If you follow us on our social media accounts, you will have seen us posting about Disability History Month. But what is it, why is it important to us, and how did we get involved?
What is Disability History month?
Disability History Month, which took place from Wednesday 16th November 2022 to Friday 16th December 2022, is an annual event creating a platform to focus on the history of our struggle for equality and human rights.
It’s both an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of people living with a disability and also to raise awareness: in the UK, 1 in 5 people have a disability, 83 per cent of which are acquired during working life.
Every year’s Disability History Month has its own theme, which in 2022 was: Disability, Health and Well Being.
Disability History Month provides a platform for us to get involved in the national conversation around disability, and an opportunity to:
- celebrate the achievements of athletes with disabilities
- raise awareness of what a disability is – not all disabilities are visible or immediately apparent
- promote the history of disability in sport.
Why is Disability History Month important to Power2Inspire?
Our Founder, John Willis, is a key part of our story, and the underlying force behind our vision and mission. Our vision is that we long to see a society where everyone can enjoy inclusive sport together, and our mission is to embed inclusive sport in communities by delivering events for everyone to enjoy.
So it’s important for us to get involved in national awareness days and months like Disability History Month, because that’s what we’re all about: helping to spread the word about inclusive sport.
What did we do?
Many of our followers really enjoyed what we did to get behind Disability History Month this year.
We posted over 70 pieces of social media content about it, using the hashtags #UKDHM and #DisabilityHistoryMonth, and along the way we shared everything from interesting facts and videos about the history of the Paralympics and International Silent Games; the story of our Founder John Willis, and how he overcame the challenges of growing up disabled in an able-bodied world; and interviews John gave to people from BBC Sport and local media.
John was even called on to speak about Disability History Month by That’s TV West Anglia!
It’s been a fun, fact-filled four weeks! Here are a few samples of what you may have missed:
Today marks the start of @UKDHM's UK Disability History Month, focusing on the history of our struggle for equality and human rights. Over the next month, we’ll be sharing videos, photos, and history - of Power2Inspire and beyond - in support. #UKDHM #DisabilityHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/CjNVbQmc6d
— Power2InspireUK (@Power2InspireUK) November 16, 2022
For UK Disability History Month, we're looking back at 'John’s Road2Rio' challenge - when Power2Inspire’s Founder John Willis took part in all 34 #Olympic and #Paralympic #sports. https://t.co/nNLsGp7fKJ#UKDHM #DisabilityHistoryMonth #disabilitysport #DisabilityHistoryMonth2022
— Power2InspireUK (@Power2InspireUK) November 20, 2022
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
You can get involved with Power2Inspire in so many different ways, big or small. By fundraising, volunteering at an event, or sponsoring one of our community initiatives, you can make a huge difference to so many people.
If you’re part of a school, college, university, business or community, you could also hold a PowerHouseGames: incredible sports days using adapted games and sports. All the activities are especially designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, old and young, with disabilities and none, sporty and not – and in so doing are wonderfully inclusive. Find out more about PowerHouseGames.