Disability and Industrial Society Disability and Industrial Society

All of the literature readings from our exhibition 'From Pithead to Sick Bed'. For transcripts and information, check out our website: http://www.dis-ind-soc.org.uk/en/literature-readings.htm

Andrea Gordon of Guide Dogs Cymru and the audience discussion at our event for Being Human Festival 2015, 'Disability and Wellbeing: Past, Present and Future'. Recorded at Swansea University, 17 November 2015.

Research on the so-called ‘disability paradox’ has shown that life-limiting impairment is not necessarily a barrier to happiness and wellbeing, with many disabled people reporting a good quality of life. Swansea University researchers and academics at the universities of Aberystwyth, Glasgow Caledonian and Strathclyde, are uncovering historical attitudes towards disability through the experiences of those disabled in the coal industry of the 18th–20th centuries. What do these ‘hidden histories’ tell us? How do these historical experiences compare to those of people today? What more can be done to improve people’s prospects, happiness and social inclusion? This public debate, in partnership with Disability Wales, focuses on how the happiness and wellbeing of disabled people have changed over time.

David Turner, Daniel Blackie and Alexandra at our event for Being Human Festival 2015, 'Disability and Wellbeing: Past, Present and Future'. Recorded at Swansea University, 17 November 2015.

Research on the so-called ‘disability paradox’ has shown that life-limiting impairment is not necessarily a barrier to happiness and wellbeing, with many disabled people reporting a good quality of life. Swansea University researchers and academics at the universities of Aberystwyth, Glasgow Caledonian and Strathclyde, are uncovering historical attitudes towards disability through the experiences of those disabled in the coal industry of the 18th–20th centuries. What do these ‘hidden histories’ tell us? How do these historical experiences compare to those of people today? What more can be done to improve people’s prospects, happiness and social inclusion? This public debate, in partnership with Disability Wales, focuses on how the happiness and wellbeing of disabled people have changed over time.

In the final podcast to accompany our exhibition, Mark Stone of Swansea Access for Everyone (SAFE) and volunteer for RNIB Swansea, reviews our exhibition and talks about access to museums and exhibitions for blind and visually impaired people.

Our second exhibition podcast features George Brinley Evans, writer and ex-miner. George walks through our exhibition with Mike Mantin and talks about the loss of his eye in the mine, working after the accident, life in a mining village and starting his writing career.

In the first of a series of podcasts about our exhibition, 'From Pithead to Sick Bed', Kat Watkins from the disability group Swansea Access For Everyone (SAFE) tours the exhibition and talks about how disability history connects to her own experience and activism. In conversation with Mike Mantin.