The role the University played in shaping our understanding of disability is one of the key topics explored as part of the UK Disability History Month, (22 November – 22 December 2017).
Professor Mike Oliver will deliver a Distinguished Visitor Lecture at the Canterbury campus on Wednesday November 29 where he will speak of how from small beginnings at the university, and elsewhere, the social model of disability has had a profound effect on disability consciousness and a significant influence on social policies.
Professor Oliver, an academic, author and disability rights activist, will argue these developments have also provoked controversy. He says vicious attacks have been launched on the living standards and lifestyles of disabled people and his talk will explain what’s really happening to disabled people in 21st century Britain.
The lecture entitled ‘Disability History, Bleeding Hearts and Parasite People’ takes place from 18.00 to 19.00 Darwin Conference Suite and is free and open to all.
The talk is the 5th in this year’s series of Distinguished Visitor Lectures and is presented in collaboration with the Student Support and Wellbeing team which has organised a series of events with an Arts focus.
These include art exhibitions, musical performances, talks, workshops, performance art, film screenings, a comedy night, as well as an exploration of gaming accessibility and design.
The full programme of events is available at www.kent.ac.uk/dhm.
Celebrating Disability History Month, the University aims to:
- Raise disability awareness on campus
- Raise the profile of disabled students and staff, as well as the social, cultural and psychological challenges they may face
- Counter prejudice
- Offer inspiration for current and future students and staff with disabilities
- Explore disability history in the context of the Arts
For further information please contact DHM2017@kent.ac.uk.