Archive

Below you will find a selection of 'watch or listen again' events from previous York Disability Week programmes.  All are free to access:

The View From Down Here - Lucy Webster in conversation with Alice Maynard

Life Unseen: Why the History of Blindness Matters - Selina Mills

Capturing the Paralympics  – Ian Rice was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in his 40s and became a wheelchair user at the end of 2016. He later took up photography as a hobby before turning it into his profession and getting increasingly high profile and wide ranging commissions.

This summer, as all eyes focussed on the Paralympics, Ian took his dream job on the courtsides and finish lines in venues across Paris to capture the biggest Para sporting event of the year for Agence France-Presse. Join us as we hear from Ian about his Paralympic story and how he approaches his art creatively to capture some of the most iconic sporting images of the summer.  https://youtu.be/OsO6GaLtEQQ  

Dignity Denied... - The proposal to change the criteria used to decide who is assigned to the LCWRA (Limited Capability for Work Related Activity) group could lead to many with serious and deteriorating health conditions being placed instead in a group who are expected to do work preparation and receive a lower level of benefit. 

This meeting, led by Sue Royston and Rory Allen of Citizens Advice York, was an opportunity to explore and discuss in more detail the implications of changes proposed by the previous Government and currently under consideration by this Government.  Watch the recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xowTCU6zEgQ 

How to do Life with a Chronic Illness - Drawing on her acclaimed bestselling book How To Do Life With A Chronic Illness, award-winning writer and speaker Pippa Stacey will be interviewed by disabled writer and charity trustee Sophie Mattholie. They discussed rediscovering your identity, navigating access barriers and finding fulfilment while living with fatigue. Watch the recording at: https://youtu.be/pBdWBj9EHPI 

Prosthetics and Assistive Technology - The world came together this summer to enjoy the Paris Paralympics, the biggest sporting event on the planet, demonstrating their speed, strength and endurance. As well as athletic prowess, the games showcased cutting-edge innovation in specialised assistive technology, such as computer-aided design for customised fits, and intuitive interfaces between body and machine, revolutionising the way Para athletes interact with their environments.

But is all this entirely new? Throughout time humans have designed and innovated to create assistive technology to support disabled people, not only for sport, but in their day-to-day lives. Join us to hear Jane Draycott talk about the fascinating and long history of prosthetics and assistive technology.

Jane shared her findings from literary, documentary, archaeological, and bioarchaeological evidence, painting us a picture of their importance for the lived experience of disabled people in classical antiquity.  Watch the recording on: https://youtu.be/9fXoI3PFoqQ 

Protecting Disability Rights in York - Between Law, Research and Activism -

On 3 December, the York Law School marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Join us for a roundtable that illustrates that universal human rights begin in 'small places close to home'! T.T. Arvind, Head of the York Law School, Samantha Holmes, York LLM alumna and researcher at the Centre for Applied Human Rights, and Flick Williams, disability rights activist involved in the successful Reverse the Ban coalition will talk disability rights law, research and activism. The event is moderated by York Law School's senior lecturer Joanna Gilmore.  Watch the recording now: https://youtu.be/asmi8aH-3V0

Save Energy & Money - York Energy Advice can help you make the right choices to save energy and money. And help the planet too! Increasing energy efficiency helps tackle rising energy prices, as well as the climate crisis. It can also improve lives. Come along for free support on saving energy, managing bills and related issues such as insulation grants or benefits.   Watch the recording here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HZ8XrmNyzANDp1Kb4KXJsYPjd9HH8TdR/view?usp=sharing 

The Tactile Universe: Accessible astrophysics with the vision impaired community - Dr Nic Bonne, University of Portsmouth - Blind astronomer, Dr Nic Bonne, discusses growing up with a vision impairment, how this impacted his career, and how it has affected his lifelong fascination with astronomy, a traditionally visual science  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVKvHR3XkWE

The Unlikely History of Disability Arts - Colin Hambrook, editor of Disability Arts Online, and Dave Lupton, aka Crippen, cartoonist and writer -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLLmCqzAzzQ

The unlikely history of disability arts as described over a period of 40 years by those involved from the very beginning to the present time.

To the uninitiated, disability art conjures an image of a disabled person struggling to paint by clutching a paint brush between their teeth or toes. However, throughout the course of the disabled peoples’ struggle for equal rights, Disability Arts has played a vital role.

Whether through the medium of the protest song, the caustic wit of the cartoon or satirical performance, the disabled artist has been there alongside those who have taken their protest onto the streets. 25 years on from the inauguration of the Disability Discrimination Act, Colin Hambrook, editor of Disability Arts Online, and Dave Lupton, aka Crippen, cartoonist and writer, will take you on a journey through the archives with stories such as the disabled musicians who came together outside ITV headquarters to bring an end to Telethon; the performance artist who made headlines by hurling his artificial leg at a mountain of charity collection cans. 

 Countdown to success: Marathon runner Charlotte Ellis in conversation - -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk-PXu2UAK8

Hear the inspiring story of visually impaired marathon runner Charlotte Ellis as she discusses her remarkable sporting journey with Elly Fiorentini of BBC Radio York.  

Charlotte will explain how she entered sport despite low expectations around sporting achievement for someone with sight loss and how the University of York was influential in her sporting career.

Visually impaired all her life, as a child Charlotte was discouraged from taking part in sport at school. However, she didn’t allow this to stop her and found alternative routes into sporting activity, including circus performing and self-defence. As a student at the University of York, she discovered trampolining, before being encouraged to take up running for the first time.

Another exciting challenge arose with a move to Triathlon, which led to world and European titles in 2010. But despite further success in Triathlon, Charlotte’s attention returned to running. Through hard work and dedication she qualified for the British Athletics team and a place in the World Para Athletics Marathon championships in 2020. Unfortunately the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Eleanor Worthington Prize on Art and Disability Prize giving event - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu98SKRnTu4&t=120s

Remembering Lynn Jeffries – Disability Rights Campaigner (1956-2014) - Music by the Karen Sheader band '08 Bar Room Bolloxs'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbfmyIlLXDw

Made as part of York Disability Pride 2017 celebrations, this short film remembers Lynn Jeffries who played a key role in setting up York Independent Living Network (www.yiln.org.uk). Lynn Jeffries was a disability rights campaigner in York. She made a significant contribution to equality and inclusion work in the city. Lynn passed away aged 58 in August 2014. This film includes some memories from people who knew and worked with her. 

Thanks to Ali Cowen, Marije Davidson, Keith Chapman, Rita Sanderson, Sian Balsom and Diane Roworth for sharing.