disability-history-timeline-2013

Key individuals19741974Alf Morris, later BaronMorris of Manchester(1928 - 2012) becomesMinister for DisabledPeople – a global first.Vic Finkelstein (1938-2011)and Paul Hunt co-found theUnion of Physically ImpairedAgainst Segregation.(Finkelstein had arrived inthe UK in 1968 as a refugee and joinedthe emerging disability movement.) Hisexperiences of witnessing apartheid andhis own treatment by South African policeas a disabled person influence his ways ofthinking about society and its oppressionof disabled people. Finkelstein and Huntdevelop the social model of disability,which focuses attention on the social andstructural barriers that oppress people withimpairments and thus disable them.1981Dorothy Whitaker, of Greater ManchesterCouncil for Voluntary Service, is tasked withproposing ways to mark the InternationalYear of Disabled people (1981) in GreaterManchester. In the process she assistsdisabled people across Greater Manchesterto network and share ideas.1990Martin Pagel is elected to ManchesterCity Council. He is the first active disabledperson to be elected as a councillor.He goes on to serve as Chair of the SocialServices Committee and Deputy Leaderbetween 1996 and 2004.1991Professor Colin Barnes’ book DisabledPeople in Britain and Discrimination ispublished. The book uses official statisticsto prove that disability discriminationexists, denied by the Government ofthe day.46