Photographs
The Disabled People’s Archive holds thousands of photographs, from the 1920s to the present.
Unfortunately, they are not yet catalogued. We are looking forward to making them available, and developing a team of ‘archive detectives’ to assist us in finding out as much as we can about who is in the photos and detail about the events, campaigns and demonstrations they show.
Here are just a few. Please do contact us if you can identify people in the photos or have a story to tell about what the photo shows.
We are giving a little information about the photo and event plus a visual description of the photo.
Please click on the photos for details.
Glossary
1977 Trike Rally Rochdale
About In the 1970s the Invalid Trike (affectionately known as the Noddy Car) was the main form of adapted transport offered to wheelchair users through a government-funded scheme. This rally was in protest against the government’s decision to withdraw all trikes from service and replace the scheme with a new mobility allowance. This photo is taken outside Rochdale Town Hall. The...
1982 Anti-Apartheid Protest
About In 1982 the campaign against the Apartheid regime in South Africa was in full swing all over the world. South African sports competitors were not welcomed, and in some cases, banned from international sports as a means of putting pressure on the South African government to remove apartheid. This protest was organised by ‘Anti-Apartheid’ and ‘Disabled People Against Apartheid’...
1986 Lobby - Tom Clark Civil Rights Bill, London
About This photo shows Alan Mather and friend heading to a rally supporting the Tom Clark Private Members Bill in Trafalgar Square, London. Since the 1980s there were 14 attempts to introduce disabled people’s anti-discrimination legislation with Private Members Bills. Throughout this time there were many lobbies in London in support of these bills. Description A black and white photo. In the...
1988 BCODP Day of Action, London
About This day of action was called by the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People (BCODP). It took place in London. Over 1,200 people protested against cuts proposed in the Social Security Act (1988). This photo is from the beginning of the day of action in Kennington Park. People then moved on to the head office of the Department...
1990 First Telethon Protest, London
About This photo is from the first protest against Telethon, on 27 May 1990. It was held outside London Weekend Television studio, South Bank, London, where the programme was being filmed. To the right of the Birmingham banner are Sian Vasey and Vic Finkelstein. Telethon was a nationally broadcasted fund-raising programme, similar to the BBC’s Children in Need. Disabled people objected...
1990 Disability Consortium Rally, Manchester
About Over 500 people gathered in Albert Square, Manchester, for this rally on 27 October 1990. It was one of three rallies organised on the same day calling for a better benefits system for disabled people. Gill Crawshaw is sitting on the ground under the Armley Resource Centre banner. Description A black and white photo. A view of a large crowd of people...
1991 Children in Need, Leeds
About This protest was outside the BBC Studio in Leeds. It was in opposition to the Children in Need event, part of which was being filmed in the studio. Children in Need is an annual fund-raising event organised by the BBC. Disabled people object to the imagery and language used which makes disabled children an object of pity. Description A black and...
1994 Leeds Train Station Sensory Garden Protest
About In 1994 a sensory garden was created at the side of Leeds train station. The opening was performed by celebrity Jimmy Saville. This photo is from the opening. Disabled people were protesting because money had been spent creating a garden while the train station was still not accessible. Identified people Front and centre Sharon Mace (later Rowen Jade) being pushed in...
1999 Independence Festival Manchester
About This photo, from 3 July 1999, shows the band Heart n’ Soul performing on stage in Albert Square during the afternoon of the Independence Festival. A British Sign Language Interpreter and audio technicians are also on the stage with the band. Identifiable people Keith Stephens walking towards the camera. Stephen Bridges to the left of centre with his back to the...
1994 Dale Street, Liverpool
About This demonstration was held on Dale Street in Liverpool. It was highlighting the lack of designated parking facilities for disabled people in the city centre. Identified people. Alan Holdsworth on the ground. To the far left of the photo are disabled activists Lynn Warburton and Natalie Markham (with her hands on her hips). Description A colour photo. A large crowd of on-lookers are...
2000, July, BSL Recognition March, London
About This photo shows staff and members of Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People’s Young Disabled People’s Forum being interviewed by the media. The photo shows the group at the rally on 8 July in Trafalgar Square, London, following a march calling for the recognition of British Sign Language as an official language. A campaign which spanned the late 1990s and...
2015 Anti-austerity March, Manchester
About This photo shows part of an anti-austerity march on 4 October 2015. After years of austerity cuts to support and services, a march and rally including trade unions, voluntary sector organisations and many members of the public was held in Manchester to coincide with the start of the Tory Party Conference. Disabled people took part in this march. Recognisable people Ruth...