Written by Charlie Pearce, Edited by Sophie braithwaite.
Remembrance Sunday honours everyone who has served, and those who died, in conflicts since the First World War. It's held on the second Sunday of November, which this year is 8 November 2026.
It's also a chance to recognise how disabled veterans helped shape disability rights in the UK.
Around 2 million soldiers came home from the First World War with some level of permanent disability. After the Second World War, around 300,000 ex-servicemen, ex-servicewomen and civilians had been left disabled by the war.
This led to major reforms to support those who came back, some of which still shape society today.
Inclusion, access and attitudes
With so many people now needing access and adaptations, accessibility became harder to ignore. Over time, ideas grew about designing buildings and landscapes that everyone could use, rather than creating separate facilities.
Disability healthcare also moved forward, including major advances in prosthetics. Over 40,000 soldiers survived the amputation of one or more limbs in the First World War.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy already existed before the Second World War. The first UK training school opened in 1930. But after the war, the profession grew rapidly as it helped injured and disabled veterans.
Occupational therapists supported both the physical and emotional needs of people returning from war, which helped shape the profession we know today.
Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944
Passed in 1944, while the war was still going on, the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act promised sheltered employment, employment quotas for disabled people and reserved jobs.
Under the Act, certain jobs were set aside for registered disabled workers. It was a landmark law for disabled people's employment.
The Paralympic Games
At Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Ludwig Guttmann led the care of patients paralysed by spinal injuries, including those injured in the war. Sport became part of their rehabilitation.
In 1948, a wheelchair archery competition was held on the hospital's lawns. From this, the Paralympic Games we know and love today was born.
Housing for disabled veterans
After the First World War, there was a significant need for independent and accessible homes for disabled veterans.
With no comprehensive government plan, charities and volunteers filled the gap. They built housing ranging from cottages to flats and whole villages, such as Westfield War Memorial Village in Lancaster, created for disabled soldiers and their families.
This gave veterans support while also allowing them to live independently and support themselves.
Lest we forget
Disability rights and inclusion would not be the same without those who served. They helped pave the way in legislation and showed that inclusion and accessibility matter, and always will.