Disability History Month
UK Disability History Month 2026
Disability, Politics and Democracy
19 November - 19 December 2026 in The Higgins Foyer
Disability History Month theme for 2026 is Disability, Health and Well Being. To recognise the month The Higgins are working in partnership with FLAG Bedford and Bedford Disability Expo in sharing a display of artwork and from participants with disabilities.
The display will be showcasing artists work including Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Deaths Make Me Sick shrouds (2019) by Vince Laws a series of shrouds. These began as giant pages in the Faust play’s “blasphemous book of state sanctioned torture,” and were used on stage in 2018, highlighting the deaths of people dealing with the DWP in the UK. Other artwork fesatured will include The Access Now Project (2025) by a variety of
disabled artists who used the "Cards For Inclusion" by Unlimited to draw pictures about access solutions in a mini pop up exhibition. The "Cards For Inclusion "is a card game designed by Unlimited to help organisations creatively explore and remove barriers to accessibility for disabled people. The last artwork is The Social Model of Disability (2025), an Applique fabric Banner The social model of disability emerged from the disability rights movement of the late 20th century, which aimed to give people with disabilities more freedom and autonomy.
We will also be welcoming Hawkin - the Platypus (a friend of Kevin, The Higgins own) as created by Laura Peggs and Bedford Dsaibility Expo mascot for Dsiability rights and inclusion.
There will be a launch event on Thursday 19 November 11am - 1pm, with a badge-making activity and a chance to meet the artist and curators of the display Laura Peggs and Helen Jones.
We have a Reminiscence Coffee Morning on 3 December 11am-12.30pm on Dsiability Awareness and Actvitism where Laura and Helen will be presenting some of their work with the community and we will be encouraging participants to share their own experiences and stories - all welcome.