The Government Has Thrown Out A Private Members Bill Aimed At Ending Discrimination Against The Disabled

Interview about how the bill would have supported people with disabilities.

Brief scenes of people with physical disabilities gathered outside the Palace of Westminster to protest at the failure of a private members bill to end discrimination against disabled people. Some are in wheelchairs and some hold placards. A group converse through sign language. An enthusiastic crowd surrounds Jack Ashley MP who brought the bill to Parliament. At Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, Jill Allan who has sight loss walks along a pavement with her guide dog Brandy. Interviewed at home, Jill says discrimination is very serious for the 5 million disabled people in the UK and from their day-to-day experiences, only a few stories get into the news. She mentions the effect on employment and training opportunities. At the Palace of Westminster, Jill and Brandy were not allowed into the House of Commons to hear the debate. She says that the excuses offered demonstrate the attitude existing against enabling people with disabilities. She will continue the fight for disabled people to be integrated into the community. The reporter was Marcus Powell for this video made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

Disability; Discrimination; Equal rights; Sign language; Sight loss; Guide dogs

Additional Description

In 1983, Jack Ashley MP introduced the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill in the UK Parliament, marking the first time anti-discrimination legislation was presented to address discrimination against disabled people.