Disabled People have throughout history been treated as

Disabled People have throughout history been treated as other. We are pitied, reviled, venerated, seen as a burden, objects of curiosity or fun. Thomas Inglefield Trump Mimicking Laughed at - Bedlam Pity - begging Court Jester Will Somners Freaks Blind Pew Frightening Evil Witch-Hansel and Gretel Characterised as a Burden

Disabled People Can Be Political Leaders Richard III Scoliosis/’Hunch back’ Robert Martin Self Advocate UN Queen Anne Immune Disorder Julius Ceasar Epilepsy Abraham Lincoln Depression William Cuffay Chartist Leader Physical Impairments FD Roosevelt Post Polio Winston Churchill Depression Lenin Moreno : President Ecuador, Spinal Injury David Blunkett, Labour Politician

How do we explain this paradox? • • • Hidden impairments Personal and Political struggles “The Cripple Always Leads the Dance” ‘Blood line’ or Social Position Determination/Sense of Social Injustice Antonio Gramsci Revolutionaries? Harriet Tubman Rosa Luxemburg Helen Keller Che Guevara

Struggles for Disabled People’s Rights Organisations Blind People Deaf People • Sign Language. First given written language equivalence by Abbe de L’Epee 1771 Paris • Banned for education of Deaf People, Milan Conference 1880 • Deaf Mute magazine encouraged deaf people to unite in defence of their own interests • British Deaf and Dumb Ass. (BDDA) starts in Leeds (July 1890) • British Deaf Association fights for cultural model of deafness, recognition BSL as official language • Ben Purse and the newly formed National League of the Blind 1994 argued for an entitlement to direct state aid and the abolition of all charities. • NLB joined TUC and Labour Party 1902 • Conditions in the charity workshops were notorious for their excessively low wages. NLB organised many strikes, one of 6 months 1912 • Marched to London in 1920 and 1933. Blind Persons’ Act 1920

The Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club & Disability Income Group • Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club was formed by 6 • Disablement Income Group was a First World War ex-servicemen. disability pressure group 1965 • O A Denly (Denny) was issued with a 30 mph petrol powered tricycle. On it he crossed the Swiss Alps 1947. • He formed Invalid Tricycle Association 1948. • Founded by middle class housewives, Megan du Boisson and Berit Moore. • People injured in war or in the workplace were entitled to significantly more support than the "civilian" disabled. • These organisations merged forming Disabled Drivers Ass. Won the Motability Scheme 1978. • DIG changed the Welfare rules. Helped This funded disabled people to buy and have establish Attendance Allowance. adapted standard cars. • Created space for Chronically Sick and Disabled Act 1970.

Struggle for Independent Living • Ed Roberts ‘The Father of Independent Living • Berkeley Independent Living Centre 1960 s • Occupation San Francisco, 28 day, to ensure disabled people could live independently 1973 • Ken and Maggie Davies fought Derbyshire CC to have own purpose built house 1970 s • John Evans had direct payments Hampshire CC. Set up European Independent Living Network 1970 s • BCODP campaigned and won direct payments supported by social services • Independent Living Fund was won 1988 • Disabled People Against the Cuts fought hard against its closure. Closed by Tory Government 2015 Ken and Maggie Davis John Evans Ed Roberts

Shift Medical to Social Model Paul Hunt Mike Oliver

Social Model UPIAS

Disabled People’s Liberation Network and In from Cold • The Liberation Network of Disabled People (LNDP) were more influenced by the Women’s Movement • They focused on breaking down isolation by finding ways to communicate with each other whether deaf, blind or physically impaired • They produced In from the Cold • Many from the LNDP joined BCODP as it grew, but they always formed a different approach within the Disability Movement. • Their thinking helped form the Alliance for Inclusive Education & Young and Powerful Micheline Mason

Where Now for Disabled People in UK ? • Cuts in livelihood. ‘Government have deliberately removed the safety net and replaced with an uncaring ethos’. (United Nations). • Cuts in benefits, universal credit, bedroom tax and social service care. Disabled people have borne the brunt of cuts. They are 9 x harder hit and severely disabled people 19 x harder hit than the average person. • Hate crime fuelled. • Housing. Only 7% of housing stock in UK meets minimum disability access standards. • Education fails disabled students. Disabled children/students are increasingly unable to participate in mainstream schools/colleges. Cuts, league tables, rigid curriculum, behaviour policies, lead to a dramatic and very expensive rise in segregated provision. A new energised Disability Movement to press Government for : Funding for DPOs of core costs Restoration and improvement of benefits Independent Living Inclusive Education Fully Accessible Environment and Transport All new Housing built to life time standards Discrimination to be challenged by State not Individuals A more collaborative and less competitive society