The fourth episode in the second series of the Yorkshire Calendar series produced during the International Year of Disabled People and presented by Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson. In this programme that examines the changing attitude towards the mentally disabled and the mentally ill. 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...

The fourth episode in the second series of the Yorkshire Calendar series produced during the International Year of Disabled People and presented by Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson. In this programme that examines the changing attitude towards the mentally disabled and the mentally ill. 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 19-year-old Karen Moorhouse who has Down syndrome talks about how she was introduced to ballroom dancing through her parents. Title: All in the Mind Credit: with Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson After presenter Richard Madeley explains that Karen is one of the regions most accomplished ballroom dancers, he provides details on this week’s episode which will look at the mentally disabled and the mentally ill all of whom have the same rights as everyone else and the work that is being done to change attitudes towards their conditions. Co-presenter Vyvyan Mackeson introduces the first of these two topics, the mentally disabled by stating that it was once common practice to place any child born with a mental disability into a hospital or institution. After stating that the most common disability in children is Down syndrome, she explains that there has been a change of attitude and a move towards family care. On the dancefloor at the Kensington School of Dance in Bradford Karen Moorhouse ballroom dances with her partner. Speaking with Richard she talks about the various styles of dance she has learned, and awards won including an award for her disco dancing. Back on the dancefloor wearing a different outfit she performs a disco dance routine. Richard speaks with Karen’s farther Donald Moorhouse about his and his wife’s decision to raise Karen rather than put her into an institution as they were advised when she was born. He also provides details on how he and his wife got Karen into dancing. He believes those with conditions such as Down syndrome have every right to be brough up as a normal child. Returning to Karen she shows Richard some of her awards not just in dancing but also horse riding and swimming. She also talks about what she does at college while her father explains that extended education from 16-19 should be just as much a right for those with a mental disability as anyone else. He believes the earlier in life you teach a child with a mental disability the better it is for them later. Back in the studio Vyvyan speaks with Dr Cliff Cunningham from the University of Manchester who has been involved in a close study of children with Down syndrome. He is asked if Karen is typical or an exceptional example of someone with this genetic condition? He believes she is, but there are other exceptional people on the other end of the spectrum who may have problems speaking or have severe physical problems. He is concerned that everyone with Down syndrome will be labelled the same when they are clearly not. He would like to see a more optimistic view being used in the education of children with the condition to see what they can do rather than focus on what they can’t. He is an advocate of a child being stimulated and educated from an early age like Karen was and to help build an environment for opportunity. He provides details on the work he and his colleagues do to help raise the confidence in new parents of Down syndrome children. Moving onto mental illness Richard provides details on how and when this might occur. He provides statistics that state that 1 in nine men and 1 in five women will suffer one form of mental illness in their lifetime. However, attitudes are changing thanks to campaigns like those run by MIND, the National Association for Mental Health. On an ordinary council estate in Kirkstall Leeds Vyvyan speaks with three men, former patients of High Royds Hospital near Bradford, who now live within the community. Two of the three men talk about what it is like living in the house compared to an institution and about getting use to the independence and freedom. They also talk about being integrated into the local community and the challenges of finding work. Back in the studio Richard speaks with John Williams who is Regional Director of MIND and provides details on a new generation of supervised group homes that are being developed for those coming out of institutions such as High Royds. He believes programmes like ‘Calendar At Your Service’ are helping to breakdown the stigma for the mentally ill and disabled but there are still issues. He sees institutions like High Royds as being different from what peoples might believe them to be with both modern treatments and medicines available, but still isn’t the right place to help rehabilitate people back into the community. After providing details on some of the services and activities provided by MIND both locally and regionally, he replies to the question of what he believes could be done most of all that will change people’s attitudes towards the mentally ill or the disabled being a massive shift in resources. Following Vyvyan explaining that while attitudes towards mental illness are changing slowly, Richard speaks with a man who has first-hand experience of the stigma that is associated with mental illness. After providing some details the man’s breakdown Richard speaks with him under a tree in a field, his featured hidden to protect his identity. He talks about his suicide attempt being a cry for help, the different attitudes of staff between a normal hospital and a mental hospital and how he came to understand and be able to solve his own problems. He explains that the stigma attached with being a patient at a mental hospital has prevented him from finding a job and is the reason why he has requested his identity be hidden. Back in 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 those with a mental illness or a parent or carer of someone with a mental disability. He also provides details on how an individual can appeal a decision made regarding benefits if they believe it is wrong. Vyvyan and Richard then provide details of general benefits that can be applied for as well as names and contact details of organisation that can help or support. Richard brings the programme to an end by providing details on next week’s programme on hidden disabilities such as chronic backpain. Title: Calendar At Your Service Credit: was presented by Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson Editorial Assistant Patrick Dean, Eve Conway Director Derek Goodall Producer Petrina Rance Editor Graham Ironside End title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production. © Trident Television Ltd. MCMLXXXI