‘Poster Child’ by Brian Hilton - 2001
This film of Brian Hilton’s evocative song, Poster Child, features Brian Hilton, Leigh Stirling & Mat Fraser.
Filmed & Edited by Phil Samphire in 2001.
Lyrics available on YouTube.
Bar Room Bollocks cover by Clair Lewis (now Mx Dennis Queen) 2007
Clair (now Dennis) has performed this ever-popular song a number of times, usually on request. ‘Bar Room Bollocks’ was originally written and performed in 1999. This performance is from the 2007 Annual General Meeting of Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP).
Warning - contains swearing.
British Sign Language interpretation by Anthony Redshaw.
Transcript below video.
Transcript
I’ve got nowt against the poor handicapped
Some of them even drink beer
And I don’t mind admitting I mix with them,
the odd time one wanders in here
Been known to buy Jack a Newcastle Brown
He’s blind and he uses a crutch
We always let him sit here next to us
Mind, nobody talks to him much . . .
Ahhhh
ahhhh ahhhh
Me sister’s bairn was born spastic
Confined to an invalid chair
But it’s marvellous what all those specialist schools
Can do for those poor kids like her
So don’t make fun of the handicapped
Because some of them have feelings too
It’s not their fault that they’re made like they are
Just be thankful it’s not one of you
And I think they were sent for a bloody good cause
Just to make normal folk stop and think
There but for the grace of the good Lord go I
‘Ere, does anyone want one more drink?
Yeahhh,
yeahh yeahh
You reckon that you’re our champion
Defender of all our crips
But I just can’t believe the crap that I’ve heard
That comes pouring out of your lips
You like to keep us
where you think we belong
With sentiment and prejudice
I hope that some tosspot talks shite about you
Next time you go out on the piss!
Yeahh,
Yeahh, yeahh
Bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
Bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
Bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
yeah bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
Bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
Bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
and bollocks to you
Yeahh
Yeahh, yeahh
Ballad Of Josie Evans cover by Clair Lewis (now Mx Dennis Queen) 2007
This cover of Johnnie Crescendo’s classic song ‘The Ballad of Josie Evans’ was performed in 2007 at the Annual General Meeting of Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP).
British Sign Language interpretation by Anthony Redshaw.
Transcript below video.
Transcript
Josie was a wheelchair user
spent 11 years inside
A short stay institution
where she was banged up without trial
11 years the white coats
met and talked and analysed
Dispensed the drugs politely
until one day Josie died
"Not me" said the social worker
"I was Josie's friend
She was our best customer
I was with her 'til the end
Our boss said no resources
were available at the time
I'm just an employee
can't put my job on the line"
"Not me" said the manager
"I can't be held to blame
It's the politicians who make decisions
I'm just a pawn in their game
I agree most strongly that Miss Evans was done wrong
But the council wanted cuts
and I had to sing their song"
The finger of guilt
draws a circle in the sand
And who'll take the blame
for the desperate and the dammed
And which people vote for injustice in the land?
Is it you or your father?
Is it you? Is it you?
Well the leader of the council
wrung his hands and shook his fist
"You've got to blame the government
for a scandal such as this"
"Blame Thatcher, blame John Major
blame the ones that put them in"
And he went to wash his hands
declaring he was clean of sin
"Oh, I give to charity everyday"
says John Major at the table
"It's the very least that I can do
to help the poor disabled
Efficiency is what we need
poor management's to blame
Now would you like a small donation
to the memory of what's her name?"
The finger of guilt
draws a circle in the sand
Who'll take the blame
for the desperate and the dammed
And which people vote for injustice in the land
Is it you or your mother?
Is it you? Is it you?
Josie left a letter
which I found amongst her things
It said "I am, I survive
and my heart still has wings
They can take away my freedom
They can drug me with their lies
But they don't have my permission
And I'll hang on to my pride"
Disability Is - Young Disabled People’s Animation 1995
This is a short animation created in 1995 by young disabled people at Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP).
The animation was the product of a project exploring young disabled people’s experiences, expectations, aspirations and the barriers they face. It features the music of legendary disabled artist Ian Stanton and the voices of some of the young people who created the animation.
The animation has closed captions and a transcript below the video. An audio description was produced in 1995 on cassette tape, which is currently not available to digitise due to Coronavirus restrictions. We aim to re-create this audio description soon.
Transcript
[♪UPBEAT SYNTH♪]
-What's wrong with you?
-Well what's wrong with you?
-Why are you walking like that?
-Why are you walking like that?
-What do you do all day?
-What do you do all day?
-Where's your mum and dad?
-Aw, are you being a good boy?
[♪UPBEAT SYNTH♪]
[PAPER RIPPING]
[PAPER FOLDING]
[SYNTH WHOOSHING]
[PAPER CRACKLING]
-Aw, are you being a good boy?
[DOG BARKING]
-What's wrong with you?
-Well what's wrong with you?
-Why are you walking like that?
-Why are you walking like that?
-What do you do all day?
-What do you do all day?
-Where's your mum and dad?
-Aw, are you being a good boy?
-What's wrong with you?
-Why are you walking like that?
[METAL CLANKING]
[SYNTH WHOOSH]
[SYNTH DECREASING TRILL]
[♪FAST DRUMBEAT♪]
[♪MARACAS♪]
[ALARM BELL PINGS]
Determined
[♪FAST SYNTH♪]
Equal rights
Confident
Happy
Feeling comfortable
[♪UPBEAT SYNTH♪]
[PEOPLE CHEERING]
Pride
[PEOPLE CHEERING]
[♪ROLLIN' THUNDER - IAN STANTON♪]
♪Rollin' Thunder
Growin' stronger♪
[♪STEEL DRUMS♪]
Equal rights
Rights not charity!
Rights not charity!
Rights not charity!
Rights not charity!
[SYNTH WHOOSHING]
[♪UPBEAT SYNTH♪]
Confident
Feeling comfortable
Equal
♪Rollin' thunder
Growin' stronger
♪Rollin' thunder
Growin' stronger
♪Rollin' thunder
Growin' stronger
♪Rollin' thunder
Growin' stronger
♪Rollin' thunder
Growin' stronger
♪Rollin' thunder
Growin' stronger
♪Rollin' thunder
Growin' stronger
♪Rollin' thunder♪
[MUSIC FADES]
Movin’ On - Independent Living Film 1995
Movin’ On is a film made in 1995 by one of the projects for young disabled people within Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP). It is about independent living and independent living skills.
The video was made to go alongside a manual for trainers of independent living skills courses for young disabled people aged 15 - 25. It features Alison Blake, the course designer and co-ordinator, talking about what independent living means, the barriers young disabled people face, the value of such courses and peer support. There are also interviews with some of the young disabled people who attended the courses run by GMCDP.
This film has closed captions but no audio description or British Sign Language at present.
Poster: Manchester People First - Women’s Group
About
This poster is advertising a women’s group run by Manchester People First. We are currently unable to date the poster.
Manchester People First is an organisation of and for people with learning difficulties. The Manchester branch was set up in 1992 and runs courses and social events for members and offers training and consultancy.
Catalogue: GB124.G.GMCDP/15/26.
Description
The poster is A2, portrait oriented with a coffee-coloured background.
Most of the right side is a black and white photograph of a young woman wearing a plain t-shirt.
Top left is ‘Women’s Group’ in large black lettering.
Top right has ‘Manchester People First - I Am a Person Not a Label’ in smaller black lettering.
At the bottom left it says ‘For more information contact: Barry Hills or Jodie Deegan, South Manchester People First, Suite A1 South Court, Sharston Rd, M22 4SN Phone 0161 998 0517 Email: southmpf@googlemail.com www.manpf.org’.
Poster: Take Action Now, ‘Go To The Edge’
About
This poster is one of a set of four looking at positive imagery and identity. The set was produced by GMCDP’s Young Disabled People’s Forum around 1998 in both A4 and A2 sizes.
Catalogue: A4 GB124.G.GMCDP/6/52; A2 GB124.G.GMCDP/15/4.
Description
This poster is landscape oriented with a red background.
The main text is dotted around the poster. It is made up of words in black lettering, each separately in a boarder, coloured lilac, yellow or blue. The words say ‘Go to the Edge They Said, We Can’t We Are Afraid, Go to the Edge They Said, We Went, They Pushed, We Flew’.
Along the bottom of the poster, left to right, are the following.
“Take Action Now - Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Tel 0161 273 5154 (voice & minicom).
The GMCDP Logo.
A stick figure drawing of a wheelchair user.
Postcard : Save The Independent Living Fund - 2014
About
In 2014 this postcard was used as part of the ongoing campaign being fought by disabled individuals and organisations to stop the government’s planned closure of the Independent Living Fund. Despite initial victories in the courts, the fund was closed in 2015.
Catalogue: GB124.G.GMCDP/4/38.
Description
This is an A5, landscape oriented double-sided postcard. The front has a blue background, the back white.
Front. At the top, “Support disabled people and their families” is in black writing within a yellow rectangle.
The main section of the postcard says “Save The Independent Living Fund’ in large, black block capitals.
At the bottom of the postcard is another yellow rectangle with “ILF - because we're worth it!”. in black print. At each end of the rectangle is a small wheelchair user symbol holding a placard.
The reverse side of the postcard is white with black print. It is split in half. On the left is the following.
“Dear,
Last year the Court of Appeal ruled that the Government's decision to close the fund was unlawful. On the 6th March 2014 it was announced that ILF would end in June 2015. Disabled people with high support needs will become prisoners in their own homes or forced into institutions as it will be impossible for Local Authorities to maintain equivalent levels of ILF support. Social care funding in England was cut by £991 million in 2011, £890 million in 2012 and local authority budgets are set to be cut by another 28% in 2013/15. The Independent Living Fund is cost effective. It should be kept and re-opened to new applicants.
Yours Sincerely
The right side has the address: MP, House of Commons, London. SW1A OAA
There is space after Dear and before MP for a name to be written.
Bottom right is a black box with the following in white print, “Supported by: DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts), Inclusion London, GMCDP (Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People), Equal Lives, ALLFIE (Alliance for Inclusive Education)”
Postcard: Out Of Place - 2003
About
This postcard promotes the launch of Lois Keith’s book ‘Out of Place’. The book is about a disabled child who fled the Nazi regime on the Kindertransport during the 2nd world war.
‘Out of Place’ was written after Lois Keith won the Sue Napolitano Award for Disabled Writers. The award was launched in July 1999, offering £10,000 for a disabled writer to produce work exploring disability as its main theme.
Description
An A6, landscape oriented, lilac coloured postcard.
The following text appears centred on the card:
Crocus Books
invites you to the launch party of
Out of Place by Lois Keith
with support from the Nasty Girls
on Thursday 19th June, 7.30pm
@ Green Room, 54-56 Whitworth Street, ManchesterM1
Free event BSL interpreted
RSVP
0161 832 3777 or email: cathy@commonword.org.uk
At the bottom of the postcard are 5 small photographs. All but the 4th are shaded in grey. The visible image is a colourised photograph of a young girl. The girls face, hands and background are different shades of yellow, and her jumper and top is two shades of purple/lilac.
Postcard: Young Disabled People Do It Too – 1998
About
This is one of a set of 5 postcards. In 1998 a young disabled people’s project in Chester collaborated with cartoonist Angela Martin to create this series of postcards. They explore and challenge stereotypes about disabled people’s sexuality.
Catalogue: GB124.G.GMCDP/6/47.
Description
A colour, landscape oriented A6 postcard.
“Young Disabled People Do It Too!” in white block capitals is in a green border across the top.
“Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Choices!” is in white print within a green border across the bottom of the postcard.
The rest of the postcard is a cartoon and has a red background. A woman wheelchair user is on the centre of a seesaw.
At each end of the seesaw there is a yellow box with writing on it. The left box says “Gay”, the right says “Straight”. Under the centre of the seesaw is ‘Bisexual’ in a yellow oval.