The fifth 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 a look at hidden disabilities such as chronic back pain, epilepsy and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production Calendar At Your Service Former solider Sonny Ash states that to most people when he is seen outside, he seems normal, but they...

The fifth 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 a look at hidden disabilities such as chronic back pain, epilepsy and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production Calendar At Your Service Former solider Sonny Ash states that to most people when he is seen outside, he seems normal, but they can’t see how he is suffering because of chronic pain in the back. Title: When the Label Doesn’t Show Credit: with Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson Presenter Richard Madeley introduces this edition on hidden disorders by talking about the two main subjects of the programme chronic back pain, which each day means 56,000 people are unable to work, and disfiguring skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis and how for both these conditions those who suffer feel they are more discriminated against than those with more obviously disabilities. Co-presenter Vyvyan Mackeson explains that the most common cause of disability today is backpain and that for 10% of the population they will spend their lives in constant pain from which there is no relief. In his Repton Road in Doncaster home, Sonny Ash does some light gardening with Richard explaining in voiceover how Sonny slipped a disc while serving in the army and is now on a disability pension. He talks to Richard about how he is in almost constant pain which in turn makes him moody and irritable. Sitting next to him is wife Jenny who, after six years, is less sympathetic about his condition and explains why. They both talk about how because Sonny’s condition is not obvious people don’t always believe he has a disability. On a table the four types of medication Sonny has to help with the pain, they offer little relief. Sonny talks about being out of work for 15 months and because of his back pain he sees himself as being practically unemployable. Following an introduction by Vyvyan on the poor treatment options available for people which back pain, Richard interviews Mr Richard Porter who is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and who specialise in the prevention and treatment of backpain and is making progresses in understanding the causes of this condition. He understands that backpain does make life very difficult for sufferers, but it isn’t a life-threatening condition. On being asked about the many cures available for the condition, he considers that scientifically little is known about the back and spine as it is hard to visualise, especially discs. He encourages his patients to learn to live with the problem and to put less strain of their spine. He also runs a special school at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary helping people with back conditions. Richard moves the programme onto talk about another common hidden disability epilepsy which affects 300,000 people in England and Wales. He goes into detail about what the disorder is and the types of seizures a sufferer may experience and states that although the condition can be controlled by drugs, the social stigma for those with it is as strong as ever. As housewife Mrs Mary Keast returns to her home in Bramley near Rotherham, Vyvyan provides some background on Mrs Keast’s epilepsy, a condition she has had all her life. On average she has six seizures a year, but now that she is on a cocktail of sixteen different medications the number have been reduced. However, Mrs Keat’s is aware that once her body becomes immune to the drugs the seizures will increase again. She talks about what people have told her about her seizures and the problems she had telling people about her condition including her husband of 15 years. The Bramley Post Officer where Mrs Keat’s use to work, but she lost the job there when she informed them that she had epilepsy. She believes peoples have out-dated ideas of epileptics and has become a member of Action for Epilepsy where she is not only able to education people about the condition but meet and get to know other with the same condition. Back in the studio Vyvyan speaks with Alex Aspinall who is the British Epilepsy Association Senior Regional Officer for the North of England. He gives advice on what to and what not to do should someone come across an individual having an epileptic fit or seizure. Regarding employment he believes an applicant should always tell a potential employer they have epilepsy and explains why. He doesn’t believe there is any form of employment that a person with epilepsy can’t do, it is dependent on the type and frequency of fits. Moving the programme on again, Richard introduces a discussion on skin disorders by stating there are a thousand different types of skin condition that can as well as being both painful and unsightly be a long-term and recuring disability. Sitting nearby is Ernest Vardey who is the Regional Representative of the Psoriasis Association. He talks about this distressing condition that affect more than a million people in the United Kingdom. He talks in more detail about the social stigma he has faced because of the condition and the work of the association to help increase public acceptable of it. Also sitting nearby is Christine Orton author of ‘Learning to Live with Skin Disorders’ who explains there are no cures, but there are treatments available to help supress the rashes making them less uncomfortable. She believes that those with skin disorders such try as many treatments as possible as different things help different people. On the question of the social stigma she talks about suffers needing to learn to live with the condition and not worry so much about what other people think. She also believes the public should learn more about understand the condition more. Following a brief introduction by Richard, Vyvyan speaks with Mike Garnett the Regional Information Officer for the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) who provide details on entitlements and supplementary benefits that could be available to people with hidden disabilities. Richard brings the programme to an end by providing names and contact details for organisation who could provide support and details on next week’s final edition of the series looking back on 1981 International Year of Disabled People and asking has it been worthwhile. Title: Calendar At Your Service Credit: was presented by Richard Madeley and Vyvyan Mackeson Editorial Assistant Patrick Dean, Eve Conway Film Editor Gordon Hopps Director Derek Goodall, Paddy Russell Producer Petrina Rance Editor Graham Ironside End title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production. © Trident Television Ltd. MCMLXXXI