disabled people continue to face

• Focusing on what needs to change so that disabled children can feel that they belong in their local community and can be welcomed and visible in ordinary local schools

• Making disability equality a daily reality. The UK government has introduced the Equality Act 2010 and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Much has to happen to make these Rights a daily reality for the 12 million disabled children and adults in the UK.

You can find useful resources to promote disability inclusion at www.worldofinclusion.com/qcda.htm

CSIE encourages our supporters to organise events. Look out for details of CSIE’s plans for International Day of Person’s with Disabilities on 3rd December.