The History UK Disability and History Project was launched in November 2023 in response to the History UK EDI report which identified disability as an important aspect of EDI work worthy of further investigation. It is co-funded by the Royal Historical Society.
The aims of the study is to better understand a) the experiences of disabled, chronically ill (any long term health condition), D/deaf, Blind/partially sighted, neurodivergent students and staff in history departments (or related units) in Higher Education Institutions and b) the teaching and studying of disability history in UK Higher Education. It builds on the History UK EDI Pedagogy Report that highlighted that disability and history was an area demanding further attention. We aim to produce a sector-wide report and generate policy recommendations.
The project is led by Dr Sarah Holland and supported by 3 project research fellows (Dr Alexandra Morris, Dr Sarah Hayward and Tilly Guthrie) and an Advisory Board.
Project updates will be added here during the project.
How to get involved:
Project survey
Thank you to everyone who took part in our project survey. Responses will contribute to the HUK Disability and History Report – this will provide an evidence base for recommendations, which we hope can enhance experiences in HE and showcase examples of good practice.
Focus groups
We are currently recruiting participants for the following focus groups taking place in Spring 2025.
The following focus groups are scheduled to take place:
- Friday 4 April (10.00-12.00) – teaching and researching histories of disability (disabled and non-disabled staff and early career historians)
- Friday 4 April (13.00-15.00) – experiences of disabled students studying history (or related subjects) at undergraduate or postgraduate level
- Monday 7 April (10.00-12.00) – experiences of disabled early career historians (including PhD researchers, post docs, teaching fellows, research fellows)
- Friday 11 April (13.00-15.00) – experiences of disabled staff (including chronically ill, D/deaf, blind/partially sighted and neurodivergent) in history (and history-related) departments or historians in other departments
Focus group findings will contribute to the History UK Disability and History Report. This will provide an evidence base for recommendations, which we hope can enhance experiences in HE and showcase examples of good practice.
If you take part in a focus group, you will be provided with an overview of the session beforehand including discussion questions. Most focus groups will take place online. All comments will be anonymised before inclusion in the report. Students (UG and PG), PhD researchers and early career historians who take part in a focus group will be offered a £15 voucher afterwards.
If you are interested in participating in a focus group, then please email the project lead, Dr Sarah Holland (sarah.holland@nottingham.ac.uk) stating which focus group you would like to join and why. This should include relevant details as to stage of studies or career, institutions, etc. Places are limited and this information will be used in determining who will take part.
If you cannot make the dates/times listed above but would like to be involved, please email Sarah, stating which focus group you would have liked to join and why. We hope to schedule further dates later in April and in May if there is demand.
Case studies and interviews – if you are involved with or aware of a project relating to disability and history, and would like this to be considered for a case study or interview, please email the project lead, Dr Sarah Holland (sarah.holland@nottingham.ac.uk).