The first of a series of articles about the history of Disability West Midlands published in 2002.
25 Years of Disability West Midlands
A Brief History-Part One
In celebration of our 25th birthday, Pinpoint editor Peter Millington, turns back the clock.
This year our organisation, Disability West Midlands (DWM) celebrates it's 25th year in existence. The organisation was founded in 1977 during an era when disabled people were beginning to self-organise on a widespread scale and were campaigning on issues around civil rights, personal income and independent living. Furthermore, this was the era in which a disabled academic named Vic Finkelstein was gaining recognition for revolutionary concepts around the Social model of Disability whilst, in the more celebrated arena of popular culture, a disabled rock 'n' roll artist named Ian Dury was also challenging traditional views of disability, achieving fame and commercial success after years of obscurity, performing in London pubs.
In 1977 the newly formed organisation was known by the grander title of The West Midlands Council for Disabled People (WMCDP ). From the outset the organisation was largely controlled by disabled people, with many of its earliest members being people from a professional or academic background driven by a core group of eminent professionals with close links to regional health and rehabilitation services. Whilst it is true that 'the Council' was far from being a militant campaigning group, even so, the reality of disability organisations being controlled so actively by disabled people was still very much a radical concept.
A criticism often raised against WMCDP, that it largely represented the broad and liberal middle ground, has arguably been one of its strengths and a major factor in its longevity. Incidentally, how much of a coincidence was it that the organisation was formed in the same year as the national group RADAR, the organisation to whom WMCDP most closely looked for direction and ideology?
Founding members in the early years of WMCDP included Ted Marsland, Hugh Barker, Tom Glasgow, Robert Lancaster, Peter Low, John Harrison, Theresa Jackson, Albert Wheedle and Ruth Wolf. Early staff members included Betty Cohen and Francis Fontaine.
The first edition of Pinpoint magazine was published in February 1981, with the headline 'Time to Disturb the Public' accompanying an editorial explaining the logo of International Year of Disabled People (1981) in the context of equal opportunities and rights.
The aims and objectives of WMCDP were from the very start around providing information to disabled people and to some extent representing and campaigning on behalf of disabled people regionally. Close ties with the Regional Health Authority led to sufficient financial resources to enable the organisation to establish an information service at an early point and to establish an office at Moseley Hall Hospital. In reality, the close relationship with local health services did not necessarily stop the organisation from embracing the Social Model of Disability, although WMCDP was definitely carving it's niche out as a service 'provider' rather than a service 'challenger'.
The declining regional agenda, which included the demise of the West Midlands County Council in the early 1980s and later the disbandment of the Regional Health Authority, might have eventually undermined the organisation's regional relevance. This predicament was further intensified by the emergence of new user led organisations throughout the region. The mere existence of effective sub-regional groups like Birmingham Disability Rights Group, South Warwickshire Council of Disabled People and Shropshire Disability Consortium, would slowly add impetus to the requirement on WMCDP to re-evaluate it's own role and relevance.
The appointment of the organisation's first disabled chief executive, Joe Hennessy, in the late 1980s was a landmark in it's history. Joe's committed, professional and profile building approach started a period of renewal which was continued into the early to mid 1990s by the organisation's second director, the charismatic Laura Cale. Known for her uncompromising and assertive style, Laura worked tirelessly to raise the profile of WMCDP both regionally and nationally. In the early 1990s she shared a stage at Birmingham's recently opened International Conference Centre with both Vic Finkelstein and the controversial Sir Nicholas Scott who was at that time Minister for the Disabled, the man who derailed the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill.
Laura should be credited for moving WMCDP closer towards the modern agenda of the disabled people's movement and an approach more pro-actively committed to the national campaign for equal rights. She was also largely responsible for the organisation's name change to the much snappier, Disability West Midlands (DWM). In the mid-1990's DWM suffered the bitter blow of very suddenly losing Laura's leadership — but her legacy within the organisation remains revolutionary.
The history of Disability West Midlands has been given great colour over the years through the diversity of it's individual active members. This has been characterised by a consistent lineage of strong, committed individuals who have given leadership to the organisation, especially through the roles of chief executive and chair. Whilst the democratic process has ultimately functioned and survived in spite of 'personality polities', there can be no avoiding the influential role of certain key individuals. As one past chair once confided, a Machiavellian approach has sometimes been used for the sole purposes of immediate survival. There are clear lessons here about how user and volunteer led groups survive within the poorly resourced community sector, whilst operating the effective democratic systems so fundamental to an organisation based on equalitarian principles. Answers on a post card!
In the next edition of Pinpoint we will pay tribute to some of the key individuals who have contributed to DWM over the past 25 years. Part two of this history will also look at how DWM has altered during the past decade and the challenges we face ahead. If you would like to respond or contribute to this brief history of Disability West Midlands, please contact us at the DWM office.
25 Years of Disability West Midlands
A Brief History-Part One
In celebration of our 25th birthday, Pinpoint editor Peter Millington, turns back the clock.
This year our organisation, Disability West Midlands (DWM) celebrates it's 25th year in existence. The organisation was founded in 1977 during an era when disabled people were beginning to self-organise on a widespread scale and were campaigning on issues around civil rights, personal income and independent living. Furthermore, this was the era in which a disabled academic named Vic Finkelstein was gaining recognition for revolutionary concepts around the Social model of Disability whilst, in the more celebrated arena of popular culture, a disabled rock 'n' roll artist named Ian Dury was also challenging traditional views of disability, achieving fame and commercial success after years of obscurity, performing in London pubs.
In 1977 the newly formed organisation was known by the grander title of The West Midlands Council for Disabled People (WMCDP ). From the outset the organisation was largely controlled by disabled people, with many of its earliest members being people from a professional or academic background driven by a core group of eminent professionals with close links to regional health and rehabilitation services. Whilst it is true that 'the Council' was far from being a militant campaigning group, even so, the reality of disability organisations being controlled so actively by disabled people was still very much a radical concept.
 |
| Professor Edward Marsland Co-founder of WMCDP |
Founding members in the early years of WMCDP included Ted Marsland, Hugh Barker, Tom Glasgow, Robert Lancaster, Peter Low, John Harrison, Theresa Jackson, Albert Wheedle and Ruth Wolf. Early staff members included Betty Cohen and Francis Fontaine.
The first edition of Pinpoint magazine was published in February 1981, with the headline 'Time to Disturb the Public' accompanying an editorial explaining the logo of International Year of Disabled People (1981) in the context of equal opportunities and rights.
The aims and objectives of WMCDP were from the very start around providing information to disabled people and to some extent representing and campaigning on behalf of disabled people regionally. Close ties with the Regional Health Authority led to sufficient financial resources to enable the organisation to establish an information service at an early point and to establish an office at Moseley Hall Hospital. In reality, the close relationship with local health services did not necessarily stop the organisation from embracing the Social Model of Disability, although WMCDP was definitely carving it's niche out as a service 'provider' rather than a service 'challenger'.
The declining regional agenda, which included the demise of the West Midlands County Council in the early 1980s and later the disbandment of the Regional Health Authority, might have eventually undermined the organisation's regional relevance. This predicament was further intensified by the emergence of new user led organisations throughout the region. The mere existence of effective sub-regional groups like Birmingham Disability Rights Group, South Warwickshire Council of Disabled People and Shropshire Disability Consortium, would slowly add impetus to the requirement on WMCDP to re-evaluate it's own role and relevance.
 |
| Laura Cale |
The appointment of the organisation's first disabled chief executive, Joe Hennessy, in the late 1980s was a landmark in it's history. Joe's committed, professional and profile building approach started a period of renewal which was continued into the early to mid 1990s by the organisation's second director, the charismatic Laura Cale. Known for her uncompromising and assertive style, Laura worked tirelessly to raise the profile of WMCDP both regionally and nationally. In the early 1990s she shared a stage at Birmingham's recently opened International Conference Centre with both Vic Finkelstein and the controversial Sir Nicholas Scott who was at that time Minister for the Disabled, the man who derailed the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill.
Laura should be credited for moving WMCDP closer towards the modern agenda of the disabled people's movement and an approach more pro-actively committed to the national campaign for equal rights. She was also largely responsible for the organisation's name change to the much snappier, Disability West Midlands (DWM). In the mid-1990's DWM suffered the bitter blow of very suddenly losing Laura's leadership — but her legacy within the organisation remains revolutionary.
The history of Disability West Midlands has been given great colour over the years through the diversity of it's individual active members. This has been characterised by a consistent lineage of strong, committed individuals who have given leadership to the organisation, especially through the roles of chief executive and chair. Whilst the democratic process has ultimately functioned and survived in spite of 'personality polities', there can be no avoiding the influential role of certain key individuals. As one past chair once confided, a Machiavellian approach has sometimes been used for the sole purposes of immediate survival. There are clear lessons here about how user and volunteer led groups survive within the poorly resourced community sector, whilst operating the effective democratic systems so fundamental to an organisation based on equalitarian principles. Answers on a post card!
In the next edition of Pinpoint we will pay tribute to some of the key individuals who have contributed to DWM over the past 25 years. Part two of this history will also look at how DWM has altered during the past decade and the challenges we face ahead. If you would like to respond or contribute to this brief history of Disability West Midlands, please contact us at the DWM office.
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