The Voice of the Disabled 1969

For many years Coventry's Len Tasker was the editor of a national magazine called The Voice of the Disabled. The magazine was founded by Leonard and Alice Inskip in 1930 as The National Cripples' Journal.

The main object of the magazine was "to help Disabled Persons to play as full a part as possible as members of the Community". Leonard and Alice Inskip edited it until 1956, they were followed by Arthur Lees MBE who was editor for a year followed by Mrs Elsie Lees with Len Tasker taking over the role in 1959.

The magazine had a strong focus on equipment and activities which supported independent living and recreation, the 1969 edition above contained a couple of articles about 'Possum' technology which at that time was being pioneered at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

     
An autobiographical article by Brenda Hansford from Brinklow in Warwickshire refers to her involvement with the national campaigning organisation D.I.G. (Disablement Income Group) and their 1967 rally:

"I joined D.I.G. soon after its formation and in 1967 attended their rally in Trafalgar Square. Transport to the rally was kindly organised for me by Mr Len Tasker, editor of 'The Voice of the Disabled'."

At the end of the magazine is an invitation to disabled people around the country to supplement their weekly income by selling copies of "The Voice of the Disabled" with the added note "even disabled men on Social Security can do this work" and the vacancies were reserved for disabled people. An idea which therefore came before The Big Issue.