Ramping Up Rights: An Unfinished History of British Disability Activism

Join us for an evening with award-winning disabled journalist and activist Rachel Charlton-Dailey, as they discuss their powerful debut book, Ramping Up Rights: An Unfinished History of British Disability Activism.

From the ‘crippled suffragette’ to punks chaining themselves to buses in the 1980s, Ramping Up Rights uncovers the untold story of the long and fierce battle for disability justice in Britain. Rachel charts 100 years of struggle, resistance and community, and shows how past protests fuel today’s campaigns, from inaccessible public spaces to the ongoing fight for autonomy and representation.

Expect an honest, inspiring and galvanising conversation about activism, allyship and the fight for disabled people’s right to live – and to be heard.

Copies of the book will be available to buy on the night, with a signing to follow.

About the Author

Rachel Charlton-Dailey (she/ they) is an award-winning disabled journalist, activist and author. A columnist at The Canary, she has previously reported for the BBC, The Unwritten, The Big Issue, Metro, The Guardian and the Daily Mirror. When Rachel isn’t writing, they can be found walking their sausage dog, Rusty.

About the Moderator

Ellen Jones is an award-winning author, speaker and strategic advisor, and a leading voice on LGBTQ+ inclusion, disability and neurodivergence. Her debut book, Outrage: Why the Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality Is Not Yet Won And What You Can Do About It was published by Pan Macmillan in early 2025 and quickly became a Top 10 Read for Foyles and a Top 25 seller for Bookshop.org.

Ellen’s work has been recognised with multiple awards. She was an inaugural MTV EMA Generation Change Award winner, former Stonewall Young Campaigner of the Year, shortlisted as Campaigner Of The Year for the 2025 DIVA Awards. She has also been named one of Attitude Magazine’s LGBTQ+ Trailblazers and one of the Evening Standard’s Most Influential Londoners.