Stories from the Edge - Volunteer Now

Last year in a Nottingham restaurant the owner suggested that Angela and a group of other disabled people use the back door.It started a row that reinforced Angela’s reputation for standing up for disabled rights. In the early days of her employment atBelfast City Hospital, Angela clashed with one eminent consultant over a parking space. Unlike others she was not overawed bysuch people who have airs and graces they may not have been entitled to. She admits she has been branded a red andan anarchist.But getting legislation changed to allow buildings to give excess to disabled people has been a fight. Angela is not forgiving. Shenotes,”The authorities were shamed into making the statute.” American veterans seriously injured in Vietnam spear-headedhuman rights campaigns to give them basic access. Angela acknowledges that those disabled on this side of the Atlantic did nothave to campaign as aggressively as Vietnam vets. Nevertheless Angela still faces prejudice, much of which is born out ofignorance and uncertainty.She is an active volunteer putting forward the concerns of those who like herself have a disability. That can mean collaring oneparticular bar owner who objected to some young people with cerebral palsy coming into his wine bar because it upset hiscustomers. Angela is proud that she can be their voice. She also works as an advocate who is very capable of articulating anargument on behalf of those who are not just as communicative. One case she recalls was that of a man seriously injured in anaccident. He was being divorced by his wife who’dleft when the compensation money ran out. Now“she wasn’t goingto be shoved into acorner and forgotten”she wanted a share of his only home that hadbeen specially designed for wheelchair living. Thiswas a clear-cut case according to the man’sunimaginative lawyer. The law states that in adivorce case the wife is entitled to half of theproperty - case closed. That was until Angela putforward the argument that while in most casesthis was true, this house and the man’s otherproperty had been provided from hiscompensation claim. The claim was based on what medical and other physical needs the man had. Angela’s point was acceptedby the so-called legal eagles including the judge, who left the man with his home intact. Angela’s voice for the disabled has alsobeen heard loudly outside the courtroom.She is a member of a housing association that provides homes for disabled people. She objects to disabled people beingcorralled and packed into minuscule ghetto areas. She disparagingly described such locales as ‘crips corners’. Angela said suchcorners were a way of isolating people from the mainstream. She argues passionately that disabled people are not some ‘special’group but are ordinary human beings with a disability.Her interest in getting the best for local disabled folk also means she is involved as an advisor to the Eastern Health Board’sPlanning Team. “It’s important our voice, the voice of the disabled, is heard. We know what is best for us - not some planner.”Angela speaks compellingly about her role on the Northern Ireland Access Committee. Planners once considered pedestrianisingthe entire centre of Belfast stopping traffic from entering. She is proud that she was one of those who objected because it meantthat the entire city centre would become a no go area for disabled people. The NIAC took the Department of the Environmentto task eventually winning their case after a long struggle.