Disability : a new history. The only dwarf in Liverpool. 1/10.

Radio documentary entitled 'The only dwarf in Liverpool' in which Peter White, who is blind himself, explores what it was like to live with disability in the 18th and 19th centuries by looking at a variety of contemporary sources. One of the contributors, the historian Chris Mounsey, is interested in first hand accounts of those living with physical disablities. This includes a letter by Peg Barnes, written in 1836, who calls himself 'the only dwarf in Liverpool'. He asks the Poor Law Guardians for financial help because he is going blind. This is one of many letters collected by Professor Steven King, of Leicester University, which are noteworthy because they are written in the original voice of the person with the disability and include facts about their ordinary lives. Another letter, written in 1903, from William Jones, a dwarf in Leeds, suggests there is less opportunity for an unemployed dwarf in Leeds than in London. David Turner, from Swansea University, is the author of a new study of disability in the 18th century. He considers how the perception of disability started to shift away from it being seen as a sin or punishment, helped by a growing medical interest. Also, many modern day views on disability were shaped at this time in newspapers, sermons and humour. Professor Judith Hawley, of Royal Holloway, University of London, discusses words used to describe disablity at the time, both by the public in general and people with disabilities themselves.