History of DAB
In Bristol, the UK, and beyond
Disability Activism Bristol (DAB) has a rich history rooted in championing the rights and voices of Disabled individuals in the city. Emerging from grassroots efforts, DAB has played a pivotal role in advocating for accessibility, equality, and social inclusion.
Over the years, it has brought together activists, allies, and organisations to challenge systemic barriers and celebrate the achievements of the Disabled community. Through campaigns, education, and collaboration, DAB continues to preserve and promote the history of Disability activism in Bristol, ensuring that these stories inspire future generations.
1841
Matthew Burns, first Deaf headteacher of a school for Deaf people, moved to head Bristol and District Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. (The first School for Deaf people was opened in Edinburgh in 1760.)
1884
The Christian Mission opened in Bristol, which supported many disabled people and was the origins of the first Deaf Club.
1895
Ada Vachell set up the Bristol branch of the Guild of the Brave Poor Things. (The Guild was originally started in 1893. It was renamed the Guild of the Handicapped in 1918 and the organisation continued until it closed in 1987).
1918
The First World War ended, having disabled 1.5 million people in Britain.
1939
Hitler ordered the Aktion T4 program which murdered up to 300,000 disabled people in the regions occupied by the Nazis.
1944
Disabled Persons (Employment) Act was passed to enable disabled people to be able to get paid work, and also set up 'rehabilitation' services and vocational training courses. This was the first legislation that was for disabled people in general, rather than people with specific impairments.
1945
Vassall Centre was first built as a base for American soldiers in WW2, it later became the “earliest barrier free workplaces in the UK” and the home of many Disabled People's Organisations.
1948
The National Assistance Act abolished the Poor Law system and established the modern UK benefits system. This provided small amounts of money to help support people who couldn't work for a variety of reasons.
1956
The Bristol Council House/City Hall was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II, after construction had been delayed by WW2.
1960s
Bernard Bragg developed visual vernacular, a performance technique that combines sign language, mime, and gesture to tell stories without using language.
1962
The Bristol Deaf Centre moved location and its venue at Kings Square in Bristol was established. It closed in 2013 when funding was cut for the charity Centre for Deaf People
1970
Alf Morris' Chronically Ill and Disabled Person's Act, which forced local councils to make public buildings accessible, was approved. It came into effect in 1972.
1974
Alf Morris becomes first minister for Disabled people
1975
UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons supported the rights of Disabled people. It was not legally binding, but it set expectations for the UN's member nations.
1978
Centre for Deaf Studies opened at University of Bristol.
1981
The UN International Year of Disabled Persons called for a plan of action for disabled people, with the theme of “full participation and equality”.
1987
The Bristol Centre for Independent Living Group began meeting, with intentions to start an independent living centre in the city. It met in the Community Service Volunteers building lobby, just down the road from the Guild of the Brave Poor Things.
1989
Protest at the Arnolfini by local disabled people following a redesign of the cafe that meant it was no longer accessible.
1989
The first meeting of the Avon Coalition of Disabled People was held at the Hall at Barton Hill Settlement and it was attended by 86 Disabled people. As far as we know, it was the first public meeting run by Disabled people in the City.
1989-93
Avon County Council adopted a Disability Equality Policy committing the whole Council to following the social model of disability. (The exact date is unknown)
1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibited discrimination based on disability in the USA. It covered areas such as healthcare, employment and law, but there were still many gaps for private establishments.
1990
Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) started to campaign for rights of disabled learners to be included and supported in mainstream education.
1990
Protestors chained themselves to buses at a Campaign for Accessible Transport demonstration in London and were arrested.
1991
Artshare Avon became the Disability Arts Agency and held a number of disability arts events, such as the Bristol performances of the ‘Tragic and Brave Roadshow’.
1991
Activists protested against Children in Need’s portrayal of disabled people.
1991
Sir Alf Morris first introduced the Civil Rights (Disabled Person’s) Bill to Parliament.
1991-2
ACODP organised a series of demonstrations calling for anti-discrimination laws to be brought in in the UK.
1992
Block Telethon protests. Organised version of anti-telethon protests in 1990. (These protests led to the formation of the Direct Action Network in 1993).
1992
The first regular UK TV character played by a disabled person on the soap Eldorado.
1994
Roger Berry put forward an Early Day Motion supporting the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill, previously proposed by Sir Alf Morris MP, to outlaw discrimination based on disability in the UK. This was the 9th attempt at passing anti-discrimination laws but the minister for disabled people at the time, Sir Nicholas Scott, plotted to wreck the bill, which eventually led to his replacement.
1995
West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL) was set up by the Avon Coalition of Disabled People so that there would be independent living services in Bristol and the surrounding area.
1994
A Rights Now group was launched in Bristol. Rights Now was an organisation dedicated to campaigning for anti discrimination laws for disabled people.
1995
Disability Discrimination Act was introduced.
1996
Disability activists from Bristol organised and attended a mass lobby and further protests to get DDA extended to cover transport and education. This did not happen until the Labour Government amended the Act in 2001.
2000
City of Bristol recognised BSL as a language. (The UK government eventually recognised BSL in March 2003).
2000
The updated Representation of the People Act allowed patients in mental hospitals to vote.
2001
First Disability and Deaf Arts festival (DaDafest) was held in Liverpool.
2001
the SEN and Disability Act extended the legal rights in the Disability Discrimination Act education and schools.
2007
The Wizzybug, a powered wheelchair for children aged 5 and under, was invented. (By Bath Institute of Medical Engineering, which was opened in 1968.)
2009
Liz Crow featured in Anthony Gormley's One and Other project on August 8th from 10pm-11pm dressed in a Nazi uniform to raise awareness of the Nazi’s Aktion T4 program.
2010
UK Government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
2010
The Equality Act 2010 replaced the Disability Discrimination Act.
2010
Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulation was introduced to improve accessibility on trains, an update of another law from 1998 which had the same name.
How to teach Disabled History
These resources were drafted by Ruth Myers of Local Learning and a number of the activities were tested in schools in the Bristol area in October 2024, alongside talks by Disabled activists to connect the learning resources to the students. In conjunction with the feedback, the activities were fine tuned and are now available in online, PDF and plain text formats for schools to use.
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