Welcome to Disability History Scotland
Disability History Scotland is a disabled people’s organisation advocating the advancement of equality and diversity through the promotion of disability history, education and campaigning. We are committed to active participation, offering a view of history which includes disabled individuals and the many achievements they have made which, to this day, contribute to society.
More About Disability History Scotland
News
Survey: Accessible Cultural Events in Scotland
May 17, 2017
Would you like to see fully inclusive, accessible cultural events in Scotland? Events which welcome disabled people, either as performers, practitioners or audience members? Please help us achieve this by completing a short survey from our friends at Bella Freak… Just click here!
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UNWRITTEN: Tickets Now on Sale!
May 17, 2017
Friday August 4th-Saturday August 5th @ 5.15.pm (previews)
Monday August 7th-Saturday August 12 @ 5.15pm (main run)
Performances on August 4th, 8th and 12th will be Accessible performances with a BSL interpreter, captioning for Deaf/deaf audience members, and audio description for the visually impaired.
Tickets for Bella Freak: UNWRITTEN are now on sale from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe box office. Find out more about the show below, and click here to purchase.
UNWRITTEN collects the poignant but often comical true-life stories of three disabled individuals with wide-ranging impairments, placing them in a cultural and historical context from the Act of Union to the 21st century, as a fundamental part of Scotland’s national story.
Disability History Scotland: Courses & Activities
May 17, 2017Disability History Scotland aims to involve disabled people in the cultural, social, and political life of communities across Scotland.
We are launching a series of activities and courses which will enable disabled people to explore different topics and themes. These have been designed to encourage disabled people to find and use their own voice to make history by challenging a disabling society.
The activities that have been outlined are dependent on what YOU all think are most relevant. So, the activities with the most interest will take place sooner. Individuals can express interest in as many of the activities as they like, the more the better!
JUSTICE NOT CHARITY: Taster Session, Thursday June 1st @ Out of the Blue
May 17, 2017
On 25 April, 1920, 200 blind protest marchers organised by the National League of the Blind converged on Trafalgar Square as the House of Commons met to discuss legislation to help secure the economic and social rights of blind persons. Thousands of Londoners gathered to join them and listen to the speakers.
Justice Not Charity, Was Their Cry will explore the Scottish dimension of the 1920 National League of the Blind march by investigating Scottish popular press representation and archival evidence in the records of trade unions and blind organisations, and we’re looking for volunteer Citizen Researchers to assist the project and attend workshops over a six-month period.
Projects
UNWRITTEN: Tickets Now on Sale!
May 17, 2017Friday August 4th-Saturday August 5th @ 5.15.pm (previews)
Monday August 7th-Saturday August 12 @ 5.15pm (main run)
Performances on August 4th, 8th and 12th will be Accessible performances with a BSL interpreter, captioning for Deaf/deaf audience members, and audio description for the visually impaired.
Tickets for Bella Freak: UNWRITTEN are now on sale from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe box office. Find out more about the show below, and click here to purchase.
UNWRITTEN collects the poignant but often comical true-life stories of three disabled individuals with wide-ranging impairments, placing them in a cultural and historical context from the Act of Union to the 21st century, as a fundamental part of Scotland’s national story.
JUSTICE NOT CHARITY: National League of the Blind March, Sunday April 25th 1920
April 25, 2017by Dr. Jennifer Novotny
The only surviving image from the National League of the Blind March, Sunday April 25th 1920. (From the Working Class Movement Library, image donated by Tony Baldwinson.)
On 25 April, 1920, 200 blind protest marchers organised by the National League of the Blind converged on Trafalgar Square as the House of Commons met to discuss legislation to help secure the economic and social rights of blind persons. Thousands of Londoners gathered to join them and listen to the speakers.
DHS Timelines
The history of impairment and disability, both in Scotland and globally, is the history of struggle against the Medical Model of Disability. This is the dominant model. Disabled people are seen as a problem to be “fixed” by medicine, surgery, therapy or special treatments. It becomes a personal tragedy when this does not happen. This powerful and pervasive view is reinforced in the news media, books, film, art and language. It is reflected in social policy and at every level of society.
Disability History Scotland has created three interactive timelines depicting disability throughout the years. These can be viewed by clicking on one of the buttons below:
Early HistoryScottish EnlightenmentCure, Containment and Curiosities