Disability : a new history. A disabled identity. 10/10.

Radio documentary presented by Peter White entitled 'A disabled identity'. Peter White looks at how disabled people have needed to have a collective identity to make change. He suggests that many think this collective consciousness began after the First World War, but that it was actually much earlier. Selina Mills, who is writing a history of blindness and also losing her sight, discusses the strong character of the blind French woman, Adèle Husson, and her views on blindness and the education of blind children. Another, blind woman, Hippolyte van Lendegem, is also discussed. Her 1864 work, Charity Mis-Applied, in particular spoke up against educational segregation. Her life is now being uncovered by David Turner, of Swansea University, who looks at her concern that charitable institutions appeared to dampen ambition and intelligence. Julie Anderson, University of Kent, discusses 19th century workshops for blind men, which often provided poor levels of pay and were badly managed. In 1897, these workers banded together into a small but militant group. In 1899, they registered as a trade union, and in 1902 became affiliated with the Trades Union Congress and the Labour Party. This is seen as possibly the beginning of collective disabled political action. Peter White and Selina Mills discuss role models with disablities and disabled identity. Finally, Peter White talks about some of the surprising things he has found in making this series, especially in hearing the voices of those with disabilities.