disability-history-timeline-2013

Social advances1300sA Guild of Blind Beggars is established inPadua, Italy, which regulates begging andorganises pensions for older blind beggars.1847The Poor Law Union is set up, a forerunnerof generic social services. Farmers oftenact as Poor Law Guardians, earning wagesubsidies by disguising them as sicknesspayments.1851The Census is thefirst attempt tomonitor prevalenceof impairment,specifically whether an individual is ‘blind,deaf or imbecile’.1878The First World Congress to Improve theWelfare of the Deaf and Blind – althoughDeaf and blind people are not allowedto attend.1880sAdmission of non-paupers to workhouseinfirmaries marks the beginning of astate-funded medical service for thosewho can’t afford treatment. The service ismeans-assessed (when the NHS is foundedin 1948, many of its buildings are formerworkhouses and poor law establishments.)Dr Barnado opens the ‘Children’s Foldfor Cripples’.24