Disability Justice
Resources on disability justice
An explanation of the social model of disability which describes how people are disabled not by their impairments but by structural social, organisational and attitudinal barriers.
Disability and language article
An equality training document explaining why in the UK we use the term ‘disabled person’ where in the US they say ‘people with disabilities’ – and why it matters.
Disableism vs Ableism article
An article by a UK disabled activist about discrimination, language differences, and what they mean.
Stop Ableism.org website
Background and information about ableism and accessibility.
Everyday Ableism article
Everyday Ableism: what is it and how to stop doing it by Elizabeth Wright.
Disability News Service (DNS) website
News service run by disabled journalist John Pring, particularly known for investigating and campaigning on unjust government policy and malpractice towards disabled people. John Pring has tirelessly covered the deaths of disabled people due to benefits cuts and the DWP’s attempts to duck its legal responsibilities in this regard. In depth coverage of the discrimination of coronavirus emergency legislation and the loss of hard won rights.
Coronavirus Experts zine
A zine about going into lockdown with disabled expertise, sharing skills for resilience learned from experience of being disabled
Sick woman theory video
Johanna Hedva reads her essay on sick woman theory which describes how systemic structural barriers interweave with individual frailty to exclude women with illness from activism. Includes a link to the essay in written form.
Lessons from the borders: Empowering Participants with Disabilities and Transgender Participants article
Article co-written by a trans activist and a disabled activist about their experiences of training for trainers with Training for Change, by Nico Amador and Jana Schroeder.
Short guide focusing on adjustments you can make for people with physical and sensory impairments.
Making online meetings accessible Short guide
Little Cog (a disabled arts theatre company) guide to making online meetings (e.g. zoom meetings) accessible, including for people with learning disabilities.
Making Online meetings accessible detailed guide
More detailed guide to making online meetings accessible with less emphasis on learning disability.
The average reading level in Greater Manchester is equivalent to Key Stage 2 (age 9). This is a guide to creating Easy Read documents that are accessible for people who struggle with literacy, or people with learning disabilities.
Disability Arts Online website
Organisation promoting disabled artists, disability arts (which is art informed by the social model of disability, or ‘anti-oppression’ art by disabled artists), and the social model of disability.
Sins Invalid performance project
A disability justice-based performance project from the US highlighting connecting experiences and intersecting oppressions by centering performances by Black and LGBTQ and gender-variant disabled artists.
Disability, Climate Change and Environmental Violence, academic paper
Disability Studies Quarterly paper connecting disability politics and environmental justice, through an understanding of structural violence – readable, with lots of excellent readable references.
The pandemic has been a showcase for disableism & ableism. In this video Baroness Campbell, who participated in the direct action that helped bring about the Disability Discrimination Act, talks about how Covid-19 has been an excuse for increased institutionalised discrimination, taking an intersectional perspective and challenging the term ‘vulnerable’.
A clip from the film Examined Life in which disabled artist Sunaura Taylor and gender theorist Judith Butler go for a walk and a talk
History of the Social Model of disability book chapter
Mike Oliver, co-originator of the theory of the social model of disability, explains its history.
Silenced: The Hidden History of disabled Britain TV episode (BBC)
A fantastic introduction to the history of disability in Britain, the oppression in workhouses, the formation of the UPIAS (which developed the social model of disability) and neatly introduces and explains how disabled people are a social group.
Crip Camp: A Disability revolution. Documentary film on netflix
A groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality.
With thanks to Clare Bonetree for compiling these resources.
Resources suggestions and feedback
We welcome suggestions for additional and more diverse resources.
Please see our criteria and submit links and descriptions to suggested resources via our form. Thank you.
