Tag: Disability History Month

20th century history, History of Parliament Trust, World War I MPs

Captain Ian Fraser MP and the 1926 Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons Facilities) Bill

In the mid-1920s, radio technology developments and the BBC’s foundation in Britain led to new and exciting possibilities. Access to music, educational talks and current events became available to increasing numbers of people. Here, guest blogger Dr Rachel Garratt explores how one man, Captain Ian Fraser, used his position as a Member of Parliament and disabled veteran to campaign for radio access for blind people. … Continue reading Captain Ian Fraser MP and the 1926 Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons Facilities) Bill

Kirsty O'RourkeLeave a comment
20th century history, History of Parliament Trust, Oral history, Women and Parliament

‘Neither fish, fowl nor good red herring’: Baroness Nicholson’s experiences of hearing loss

Emma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, born 1941, was the MP for Torridge and West Devon 1987‒97. Elected as a Conservative MP, she crossed the floor to join the Liberal Democrats in 1995. After losing her seat in 1997 she was created a life peer, and served as a Member of the European Parliament for South East England for ten years (1999‒2009). Interviewed in 2013 … Continue reading ‘Neither fish, fowl nor good red herring’: Baroness Nicholson’s experiences of hearing loss

Kirsty O'RourkeLeave a comment
History of Parliament Trust, Post-1945 history

Visibility of Disability in the House of Commons: Food for Thought

As the UK marks Disability History Month, today’s guest blogger, Dr Ekaterina (Katya) Kolpinskaya explores the representation of disabilities in the House of Commons, and why Members of Parliament may be unwilling or unable to be more open about their disabilities. The recent increase in the number of disabled people in Britain – who have a physical or mental health impairment which has a substantial and … Continue reading Visibility of Disability in the House of Commons: Food for Thought

Kirsty O'RourkeLeave a comment
Health and Medicine, History of Parliament Trust, Oral history, Post-1945 history, Women and Parliament

‘Helping the Disabled to Live to Capacity’: rediscovering Dr Margaret Agerholm through parliamentary history

Over the past few weeks UK Heritage institutions have been marking Disability History Month, and in today’s blog we hear from Dr Emmeline Ledgerwood, the History of Parliament’s Oral History Project Manager. Listening to the project’s interview with former MP Sir John Hannam sparked a research trail that led her towards a key figure in disability rights campaigning: Dr Margaret Agerholm. In his interview for … Continue reading ‘Helping the Disabled to Live to Capacity’: rediscovering Dr Margaret Agerholm through parliamentary history

Kirsty O'RourkeLeave a comment
16th Century history, 17th Century history, Health and Medicine

Disability at Court in Early Modern England

As the UK marks Disability History Month over the next few weeks, in today’s blog Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of our Lords 1558-1603 project, looks into the prominent early modern figures who had physical disabilities and their treatment at court… Writing in the late 1590s to his sister-in-law, the dowager Lady Stourton, Secretary of State Sir Robert Cecil observed that it was ‘the fashion of … Continue reading Disability at Court in Early Modern England

conniejefferyLeave a comment
Early modern history, Social history

Thomson ‘with the wooden leg’

It’s Disability History Month, and in honour of this year’s theme, ‘War and Impairment: The Social Consequences of Disablement’, Dr Vivienne Larminie, Senior Research Fellow of the Commons 1640-60 section, looks at the life of Col. George Thomson who lost a leg at the battle of Cheriton… Over the centuries, military veterans will have been a familiar sight at Westminster, especially in the aftermath of … Continue reading Thomson ‘with the wooden leg’

The History of Parliament4 Comments