BDRG was formed in 1985 by Bob Findlay. This is from an early promotional flyer from the early days, written by Bob who talks of a new uncompromising mood amongst disabled people:
BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RIGHTS GROUP
The Birmingham Disability Rights Group is a new organisation of and for people who regard themselves as having disabilities. We have come together as a pressure group with the aim of increasing people's awareness of disability issues, to oppose the oppressive and discriminatory ways in which many of us become seen and treated, to work towards creating instead a new and positive identity where we no longer feel or are made to feel inferior or useless.
Over the last few years a new uncompromising mood has developed where people with disabilities have seen it as important to reject the passive acceptance of our situations. Instead we have started taking a pride in ourselves and our bodies, and coming to see ourselves as handicapped, not by the nature of our conditions, but by a society which is still not prepared to cater for our needs or regard us as equals.
It is time to destroy the myths and assumptions made about people with disabilities. It is wrong to reduce people to an all-inclusive label: The Disabled. We are people who happen to have disabilities which may or may not affect our lifestyles.
We believe society's division between those classed as disabled and those who regard themselves as normal or able-bodied is based upon values which are oppressive to the majority of people within our society. Such divisions lead to false expectations, the under-evaluation of peoples capabilities and the denial of basic rights and needs.
If you are a person with a disability who wants to help improve the world in which we live then why not join us? We are here to support you and we need your support.
The aims of the Birmingham Disability Rights Group can be summed up in four basic ideas:
B.D.R.G. will be a campaigning organisation and will seek to influence various bodies such as the Birmingham City Council, Social Services and Trade Unions etc.
We want to organise monthly meetings of supporters so that campaigns and activities can be planned. A newsletter will be vital to ensure that those of us unable to attend meetings can nevertheless participate in the decision making and be kept informed of what is happening.
B.D.R.G. is not anti-able bodied people. However, we feel it is important that B.D.R.G. is run by people with disabilities and that meetings where policy is made are not open to the able bodied. Full membership is open to people with disabilities which includes voting rights and Associated Membership for our abled bodied supporters.
If you want some more information, a visitor or a speaker for your organisation, please contact us. Birmingham Disability Rights Group, c/o 33 Cyril Road, Birmingham B10.
BIRMINGHAM DISABILITY RIGHTS GROUP
The Birmingham Disability Rights Group is a new organisation of and for people who regard themselves as having disabilities. We have come together as a pressure group with the aim of increasing people's awareness of disability issues, to oppose the oppressive and discriminatory ways in which many of us become seen and treated, to work towards creating instead a new and positive identity where we no longer feel or are made to feel inferior or useless.
Over the last few years a new uncompromising mood has developed where people with disabilities have seen it as important to reject the passive acceptance of our situations. Instead we have started taking a pride in ourselves and our bodies, and coming to see ourselves as handicapped, not by the nature of our conditions, but by a society which is still not prepared to cater for our needs or regard us as equals.
It is time to destroy the myths and assumptions made about people with disabilities. It is wrong to reduce people to an all-inclusive label: The Disabled. We are people who happen to have disabilities which may or may not affect our lifestyles.
We believe society's division between those classed as disabled and those who regard themselves as normal or able-bodied is based upon values which are oppressive to the majority of people within our society. Such divisions lead to false expectations, the under-evaluation of peoples capabilities and the denial of basic rights and needs.
Yes, we want to change the world! We want a world
where people with disabilities can have a say and an active part in it. We want
to discover our own needs and capabilities rather than wait for others to
impose their views on what our needs and capabilities might be.
To achieve these things we need to discover ourselves
and to break down the barriers which have been built up over the years. We have
so much to learn from each other and yet so much to teach each other too!
There will be those among us and in the wider
community who will feel scared that people are organising into groups and
planning their own affairs. We can be independent, but not too independent!
Those who are demanding change must of course, have chips on their shoulders!
Such comments are not new nor should they be worried about. We are the ones who
will decide what independence means and we ourselves will decide whether our
demands are just or not.
For too long we have been forced to live in the
cold and wait for others to offer help and support. It is time for us to come
in from the cold and to be proud and not ashamed of who or what we are.If you are a person with a disability who wants to help improve the world in which we live then why not join us? We are here to support you and we need your support.
The aims of the Birmingham Disability Rights Group can be summed up in four basic ideas:
1.To bring together people with disabilities from
across the City with the aim of organising to extend and promote their needs
and rights.
2.To organise activities with and for people with disabilities,
including those who remain at home or who cannot travel far. Our project will
include investigating the feasibility of a DISABILITY CENTRE run by and for
people with disabilities.
3.To help build self-confidence and activity through
the development and promotion of Disability Awareness.
4.To ensure that the local communities are aware of
the needs and interests of people with disabilities. This will require making
links with organisations which serve those communities.
Our hope as an organisation is to work alongside
the existing representatives of people with disabilities as we see our role as
being complementary to theirs. B.D.R.G. will be a campaigning organisation and will seek to influence various bodies such as the Birmingham City Council, Social Services and Trade Unions etc.
We want to organise monthly meetings of supporters so that campaigns and activities can be planned. A newsletter will be vital to ensure that those of us unable to attend meetings can nevertheless participate in the decision making and be kept informed of what is happening.
B.D.R.G. is not anti-able bodied people. However, we feel it is important that B.D.R.G. is run by people with disabilities and that meetings where policy is made are not open to the able bodied. Full membership is open to people with disabilities which includes voting rights and Associated Membership for our abled bodied supporters.
If you want some more information, a visitor or a speaker for your organisation, please contact us. Birmingham Disability Rights Group, c/o 33 Cyril Road, Birmingham B10.
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