Learn About 5 Moments That Shaped Disability History in the UK
Sociability
•
Nov 11, 2025
5 Moments That Shaped Disability History
Sociability exists because of the community of writers, artists and organisers that fought for Disability rights! They brought attention to accessibility as a human right, and fought for equal opportunities.
When we think about Disability history we ask questions like: When did people stop viewing Disability as something to be pitied and cured? When did society realise that Disabled people weren’t the problem - barriers to accessibility are? How did Disabled activists fight to eradicate these barriers?
In truth, we’re still working on it. It took a while for the Social Model of Disability, which frames disability as a political and social issue rather than an individual one, to enter the mainstream. But the Social Model of Disability laid the ground work for demanding that policy makers actively eradicate barriers to accessibility.
That’s why this Disability History Month we want to talk about moments in Disability History that shaped the Social Model of Disability.
What is the Social Model of Disability?
The Social Model vs The Medical Model
The Social Model of Disability views disability as a result of societal barriers to access. The Social Model places responsibility on society to improve accessibility rather than “fixing” Disabled people.
For example, the Social Model of Disability looks at stairs and ask: Why isn’t there a ramp?
The Social Model of Disability contrasts the Medical Model of Disability. The Medical Model focuses on diagnosing, treating, and, in many cases, rehabilitating Disabled people.
The Medical Model often considers Disability as an individual problem to be “fixed," rather than dedicating attention to changing society to be more accessible.
As a consequence, society often views Disabled people as objects of pity. For instance, the Medical Model might look at a wheelchair user at the bottom of the stairs and think: “What a shame that their legs can’t be fixed so they can walk upstairs.”
Why is the Social Model of Disability important to Disability History?
The Social Model of Disability focuses on accessibility as a human right. Advocates of the Social Model push for changes in policy that eradicate barriers to access impacting Disabled people’s opportunities for work, education and leisure.
Experiences of Disability are deeply personal but are shaped by government budgets, infrastructure, and policy. These can be changed to make society more inclusive to people with different access needs.
No matter your access need you deserve to feel included and supported to access the same opportunities as non-Disabled people.
5 Moments That Shaped Disability History in the UK
1963: Designing for the Disabled Architecture Guide
Selwyn Goldsmith published the Designing for the Disabled’ architecture guide in 1963. It was the first published guidance on inclusive design, based on Goldsmith's lived experience with disability.
Goldsmith advocated for overcoming “architectural disability." "Architectural disability" refers to the creation of buildings designed without Disabled people in mind. Goldsmith educated architects and urban planners on how to make buildings accessible for people with different types of Disability. His advocacy included designing for wheelchair-users, blind people and d/Deaf people.
1972: Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation
In 1972 Paul Hunt wrote a letter to The Guardian newspaper. In it he invited Disabled people to form a group to advocate for Disability issues. Up until this point Disability was seen as an issue for charities. Charities were often more focused on curing Disabled people than improving accessibility.
In contrast, the UPIAS defined Disability as a social and political issue. UPIAS wrote that Disability was: “The disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by contemporary organisation which takes no or little account of people who have physical impairments that exclude them from the mainstream of social activities.”
Tired of Disabled people being ignored, UPIAS advocated for Disabled people to be supported to participate in mainstream life.
1981: Sisters Against Disablement
Sue Fairclough and Patricial (Pat Rock) formed Sisters Against Disablement to raise awareness for the intersecting barriers facing Disabled women.
SAD argued that Disabled women had to organise together to fight back against the “double oppression” of sexism and ableism. They advocated for the Social Model. In their first newsletter, SAD challenged Disability as “individual tragedy” arguing that it was highly “political.”
Many Disabled women felt excluded by the feminist movement. The sheer inaccessibility of feminist spaces prevented Disabled women from being part of the conversation. Inaccessibility meant Disabled women could not contribute their unique experiences of sexism and misogyny to feminist conversations.
SAD focused on removing barriers to accessibility in feminist spaces. Specifically, they created the SAD code to help feminist organisers evaluate accessibility. Recommendations included looking at level access, door width and public transport links - all things that Sociability continues to evaluate in our tags today.
1995: The Wheelchair Warriors and Direct Action Protests
Through out the 1990s Disability rights activists turned their attention to public transport. The Direct Action Network (DAN), founded by Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth, played a crucial role in these protests.
The most famous of DAN’s protests occurred in 1995. DAN members brought traffic to a halt on Westminster Bridge by handcuffing themselves to busses. Some protestors even pulled themselves under vehicles to prevent them from moving.
While the police initially arrested protestors, many were eventually let off with a warning - as the police struggled to lift wheelchairs into inaccessible police vans.
The protests responded to the Disability Discrimination Act making its way through Parliament. Many protestors felt the Act did not go far enough in enforcing Disability rights.
The Disability Discrimination Act passed in 1995 and made it “unlawful to discriminate against disabled persons in connection with employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services or the disposal or management of premises, to make provision about the employment of disabled persons.”
However, the Disability Rights Commission, an official body responsible for enforcing the Act wasn’t set-up until 4 years later in 1999.
2011: The Hardest Hit Campaign
The Hardest Hit Campaign protested cuts to benefits and the Disability Living Allowance. They campaign argued that Disabled people already faced barriers to accessing employment and more expensive living costs. It was made up of over 40 charities from the Disability Benefits Consortium and other grassroots organisations who were part of the UK Disabled People’s Council.
In May 2011, 8000 protestors took part in the first protest in London. Many more protests would later take place across the country in cities like Edinburgh, Brighton and Cardiff. Protestors held up signs showing how barriers to accessibility made it even harder for Disabled people to protest. For instance, one sign read: “I’m not here as the lift has been broken for three weeks!”
Be A Part of Disability History!
We still have a long way to go to make the world a more inclusive. Learning about Disability Disability history gives us hope that we can create change, but also reminds us that progress is not a given.
Disability history is happening right now! There are many activists, artists and writers in our community advocating for Disability Rights and fighting to remove barriers to accessibility. And they need our support.
Want to watch history in the making? Keep your eye on current policies being discussed in Parliament like the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
You can also sign up to join our free educational newsletter Beyond Compliance. We provide practical tips to advocate for accessibility in your workplace and everyday life.
5 Moments That Shaped Disability History
Sociability exists because of the community of writers, artists and organisers that fought for Disability rights! They brought attention to accessibility as a human right, and fought for equal opportunities.
When we think about Disability history we ask questions like: When did people stop viewing Disability as something to be pitied and cured? When did society realise that Disabled people weren’t the problem - barriers to accessibility are? How did Disabled activists fight to eradicate these barriers?
In truth, we’re still working on it. It took a while for the Social Model of Disability, which frames disability as a political and social issue rather than an individual one, to enter the mainstream. But the Social Model of Disability laid the ground work for demanding that policy makers actively eradicate barriers to accessibility.
That’s why this Disability History Month we want to talk about moments in Disability History that shaped the Social Model of Disability.
What is the Social Model of Disability?
The Social Model vs The Medical Model
The Social Model of Disability views disability as a result of societal barriers to access. The Social Model places responsibility on society to improve accessibility rather than “fixing” Disabled people.
For example, the Social Model of Disability looks at stairs and ask: Why isn’t there a ramp?
The Social Model of Disability contrasts the Medical Model of Disability. The Medical Model focuses on diagnosing, treating, and, in many cases, rehabilitating Disabled people.
The Medical Model often considers Disability as an individual problem to be “fixed," rather than dedicating attention to changing society to be more accessible.
As a consequence, society often views Disabled people as objects of pity. For instance, the Medical Model might look at a wheelchair user at the bottom of the stairs and think: “What a shame that their legs can’t be fixed so they can walk upstairs.”
Why is the Social Model of Disability important to Disability History?
The Social Model of Disability focuses on accessibility as a human right. Advocates of the Social Model push for changes in policy that eradicate barriers to access impacting Disabled people’s opportunities for work, education and leisure.
Experiences of Disability are deeply personal but are shaped by government budgets, infrastructure, and policy. These can be changed to make society more inclusive to people with different access needs.
No matter your access need you deserve to feel included and supported to access the same opportunities as non-Disabled people.
5 Moments That Shaped Disability History in the UK
1963: Designing for the Disabled Architecture Guide
Selwyn Goldsmith published the Designing for the Disabled’ architecture guide in 1963. It was the first published guidance on inclusive design, based on Goldsmith's lived experience with disability.
Goldsmith advocated for overcoming “architectural disability." "Architectural disability" refers to the creation of buildings designed without Disabled people in mind. Goldsmith educated architects and urban planners on how to make buildings accessible for people with different types of Disability. His advocacy included designing for wheelchair-users, blind people and d/Deaf people.
1972: Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation
In 1972 Paul Hunt wrote a letter to The Guardian newspaper. In it he invited Disabled people to form a group to advocate for Disability issues. Up until this point Disability was seen as an issue for charities. Charities were often more focused on curing Disabled people than improving accessibility.
In contrast, the UPIAS defined Disability as a social and political issue. UPIAS wrote that Disability was: “The disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by contemporary organisation which takes no or little account of people who have physical impairments that exclude them from the mainstream of social activities.”
Tired of Disabled people being ignored, UPIAS advocated for Disabled people to be supported to participate in mainstream life.
1981: Sisters Against Disablement
Sue Fairclough and Patricial (Pat Rock) formed Sisters Against Disablement to raise awareness for the intersecting barriers facing Disabled women.
SAD argued that Disabled women had to organise together to fight back against the “double oppression” of sexism and ableism. They advocated for the Social Model. In their first newsletter, SAD challenged Disability as “individual tragedy” arguing that it was highly “political.”
Many Disabled women felt excluded by the feminist movement. The sheer inaccessibility of feminist spaces prevented Disabled women from being part of the conversation. Inaccessibility meant Disabled women could not contribute their unique experiences of sexism and misogyny to feminist conversations.
SAD focused on removing barriers to accessibility in feminist spaces. Specifically, they created the SAD code to help feminist organisers evaluate accessibility. Recommendations included looking at level access, door width and public transport links - all things that Sociability continues to evaluate in our tags today.
1995: The Wheelchair Warriors and Direct Action Protests
Through out the 1990s Disability rights activists turned their attention to public transport. The Direct Action Network (DAN), founded by Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth, played a crucial role in these protests.
The most famous of DAN’s protests occurred in 1995. DAN members brought traffic to a halt on Westminster Bridge by handcuffing themselves to busses. Some protestors even pulled themselves under vehicles to prevent them from moving.
While the police initially arrested protestors, many were eventually let off with a warning - as the police struggled to lift wheelchairs into inaccessible police vans.
The protests responded to the Disability Discrimination Act making its way through Parliament. Many protestors felt the Act did not go far enough in enforcing Disability rights.
The Disability Discrimination Act passed in 1995 and made it “unlawful to discriminate against disabled persons in connection with employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services or the disposal or management of premises, to make provision about the employment of disabled persons.”
However, the Disability Rights Commission, an official body responsible for enforcing the Act wasn’t set-up until 4 years later in 1999.
2011: The Hardest Hit Campaign
The Hardest Hit Campaign protested cuts to benefits and the Disability Living Allowance. They campaign argued that Disabled people already faced barriers to accessing employment and more expensive living costs. It was made up of over 40 charities from the Disability Benefits Consortium and other grassroots organisations who were part of the UK Disabled People’s Council.
In May 2011, 8000 protestors took part in the first protest in London. Many more protests would later take place across the country in cities like Edinburgh, Brighton and Cardiff. Protestors held up signs showing how barriers to accessibility made it even harder for Disabled people to protest. For instance, one sign read: “I’m not here as the lift has been broken for three weeks!”
Be A Part of Disability History!
We still have a long way to go to make the world a more inclusive. Learning about Disability Disability history gives us hope that we can create change, but also reminds us that progress is not a given.
Disability history is happening right now! There are many activists, artists and writers in our community advocating for Disability Rights and fighting to remove barriers to accessibility. And they need our support.
Want to watch history in the making? Keep your eye on current policies being discussed in Parliament like the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
You can also sign up to join our free educational newsletter Beyond Compliance. We provide practical tips to advocate for accessibility in your workplace and everyday life.
5 Moments That Shaped Disability History
Sociability exists because of the community of writers, artists and organisers that fought for Disability rights! They brought attention to accessibility as a human right, and fought for equal opportunities.
When we think about Disability history we ask questions like: When did people stop viewing Disability as something to be pitied and cured? When did society realise that Disabled people weren’t the problem - barriers to accessibility are? How did Disabled activists fight to eradicate these barriers?
In truth, we’re still working on it. It took a while for the Social Model of Disability, which frames disability as a political and social issue rather than an individual one, to enter the mainstream. But the Social Model of Disability laid the ground work for demanding that policy makers actively eradicate barriers to accessibility.
That’s why this Disability History Month we want to talk about moments in Disability History that shaped the Social Model of Disability.
What is the Social Model of Disability?
The Social Model vs The Medical Model
The Social Model of Disability views disability as a result of societal barriers to access. The Social Model places responsibility on society to improve accessibility rather than “fixing” Disabled people.
For example, the Social Model of Disability looks at stairs and ask: Why isn’t there a ramp?
The Social Model of Disability contrasts the Medical Model of Disability. The Medical Model focuses on diagnosing, treating, and, in many cases, rehabilitating Disabled people.
The Medical Model often considers Disability as an individual problem to be “fixed," rather than dedicating attention to changing society to be more accessible.
As a consequence, society often views Disabled people as objects of pity. For instance, the Medical Model might look at a wheelchair user at the bottom of the stairs and think: “What a shame that their legs can’t be fixed so they can walk upstairs.”
Why is the Social Model of Disability important to Disability History?
The Social Model of Disability focuses on accessibility as a human right. Advocates of the Social Model push for changes in policy that eradicate barriers to access impacting Disabled people’s opportunities for work, education and leisure.
Experiences of Disability are deeply personal but are shaped by government budgets, infrastructure, and policy. These can be changed to make society more inclusive to people with different access needs.
No matter your access need you deserve to feel included and supported to access the same opportunities as non-Disabled people.
5 Moments That Shaped Disability History in the UK
1963: Designing for the Disabled Architecture Guide
Selwyn Goldsmith published the Designing for the Disabled’ architecture guide in 1963. It was the first published guidance on inclusive design, based on Goldsmith's lived experience with disability.
Goldsmith advocated for overcoming “architectural disability." "Architectural disability" refers to the creation of buildings designed without Disabled people in mind. Goldsmith educated architects and urban planners on how to make buildings accessible for people with different types of Disability. His advocacy included designing for wheelchair-users, blind people and d/Deaf people.
1972: Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation
In 1972 Paul Hunt wrote a letter to The Guardian newspaper. In it he invited Disabled people to form a group to advocate for Disability issues. Up until this point Disability was seen as an issue for charities. Charities were often more focused on curing Disabled people than improving accessibility.
In contrast, the UPIAS defined Disability as a social and political issue. UPIAS wrote that Disability was: “The disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by contemporary organisation which takes no or little account of people who have physical impairments that exclude them from the mainstream of social activities.”
Tired of Disabled people being ignored, UPIAS advocated for Disabled people to be supported to participate in mainstream life.
1981: Sisters Against Disablement
Sue Fairclough and Patricial (Pat Rock) formed Sisters Against Disablement to raise awareness for the intersecting barriers facing Disabled women.
SAD argued that Disabled women had to organise together to fight back against the “double oppression” of sexism and ableism. They advocated for the Social Model. In their first newsletter, SAD challenged Disability as “individual tragedy” arguing that it was highly “political.”
Many Disabled women felt excluded by the feminist movement. The sheer inaccessibility of feminist spaces prevented Disabled women from being part of the conversation. Inaccessibility meant Disabled women could not contribute their unique experiences of sexism and misogyny to feminist conversations.
SAD focused on removing barriers to accessibility in feminist spaces. Specifically, they created the SAD code to help feminist organisers evaluate accessibility. Recommendations included looking at level access, door width and public transport links - all things that Sociability continues to evaluate in our tags today.
1995: The Wheelchair Warriors and Direct Action Protests
Through out the 1990s Disability rights activists turned their attention to public transport. The Direct Action Network (DAN), founded by Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth, played a crucial role in these protests.
The most famous of DAN’s protests occurred in 1995. DAN members brought traffic to a halt on Westminster Bridge by handcuffing themselves to busses. Some protestors even pulled themselves under vehicles to prevent them from moving.
While the police initially arrested protestors, many were eventually let off with a warning - as the police struggled to lift wheelchairs into inaccessible police vans.
The protests responded to the Disability Discrimination Act making its way through Parliament. Many protestors felt the Act did not go far enough in enforcing Disability rights.
The Disability Discrimination Act passed in 1995 and made it “unlawful to discriminate against disabled persons in connection with employment, the provision of goods, facilities and services or the disposal or management of premises, to make provision about the employment of disabled persons.”
However, the Disability Rights Commission, an official body responsible for enforcing the Act wasn’t set-up until 4 years later in 1999.
2011: The Hardest Hit Campaign
The Hardest Hit Campaign protested cuts to benefits and the Disability Living Allowance. They campaign argued that Disabled people already faced barriers to accessing employment and more expensive living costs. It was made up of over 40 charities from the Disability Benefits Consortium and other grassroots organisations who were part of the UK Disabled People’s Council.
In May 2011, 8000 protestors took part in the first protest in London. Many more protests would later take place across the country in cities like Edinburgh, Brighton and Cardiff. Protestors held up signs showing how barriers to accessibility made it even harder for Disabled people to protest. For instance, one sign read: “I’m not here as the lift has been broken for three weeks!”
Be A Part of Disability History!
We still have a long way to go to make the world a more inclusive. Learning about Disability Disability history gives us hope that we can create change, but also reminds us that progress is not a given.
Disability history is happening right now! There are many activists, artists and writers in our community advocating for Disability Rights and fighting to remove barriers to accessibility. And they need our support.
Want to watch history in the making? Keep your eye on current policies being discussed in Parliament like the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
You can also sign up to join our free educational newsletter Beyond Compliance. We provide practical tips to advocate for accessibility in your workplace and everyday life.
