On Sunday 30 November, between 2pm and 5pm, I’ll be hosting a Wikipedia edit-a-thon as part of Disability History Month. Wikipedia remains one of the most widely used sources of information globally, yet topics related to disability history are often underrepresented or overlooked. This edit-a-thon is a chance to change that by making one edit at a time.
I want to invite any students interested in helping contribute to improving coverage of disability-related topics. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any experience with Wikipedia, as this session is designed to be welcoming, practical, and impactful.
As a history student, my research interests lie elsewhere, but that doesn’t stop me from using my skills to support a more inclusive digital knowledge base. This event is about empowering others to do the same. One of the reasons I enjoy editing Wikipedia is the thrill of discovery. Every time I dive into an article, I often stumble upon something I had no idea existed – a person whose contributions were hidden from history or an extraordinary event that shaped lives but has received little attention since. These moments remind me that history is vast and layered, and there’s always more to uncover. Editing gives me the chance not only to learn but to share that knowledge with others, ensuring these overlooked stories find their place in the public record.
This sense of uncovering is especially meaningful during initiatives like Disability History Month. There are countless articles that highlight individuals and movements connected to disability rights – many of which remain incomplete or underdeveloped. By improving these pages, we help bring visibility to narratives that have been marginalised for too long. It’s not just about adding facts; it’s about amplifying voices and events that deserve recognition, making Wikipedia a richer resource for everyone.
During Welcome Week, I gave a presentation on Wikipedia. You can watch it here and understand more about how Wikipedia operates and how to use it for studying. However, in the upcoming session on 30 November, we will be more hands-on in editing articles. In the first half-hour, we’ll cover the basics of editing, explore how to find reliable sources, and work together to improve or create articles that reflect the rich and diverse history of disabled people and disability rights movements.
Over 30,000 OU students have a declared disability, which is why the OU is at the forefront of research. There is the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group working within the School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care. SHLD has some great publications and research that can be used to help get students started on improving articles. There are also considerable resources that OU students have access to within the OU library.
Join us to learn, collaborate, and contribute to a more representative Wikipedia. You can also view the project page on Wikipedia.
A good read Jack, whilst on the train. I like your multi-disciplinary approach, it is encouraging. Thank you – and I hope to attend on the afternoon of 30th Nov.