The second episode in the second series of this Yorkshire Calendar produced during the International Year of Disabled People and presented by Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson that explore the challenges of raising a child with a disability both emotionally and financially and who and what is available to help. 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...

The second episode in the second series of this Yorkshire Calendar produced during the International Year of Disabled People and presented by Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson that explore the challenges of raising a child with a disability both emotionally and financially and who and what is available to help. 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 Mrs Pat Jennings talks about her feelings of devastation when she first learned of her now 18-year-old daughters had been born with a severe disability. Title: Loving and Giving Credit: with Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson Presenter Richard Madeley introduces the programme that will look at the problems facing parents such as Mrs Jennings in loving and giving to their disabled children and where can they go for help. Following co-presenter Vyvyan Mackeson providing details on Spina bifida, a filmed item in which Richard speaks with Mrs Barbara Greensit who lives on a farm at West Tanfield near Ripon about her 12-year-old daughter Nicola who has the disability. As Nicola cycling around the garden in her hand peddle tricycle Mrs Greensit talks about the challenges of raising a child with a disability like Spina bifida and the ‘dark thoughts’ she and her husband had when Nicola was a small baby. At the Ian Tetley Memorial School at Killinghall near Harrogate, where Nicola goes to school, a pupil arrives in a wheelchair. Inside an English class with Richard explaining in voiceover that the school is against the idea of treating their pupils differently than children attending an ordinary state school. Returning to Mrs Greensit she provides details on some of the day-to-day challenges of raising a child with Spina bifida and about the fears she felt when she fell pregnant again with their now 9-year-old son Mark that he may also have the condition. Back at the Ian Tetley Memorial School Nicola gets into the newly built swimming pool alongside two other girls. Returning to her mother, Mrs Greensit talking about how the past 12-years have taught her and her husband not to take anything for granted. Back in the studio Richard interviews journalist Anne Purser who has just written a guidebook for parents about her experiences of raising her now grown-up daughter Harriet who has Cerebral Palsy. Entitled ‘You and Your Handicapped Child’ she talks with Richard about how a new parent can cope with the trauma of discovering their child has a disability and how they can prepare for the time when that child leaves their special school. Another brief introduction by Vyvyan on the financial burdens of raising a disabled child a second filmed report with Richard visiting the home of Mrs Pat Jennings near York. As Mrs Jenning’s wheels her 18-year-old daughter Catherine into the garden past a line of washing, Richard explains in voiceover how Catherine was born with severely spasticity both mentally and physically. Sitting at the kitchen table Mrs Jennings talks to Richard about the financial strains having a severely disabled child. She talks about the high cost of dry cleaning and laundry, adaptive furniture, the expense of needing their own transport and the cost of adapting the house to fit Catherine’s needs which includes an extension for her own bedroom and adapted bathroom. She understands how fortunate she has been in being able to give her daughter as much of a fulfilling life as possible but understands that not every parent of a disabled child is as lucky. She also talks about not being able to go back to work as she sees that a disabled child like Catherine will never grow up. Following an introduction by Richard, Vyvyan speaks with Sally Baldwin from York University Social Policy Research Unit who has been conducting research into the financial problems of families with disabled children. Vyvyan asks what happens to those families who can’t afford all the extras that a disabled child needs. She explains that in real terms all families with disabled children are up to £10 a week worse off than those with non-disabled children. While the disabled child’s needs are generally always met first, the rest of the family have to cut down on other luxury items such as clothing. She also gives examples of how a disabled child can be both direct and indirectly affected if the parents can’t afford what they need. She also provides details on organisation that could provide additional financial support. Across the studio Richard speaks with Mike Garnett the Regional Information Officer for the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) who provides details on some of the benefits that are available to parents with disabled children. He also explains which are means tested and that parents need to apply for them. He also holds up a booklet produced by the DHSS that provides details on all entitlements. Bringing the programme to a close Vyvyan proceeds to provide details of all the benefits that parents with disabled children are entitled to while Richard provides names and contact details for organisation that could provide additional financial support as well as advise, support and information. He then ends the programme by providing details on next week’s programme. Title: Calendar At Your Service Credit: was presented by Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson Editorial Assistant Patrick Dean Film Editor Gordon Hopps Director Derek Goodall Producer Petrina Rance Editor Graham Ironside End title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production. © Trident Television Ltd. MCMLXXXI