Disability History Month

16 November to 16 December 2022

Oxford Brookes is proud to be part of the annual celebration of Disability History Month, providing an opportunity to promote, celebrate and raise awareness of the contributions of disabled people in our communities and society and highlight support for students and staff.

Disability History Month 2022

Running from 16 November to 16 December, the Staff Disability Network will be marking Disability History Month with a range of activities and sessions. Nationally, this year’s Disability History Month theme is Disability, Health and Wellbeing.

Staff and students can also visit our Neurodiversity resources and Wellbeing at University reading lists created by the Library.

Lloyd Building lit up for Disability History Month

Programme of events

Live Comedy Show - Tom Skelton: 2020 Visions (What if I Hadn't Gone Blind?)

Tom Skelton: 2020 Visions (What if I Hadn't Gone Blind?)

Wednesday 7 December 2022, 6.00pm to 7.00pm

Could you see the funny side to going blind? 12 years after losing most of his sight, ‘deliciously talented’ (Guardian) Oxford Brookes alumnus Tom Skelton looks back and wonders what might've been. But would Tom from 2020 swap places with fantasy Tom with 20:20 vision? The show looks back at the last decade since Tom lost most of his sight in 2010 due to a genetic condition and explores his regrets, what ifs, and realities of life as a VIP (visually impaired person)!

This event is open to all and includes light refreshments afterwards.

Lloyd Building lit up for #PurpleLightUp Disability History Month

#PurpleLightUp

Friday 2 December 2022

To kick start the celebration of Disability History Month, on Friday 2 December, we will be taking part in #PurpleLightUp led by Purple Space which marks International Day of People with Disabilities on 3 December. 

We will be lighting up Lloyd Building and Headington Sports Centre in purple.

Man on a rowing machine

Staff wellness checks

5 to 9 December 2022

Through the week beginning 5 December, you can access Staff Wellness Checks.

Book a slot at Headington gym for a 15-20 minute consultation with the fitness team, measuring weight and body composition using our InBody scanner. Blood pressure and resting heart rate will enable the team to provide feedback, and provide advice on training and exercise to improve health and wellness.

Please book with Nailson: npatrocinio@brookes.ac.uk.

Bollywood dance online class

Bollywood dance sessions

Tuesday 6 December 2022

There will be two Bollywood dance sessions on Tuesday 6 December:

  • a virtual session at 1.00pm (Zoom) 
  • an in-person session 5.00pm to 6.00pm (Dance Studio).
Person on a climbing wall

Climbing wall sessions

Wednesday 7 December, 2.00 to 4.00pm

Please email to book: climb@brookes.ac.uk.

Person doing yoga

Yoga sessions

Tuesday 13 December, 1.00-1.45pm and 1.45-2.30pm

There will be two yoga sessions on 13 December in the Dance Studio - 1.00pm to 1.45pm and 1.45pm -2.30pm (accessible class). Mats will be provided.

Please book with James Ridgley directly: jridgley@brookes.ac.uk.

Other events

DAWN and DMU Women: Autism in Women

Tuesday 29 November, 12.00pm - 1.30pm

Lots of people are quite unaware of how autism presents in women. There are lots of women out there struggling and they perhaps don’t know why. This webinar will address autism in women and late diagnosis.

Disability History Month logo

Past events

Disability History Month 2021

Neurodiversity and Mental Wellbeing - a lunchtime session from Dr Susy Ridout

Thursday 25 November

Watch the recording (Brookes students and staff)

Allyship with Disabled People workshop

Monday 29 November

Watch the recording (Brookes students and staff)

#PurpleLightUp

Thursday 3 December

For International Day of People with Disabilities, Oxford Brookes will again be part of the global #PurpleLightUp campaign. On 3 December, Lloyd Building will be proudly lit in purple to show solidarity and recognition of the contributions and achievements of disabled people in the workplace and wider society.

Ableism and inclusive futures in higher education - open lecture with Dr Nicole Brown

Wednesday 8 December

Watch the recording

Disability History Month 2020

During 2020 many people were working from home and all events were held online, so we encouraged staff and students to post and share via social media channels and their online prescence to show their solidarity and support for #PurpleLightUp.

The Brookes staff Bollywood group dances in purple for #PurpleLightUp

Watch the video

Brookes HR staff talk about #PurpleLightUp and disability inclusion

Watch the video

Brookes Sport shares social media content for Disability History Month

See the Twitter feed

Other events

Lloyd Building lights up for #PurpleLightUp

Brookes staff Bollywood dancing group's lockdown performance for #PurpleLightUp

Brookes Sport Headington lights up for #PurpleLightUp

The Student Disability Advisory Team go purple for #PurpleLightUp

Purple backgrounds, jumpers, and more from the Learning Resources Marketing & Comms Group

Disability History Month 2019

An evening with comedian Francesca Martinez.

11 December 2019

Open to all.

OBU Documentary Club screening - Unrest

22 November 2019

UNREST, doctors tell Jennifer it's "all in her head. Open to all.

Dyslexic Academic: Towards a Neurodivergent Academy

2 December 2019, 12 noon - 2.00pm, Clerici G.28

Informal workshop with Dr Kate West organised by the Staff Disability Network and sponsored by UNISON and UCU. Lunch provided. Please email Fran Jenkins fjenkins@brookes.ac.uk

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - bring your best purple!

3 December 2019

Show your support by wearing purple, eating purple and popping over to the Enquiry Centre, JHB, for 12.30pm

Disability History Month 2018

Professor Anne-Marie Kilday talks about #PurpleLightUp

Professor Anne-Marie Kilday, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student and Staff Experience), talks about #PurpleLightUp, our approach to inclusive support for our students, our commitments as a Disability Confident Employer and our openness and accessibility to the community.

OBU Documentary Club screening - For Once In My Life

22 November 2018

A true story about a band made up of singers and musicians with a wide range of mental and physical disabilities. Open to all.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

3 December 2018

Show your support by wearing purple, eating purple and popping over to the Enquiry Centre, JHBB, 12-2 pm, where there will be demonstrations of assistive technology. Open to Brookes students and staff.

Silence and spiritual wellbeing

4 December 2018

An introduction to meditative practices and how you might use them to self-soothe or stay well. Open to Brookes students and staff.

12pm, Garden Room, Wellbeing

Dorset House Christmas Craft

11 December 2018

Brookes Library Special Collections pop-up event exploring the history of Occupational Therapy. Open to Brookes students and staff.

Headington Library entrance/Forum area on level 0 in JHBB

Leadership and (dis)ability - where are our disabled leaders?

12 December 2018

Where are our disabled leaders? A discussion on how to turn disability rights into reality – led by Dr Ossie Stuart and Dr Alex Donnelly. Open to all.