cry for our world I cry for our world but my voice is only one drop in the ocean of messages and how far that can reach without drowning I don't know
Eventually there was a programme solely on the disability issue purporting to put across views straight from the disabled mouth. Yet with a non-disabled woman having total editorial control, it made a mockery of the whole thing. It would have been slightly more acceptable if she had been coming from an 'aware' stance. However, when I received the scripted questions I began to be concerned as the language and tone was out-dated and alien to disabled people. I explained all this to the woman and she agreed to make any necessary alterations, seemingly understanding my reasons. Imagine my dismay when I watched the programme and saw not only a very emasculated version of my original points but also a presentation which made me cringe - none of the agreed changes had been made. I realise one cannot wave a magic wand and produce instant change, but that's all the more reason to be adamant - in this instance about someone with a disability having at least some measure of editorial control. I hadn't envisaged how ludicrous it would look with a non-disabled linker. A disabled person would have made a stronger programme, quite apart from their presence as a presenter making a point in itself. Able-bodied people opposed to abortion of disabled babies must be very careful what language they are using. Language can be a subtle reinforcement of stereotypes and labels. People with disabilities are sick and tired of hearing 'healthy' and 'normal' in place of able-bodied, and 'handicapped' and 'abnormal' in place of disabled. If you take my wheelchair away from me I become handicapped by your action, otherwise I am merely disabled. Disability politics also allows no 'norm' or yardstick to judge by. Many of the disability organisations, I'm ashamed to say, did not support David Alton on the issue of disability and abortion. Such organisations should be campaigning for disabled rights and fighting for improvement in access, education, living accommodation, etc., and fighting against cuts in benefits, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, etc, i.e. taking positive measures to aid parents bringing up disabled children. Needless to say, more often than not, able-bodied people head disability organisations. I hope they realise they are providing the Government with exactly the excuse it wants to disregard the needs of people with