The sixth episode in this Yorkshire Calendar series presented by Marylyn Webb and Richard Madeley that this week looks at the situation for disabled people across Yorkshire. In this episode specially aimed at the International Year of the Disabled in 1981, a look at the community work being done to help and support those with disability and the challenges many still face on a day-to-day basis. Please note, the programme uses out-dated terms to described certain disabilities and the disabled...

The sixth episode in this Yorkshire Calendar series presented by Marylyn Webb and Richard Madeley that this week looks at the situation for disabled people across Yorkshire. In this episode specially aimed at the International Year of the Disabled in 1981, a look at the community work being done to help and support those with disability and the challenges many still face on a day-to-day basis. Please note, the programme uses out-dated terms to described certain disabilities and the disabled that some viewers may find offensive. Title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production Calendar At Your Service In a workshop at the Whetley Hill Centre in Bradford 32-year-old Peter Brook who has Cerebral palsy (CP) talks about the differences between those who have become disabled due to accidents and people like him who were born with their condition. Title: Living with a Handicap Credit: with Marylyn Webb and Richard Madeley Marylyn Webb opens the programme by providing details with regards 1981 being the United Nations International Year of the Disabled. After stating that 1 in ten people in Britian have either physically or mentally handicap, she explains that due to rising unemployment and government cuts the disabled are increasingly at a disadvantage. Across from Marylyn is co-presenter Richard Madeley who states that all a physically disabled person wants is to live as normal a life of possibly. In their specially adapted bungalow in Bradford Richard speaks with recently married couple Derek and Jean Yorke. He is given a tour of the bungalows facilities before speaking with the couple about their Multiple Sclerosis (MS), their relationship and recent marriage and with Jean about her life before MS as an active sports woman. The report ends on Derek, who is less disabled than his wife, helping her and himself into their specially converted car. Back in the studio Marylyn and Richard provide details with regards the various benefits or services that a disabled person may not be aware they are entitled to either from the Department of Health and Social Security or their local town council. Richard speaks with Wendy Collins from the Citizens’ Advise Bureau who specialises in welfare rights for the disabled. She isn’t surprised that many disabled people are unaware of all the benefits they are entitled to. She talks about other confusions within what is a complicated system and that some disabled people are both embarrassed and ashamed to ask for benefits for fear of being labelled a ‘scrounger.’ She concludes by encouraging disabled people to not be afraid to ask for advice from organisations such as hers. Following an introduction from Marylyn, Richard speaks with Peter Brook in the workshop at the Whetley Hill Centre in Bradford about some of the experiences that have shaped his life. He talks about growing up with CP and seeing a change in the public’s attitude towards the disabled realising they have minds of their own. He goes onto talk about getting married recently. Back in the studio Marylyn provides details on the Disabled Information and Advise Line (DIAL) which is a national organisation with branches around the region and provides an advice service for disabled people by disabled peoples. Sitting next to Marylyn is 26-year-old Alistair Hill who is a councillor for DIAL. He talks first about coming down with MS in adulthood and how it has affected his life. He talks about his challenges finding and getting the benefits he is entitled to and the work he and others at DIAL do to help fellow disabled. Richard talks about some of the challenges facing the disabled in not only finding but keeping a job due, for example, to the need for special facilities. At the Whetley Hill Centre in Bradford he is given a tour of the facilities and speaks with four of the 150 users of the centre each day. Both Julie Tamosiunas and John Harris talk about how if it wasn’t for the centre they would be trapped at home feeling depressed while both Eva Robertson and Evelyn Moor talk positively about the social aspects of the centre. Returning to the studio Marylyn speaks with Mrs Valarie Harrison who as well as being a mother to 15-year-old Hazel who has Spina bifida is also the Secretary of the newly formed Physically Handicapped Action Group Barnsley. She is very concerned about her daughter’s future as there are currently no facilities available to her or her friends when they leave school next year. She talks about what she and others in the group have done to try and get a similar centre to Whetley Hill in Barnsley but without much success. Recognising the problems faced by people like Mrs Harrison, Richard provides details on a day centre being opened by the Yorkshire Association of the Disabled at their head office in Harrogate which also includes a residential home and housing complex. Richard speaks with the association’s liaison officer Peter Butland about both its facilities as well as a housing complex being a unique venture as it mixes both housing for the able-bodied as well as the disabled as a form of integration. He also talks about the work the association does to help set up similar organisations across Yorkshire and their connection to the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR). The programme comes to an end with Richard providing names and contact details for organisations within the region who can offer general advice for the disabled, some of whom appeared in the programme. Marylyn closes the programme by providing details on next week’s programme which will look at the growing number victims of violence. Title: Calendar At Your Service Credit: was presented by Marylyn Webb, Richard Madeley Production Team Petrina Rance, Fiona Greig Film Editor Gordon Hopps Director Tony Scull Producer David Lowen Editor Graham Ironside Title: Next week Calendar At Your Service… Victims of Violence End title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production. © Trident Television Ltd. MCMLXXX