The Disability Lectures

This annual lecture series celebrates the achievements of disabled people. The University is committed to establishing an inclusive environment, and we hope that this lecture series will be inspiring and empowering for everyone, particularly for our disabled staff and students. We hope that it will also increase understanding of the experiences of people living with a disability and of the creative and flexible support that may help them to flourish. The events are organised by the Equality and Diversity Unit and the Disability Advisory Group.

The Equality & Diversity Unit University Administration and Services (UAS)

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 episodes

Episode	Description	People	Date
2025 Disability Lecture: Building an Environment for All	Professor Sam Howison explores how an institution like Oxford University can build accessible environments, highlighting the complexities, evolving needs, and broad benefits of inclusive design.	Sam Howison, Jordelle Akinola, Irene Tracey, Elizabeth Frood	23 May, 2025
2024 Disability Lecture: Changing the disability narrative - from unseen to understood	Oxford and Harvard alumna Beth Kume-Holland shares her personal journey from Oxford undergraduate and researcher to award-winning CEO and international disability rights advocate.	Beth Kume-Holland, Sarah Stephenson-Hunter, Irene Tracey	16 May, 2024
2023 Disability Lecture: Going beyond standards in technology and accessibility	Dr Jessica Boland shares her experiences as a hard-of-hearing/deaf academic in science and technology, and her passion for improving accessibility in higher education.	Jessica Boland, Tim Soutphommasane, Sarah Stephenson-Hunter	14 June, 2023
2022 Disability Lecture: Hands Off - navigating unwanted touch, consent and disability	Dr Amy Kavanagh delivers the 2022 Annual Disability Lecture	Amy Kavanagh	23 August, 2022
2021 Disability Lecture: The intersections of disability, science and academia	Dr Hamied Haroon explores the intersections of disability, science and academia. All views expressed in the lecture are the speaker’s own.	Hamied Haroon, Sarah Stephenson-Hunter, Louise Richardson, Catherine Walter, Jasleen Jolly	6 July, 2021
2020 Disability Lecture: #WhyDisabledPeopleDropOut	Dr Kate West, a neurodivergent student-turned-academic, reflects on the neurotypical University.	Kate West, Sarah Stephenson-Hunter, Louise Richardson, Catherine Walter, Tirion Hughes	1 June, 2020
2019 Disability Lecture: The Triple Cripples... creators, educators, rule breakers, and the personification of empowerment	Jay Abdullahi and Kym Oliver, a team of two black disabled women, reclaim the word ‘cripple’ in their fight against three layers of discrimination.	Jay Abdullahi, Kym Oliver	13 June, 2019
2018 Disability Lecture: That Way Lies Madness - Poets, Power, Health	The Equality and Diversity Unit and TORCH are delighted to announce that Gwyneth Lewis will give the 2018 Disability Lecture.	Gwyneth Lewis, Dan Holloway	4 June, 2018
2016 Disability Lecture: A Psychiatrist's Experience of Depression	Professor Linda Gask had a successful career as psychiatrist and academic, despite living with depression and anxiety. She speaks with candour about her experiences of periods of mental ill-health.	Linda Gask	7 June, 2016
2015 Disability Lecture: Hilary Lister, from Jesus College to sailing solo around the UK	Hilary Lister is giving the first University of Oxford Disability Lecture. Hilary was an undergraduate at Jesus College who has since gained fame as a quadriplegic sailor. She was the first disabled woman to sail solo around Britain.	Hilary Lister	7 May, 2015

The Disability Lectures

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