For 2025, DHM has adopted the theme of ‘Disability, life, and death’. This article will explore why the theme for this year is what it is, what the debate is at the centre of the theme, and what you might be able to do to engage yourself in the conversation.
 

Background

2025 will mark the 30^th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) being enshrined in law by the government of the United Kingdom. It will also mark the 29^th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Both agreements work towards protecting the rights of disabled people – and both, as argued by organizers for DHM, are being ignored in the context of the ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill’.

The ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill’, also referred to as the ‘Assisted Dying bill’, was introduced into parliament in October of 2024 by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. The bill, currently being debated in the House of Lords as of the writing of this article, seeks to provide a legal framework for assisted suicide in England and Wales. Whilst introduced into parliament only one year ago, the history of this bill spans over 20 years – with similar bills being introduced into parliament from 2003 – 2021.

The bill in its current form seeks to offer adults over the age of 21 a lawful route to end their lives, if they have less than 6 months to live and are deemed mentally competent to make decisions for themselves. You can find a strong explanation of the process by clicking on this link.

Why has the bill inspired this years’ theme?

According to the DHM website, over 300 Disability rights organisations, such as ‘Not Dead Yet UK’ are in opposition to this bill being enacted as law as it stands right now. There are a variety of reasons as to why this is the case, however core arguments have been summarised below:
 

• A lack of consultation with disabled people

Some campaigners have argued that the perspectives of disabled people have not been adequately considered throughout the life cycle of the bill. They argue that this means disabled people have not been able to be properly consulted on the bill, leading to a lack of representation and feedback from the disabled community towards the bill. A lack of representation and feedback from disabled people is a concern as it could mean that aspects of the bill may be against the interests of disabled people.
 

• A worry about ‘legislation creep’

Campaigners also have concerns about how, without proper protections, the bill could be subject to legislation creep – which is where legislation becomes broader without any formal form of scrutiny. They point to evidence from Canada, were a sharp increase in deaths enabled through a ‘Medical Assistance in Dying bill’ (MaID) was reported from 2017 – 2024, from 34 MaID-enabled deaths to 31,664 MaID-enabled deaths, many of whom would have been classed as having a disability. Should legislation creep occur, campaigners worry that disabled people living at a stage where end-of-life care is necessary could be susceptible to being pushed down a path of assisted death instead of being offered treatments that may allow them to manage their conditions. This worry is especially heightened when considering the third reason for opposition.
 

• A concern over the cuts to care for Disabled people

Campaigners often frame the debate surrounding assisted dying by saying that the poor access to care that disabled people currently have, both during and towards the end of their life, is being neglected in favour of offering assisted dying to those who may otherwise be able to live peacefully for a longer period of time. They look to evidence from surveys conducted by the Care Quality Commission and the government, which finds that care for disabled adults in the UK is inadequate and inequal, and that disabled adults in the UK face a variety of complex barriers that make accessing support extremely difficult. Using this evidence, campaigners suggest that, especially with legislation creep, disabled people could be offered assisted dying instead of adequate access to treatment or care that may make symptoms manageable.

Whilst these reasons do not encompass the entire debate, they paint a clear picture as to why many organisations are opposed to the bill. They feel that the care of disabled people is being put aside, and instead interventions that may eventually ‘kill off’ disabled people are being prioritised. This is a feeling that is particularly emphasised in the wake of decisions by the government to attempt to cut Disability benefits, which is why it is the theme for DHM this year. Overall – the debate does not necessarily surround repealing the proposed bill but instead is about making sure the rights of Disabled people considered, embedded, and protected within the bill overall.

What can you do to get involved with this years’ theme?

There are a few things that you can do to get more involved with this years’ DHM theme if you are interested. Most actions don’t take much effort, but could potentially make a massive difference in the lives of disabled people in the long term:
 

• Tell your local Member of Parliament (MP) what you think

MPs represent the broad opinions of the people who make up their constituency. Writing an email to them to tell them what you think about this debate, as a result, can be a really easy way to help shift the opinions of MPs – in turn potentially influencing overall policy. You can find out who your local MP is by clicking on this link. From there, all you need to do is click their email and write to them. If you want to know how to write an effective letter to your MP, click on this link.  
 

• Talk about Disability History Month with your friends!

Commemorative months are great times to reflect on specific challenges any designated community might face. They work best when as many people as possible reflect on the themes for each month, as each conversation can help inspire others to act and talk to other people about the meaning of each month too. To act this way, as a result, bring up the fact that it’s DHM to your friends. Talk about what this years’ theme means and encourage them to talk to others about the theme too.
 

• Start a campaign related to DHM!

If you feel particularly passionate about the theme for DHM this year, or you feel like you could make a positive impact by doing something for Disabled Students’ – why not start a campaign? Campaigns are student-led initiatives that are supported by the Students’ Union to make positive change. You can read more about what a campaign is by clicking this link. If you need any inspiration on what sort of campaigns you could run, get in touch with our team at Communities.su@coventry.ac.uk