From Disability Now
(November 2006)
'Historical influence'
DN's Influence List recognised disabled people who make a difference across the UK today and now Bert Massie details some of the people who have shaped the movement historically
The publication of DN’s influence list of disabled people was bound to be controversial. Everyone has a different idea of what influence is and who has it.
Influence changes and so do the people who have it. It was right to include a list of people seen as the mothers and fathers of the disabled people’s movement – those who have made contributions to the UK disability movement in the past.
On looking at the list, I was struck by how many names did not appear, some of whom had died. It could be argued that dead people have no influence, but Karl Marx had huge influence long after his death and so have many others.
So, what about the disabled people who contributed so much but now take a less obvious role and those who are dead?
Megan du Boisson
The current debate about Incapacity Benefit reminds me of the days when there were no financial benefits for disabled people. In 1965, Megan du Boisson set up the
Disablement Income Group (DIG) as an organisation of disabled people. Its first campaign was to win a non contributory benefit for disabled housewives. Megan died in a road accident in 1969, but had already started the ball rolling for disability benefits.
Mary Greaves
A later chair of DIG was Mary Greaves, whose parliamentary skills assisted Alf (now Lord) Morris in getting the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (CSDPA) on the statute book in 1970. That act introduced the orange (now blue) badge scheme. It gave disabled people rights to social care provision, although a series of governments have diluted those rights so much that many no longer exist.
Denny Denly
The CSDPA was also the first law that referred to access to buildings. That was as a result of the work of Denny Denly, who in the mid-1960s was the country’s only access officer.
Duncan Guthrie
Ok, he was not disabled, but the late Duncan Guthrie, was a major force behind the CSDPA when he was the director of the Central Council for the Disabled as the parent of a disabled daughter.
Paul Hunt
One of the distant founders of the disabled person’s movement, who we must not forget, was Paul Hunt. He rebelled against disabled people being forced to live in institutions.
Peter Large
Entering the scene in the 1970s, the late Peter Large was responsible for persuading the government to introduce what was then known as the Mobility Allowance. Without it, over 425,000 disabled people today would not have a car through the Motability scheme. He was also the major player in having building regulations changed in 1985 so that new buildings had to be accessible to disabled people; the results are around for all to see. He also chaired the committee whose report eventually led to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in 1995.
Stephen Bradshaw
One of the first disabled chief executives of a major charity was Stephen Bradshaw, who headed the Spinal Injuries Association. He also chaired a group known as Voluntary Organisations Against Discrimination and this led to Rights Now and pressure for the DDA, even though stronger legislation was the goal.
These are a few of the people who would appear on my grandparents’ list of those no longer in the public eye, but whose past influence has improved the lives of disabled people. No doubt DN readers can compile their own lists.
(November 2006)
'Historical influence'
DN's Influence List recognised disabled people who make a difference across the UK today and now Bert Massie details some of the people who have shaped the movement historically
The publication of DN’s influence list of disabled people was bound to be controversial. Everyone has a different idea of what influence is and who has it.
Influence changes and so do the people who have it. It was right to include a list of people seen as the mothers and fathers of the disabled people’s movement – those who have made contributions to the UK disability movement in the past.
On looking at the list, I was struck by how many names did not appear, some of whom had died. It could be argued that dead people have no influence, but Karl Marx had huge influence long after his death and so have many others.
So, what about the disabled people who contributed so much but now take a less obvious role and those who are dead?
Megan du Boisson
The current debate about Incapacity Benefit reminds me of the days when there were no financial benefits for disabled people. In 1965, Megan du Boisson set up the
Disablement Income Group (DIG) as an organisation of disabled people. Its first campaign was to win a non contributory benefit for disabled housewives. Megan died in a road accident in 1969, but had already started the ball rolling for disability benefits.
Mary Greaves
A later chair of DIG was Mary Greaves, whose parliamentary skills assisted Alf (now Lord) Morris in getting the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (CSDPA) on the statute book in 1970. That act introduced the orange (now blue) badge scheme. It gave disabled people rights to social care provision, although a series of governments have diluted those rights so much that many no longer exist.
Denny Denly
The CSDPA was also the first law that referred to access to buildings. That was as a result of the work of Denny Denly, who in the mid-1960s was the country’s only access officer.
Duncan Guthrie
Ok, he was not disabled, but the late Duncan Guthrie, was a major force behind the CSDPA when he was the director of the Central Council for the Disabled as the parent of a disabled daughter.
Paul Hunt
One of the distant founders of the disabled person’s movement, who we must not forget, was Paul Hunt. He rebelled against disabled people being forced to live in institutions.
Peter Large
Entering the scene in the 1970s, the late Peter Large was responsible for persuading the government to introduce what was then known as the Mobility Allowance. Without it, over 425,000 disabled people today would not have a car through the Motability scheme. He was also the major player in having building regulations changed in 1985 so that new buildings had to be accessible to disabled people; the results are around for all to see. He also chaired the committee whose report eventually led to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in 1995.
Stephen Bradshaw
One of the first disabled chief executives of a major charity was Stephen Bradshaw, who headed the Spinal Injuries Association. He also chaired a group known as Voluntary Organisations Against Discrimination and this led to Rights Now and pressure for the DDA, even though stronger legislation was the goal.
These are a few of the people who would appear on my grandparents’ list of those no longer in the public eye, but whose past influence has improved the lives of disabled people. No doubt DN readers can compile their own lists.
No comments:
Post a Comment