The Cultures of Disability & Health group explores the experiences of disability and illness throughout history. We work with disabled people and academics to share the history of people over a 3000-year period, from ancient Greece to the modern day. We explore the cultural history of disability and mental health, foregrounding the contributions of disabled people and addressing prejudice. By making disabled people and those with mental illness more visible, we question contemporary ideas of ‘normal’ and challenge barriers to inclusion in all walks of life.
We want to explore new ways of doing the history of disability and to promote it in the heritage sector. As such, we share our research with the public through public lectures and by working with local partners, share the results of academic research into disability history and mental health, as well as co-produced history and collaborations with disabled people’s organisations.
We also provide links to online events and events in Manchester - just click on the 'events' tab at the top of the page to find out more. We welcome enquiries from anyone (including potential PhD students) who wants to work with us. Please use the space at the bottom of this page or the 'Contact Us' tab to get in touch.
Our Aims
The group comprises academics, practitioners, and disabled people who explore experiences of disability throughout history up to the present day. We examine cultures of disability in the past to challenge discrimination in the present. We work with disabled people to discover contemporary cultures of disability and to develop new ways of sharing our research.
Part of our remit is to encourage and help the public to engage with academic research into disability cultures. This includes working with partners, such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Manchester City Council, to host public talks about research into disability.
Our Partners
The Cultures of Disability & Health group often works with partners outside academia, including Manchester Central Library and the National Trust to make disability history accessible to everyone. We collaborate with organisations, including Venture Arts and the British Deaf History Society to explore cultures of disability.
Our research is funded by different organisations, including the British Academy, the Leverhulme Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (NWCDTP), and Manchester Metropolitan University.
