Review

Disabled voices, still alive

FIGHTING FOR WHAT WE’VE GOT: living with disability in Kirklees
Ian Clayton (ed)
Yorkshire Arts Circus, 1996, £5.95

Yorkshire Arts Circus is a registered charity and active publisher which has produced a lively publication on the experiences of 74 disabled people living in the West Riding and attending local day centres.

The stories, told by people in their own words – rather than about them – raise issues which are faced rather than provide solutions.

Some of the statements would gladden the hearts of the government with its Welfare to Work policy but others should make it think very carefully before changing its policies for the disabled.

The desire to work and not to be bored was consistently expressed — a lady of 88 years spends her time unpicking old clothes, recutting and sewing them into new ones, making on average two dresses a day. Her doctor wishes she would not work so hard!

It is heartening to read of the improved quality of life, and social life in particular, which is gained by being involved directly in the organisation and provision of services themselves.

With the support of national and local charities disabled people frequently lead ‘conventional’ lives. It is worth emphasising the tremendous benefit of mobility (scooters, motorised wheelchairs, even bus passes) which maintain independence. One young man left his family home to learn to cope on his own, saying that this was the most important move in his life.

As well as the courage, there is the humour which embarrasses those of us who are not disabled.

Of course there is anger and a thorough dislike of being patronised, especially by politicians. Irritation is also expressed at overcautious care – for example, being considered a fire risk by a publican.

But the reader will be impressed by the ‘important to get out there’ philosophy and ‘I know what I can and what I can’t do’ attitude of the contributors. Most of them are survivors of the Second World War and of hard times before that (and the title of the book is suitably combative.)

As such they are an indomitable group but I would like to think that some of this positive outlook may be due to the provision of day care and other support services being delivered by the authorities in Kirklees.

This small book is testament to what can be achieved and may encourage those providing care and services to this section of the population.