Free
Body Politic
It's only relatively recently that disabled people began to be seen as a part of, not apart from, the communities where they live and work. This collection shows the slow shift in attitudes, as a more enlightened philosophy of 'care in the community' began gradually to replace the life sentence of being consigned to an institution.
But the unspoken message is still all too often one of gratitude, paternalism and pity. It wasn't until the 1980s that the areas of civic life that most Britons usually take for granted - housing, employment, leisure, travel - became a battleground for the independent living movement, with assertive and articulate disabled activists in the vanguard.
Graham Findlay (disability equality consultant)
Please note: titles in this collection may contain language or other content that reflect views prevalent in their time but that may cause offence today. They are included here for historical reasons and are in no way endorsed by the BFI or its partners.

An Ordinary Life An Ordinary Life
1985 29 mins
“I’d much rather work at a computer than make wicker baskets” – disabled people hit the mainstream in 1980s Britain

Eyes of a Child Eyes of a Child
Government sponsored film 1961 31 mins Location: Dorton Ho (Sch)
Young imaginations run wild at School for Blind Children.

It's a New World It's a New World
Instructional film/TV programme 1977 30 mins
Early attempts at inclusive swimming for disabled people.

Three for Society Three for Society
1969 29 mins
Feisty and free-spirited, three disabled people talk frankly and directly about the barriers they experience in the 1960s

Like Other People Like Other People
Documentary 1972 51 mins
Man Alive! moral panic, sex, and when professionals ruled – life as a disabled couple in 1972

Artificial Limb Making Artificial Limb Making
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
Occupational therapy turns full circle, as amputee soldiers learn to make artificial limbs for others

The Contact The Contact
1963 12 mins
Spot the film and soap stars of the future as John Hurt plays a disabled teenager befriended by some biker boys.

About Women - Disabled Living Foundation About Women - Disabled Living Foundation
Magazine and Review show 1973 7 mins Location: Kensington
Take a look at the creative inventions offered at the Disabled Living Foundation, that provide much needed solutions for independent living.

Adult Training Centre Adult Training Centre
News 1974 4 mins Location: Solihull
The Solihull centre that offered training for an eager workforce traditionally rejected by the world of work.

Back to Normal Back to Normal
Government sponsored film 1944 14 mins Location: Roehampton
Excellent portrait of post-war rehabilitation services for those who lost limbs in the war, imbued with that Blitz spirit

Chairbound Chairbound
1964 10 mins Location: Stoke Mandeville Hospl
Do wheelchairs liberate or constrain? The early years of Stoke Mandeville hospital and the Paralympics.

Theatre of the Deaf Theatre of the Deaf
1972 13 mins
Insightful look at the work of the then-young British Theatre of the Deaf and its founder, Pat Keysell.

Blind Oarsmen Blind Oarsmen
Non-Fiction 1915 1 mins Silent Location: Putney
Putney plays host to rowing races between soldiers who lost their sight during the war and blind students from Worcester College.

Annual Paraplegic Games at Stoke Mandeville Annual Paraplegic Games at Stoke Mandeville
News 1975 8 mins Location: Stoke Mandeville
Founder of the Paralympics, Sir Ludwig Guttman at the International Stoke Mandeville Games in Buckinghamshire in 1975. Anglia TV reports.

About Women - Club 52 About Women - Club 52
Magazine and Review show 1973 8 mins Location: Norwich
Anglia TV report on 'Club 52', a social enterprise founded by Norwich resident Jean Jurak, that offers the housebound a new lease of life.

Royal School for the Deaf, Derby: Sports Day and Outings 1936 Royal School for the Deaf, Derby: Sports Day and Outings 1936
Amateur film 1936 10 mins Silent Location: Skegness
From donkey rides to sports day: a year in the life of the hearing impaired of Derby.

Calderdale Talking Newspaper Calderdale Talking Newspaper
Documentary 1981 6 mins Location: Halifax
Dedicated volunteers from Halifax provide a talking newspaper service for locals on cassettes, strangely not motivated by money.

About Women - Toy Library for handicapped children About Women - Toy Library for handicapped children
Magazine and Review show 1974 8 mins Location: Norwich
Anglia TV visit the Norfolk & Norwich Toy Library where the mums can get-together while the children enjoy much needed time to play.

Inskip Adventure Inskip Adventure
Amateur film 1953 28 mins Silent Location: Heywood
The Inskip League of Friendship tackles social isolation for people with physical disabilities.

Concern Over Safety of Three Wheeled Disability Cars Concern Over Safety of Three Wheeled Disability Cars
News 1975 5 mins Location: Ashwellthorpe
Judy Finnigan reports on the safety of the Invacar, chatting to disability campaigner Douglas Campbell at Ashwellthorpe Hall in Norfolk.

Day in the Life of the School Day in the Life of the School
Amateur film 1970 25 mins Location: Walton-on-Thames
A typical day at Burwood Park, a boarding school for deaf children, features in this film made by two of its pupils, Alan Loft and Michael Chawner

Braille Lesson Braille Lesson
Current affairs 1962 1 mins Silent Location: Torquay
Police Constable learns to read differently.

Desire to Work Desire to Work
Promotional 1981 18 mins
Including disabled people in the workforce through gadgets and aides

Housing for the Disabled Housing for the Disabled
Documentary 1982 26 mins Location: Peckham
A training film, made in Cumbria, Gwent and Peckham Rye, revealing government thinking in the early 1980s

Downham School Opening Downham School Opening
Current affairs 1963 1 mins Silent Location: Plymouth
Downham School opens its doors to deliver a very special education.

Fancy Dress Pageant Fancy Dress Pageant
Current affairs 1976 1 mins Silent Location: Exeter
Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education's perform in a fancy dress pageant.

First disabled racing driver First disabled racing driver
News 1980 5 mins Location: Silverstone
At Silverstone, the home of British Motor Sports, disabled driver Martin Sharpe warms up 'Big Sam', a Datsun 240Z, ready for a big race.

Hereward College Hereward College
News 1972 8 mins Location: Tile Hill
The opening of Hereward College in 1971 represented a major advance in access to education for young disabled people.

Disabled Horse Riding Disabled Horse Riding
News 1968 5 mins Location: Stoneleigh
A group of children with disabilities enjoy a day in the saddle.

A Centre is Made A Centre is Made
Amateur film 1956 33 mins Location: Oldham
Disabled people working in the community in Oldham.

The Silence of the Sound The Silence of the Sound
Current affairs 1983 5 mins Location: Plymouth
Signed instruction opens up a world of activities for deaf children at Drake's Island Adventure Centre in Plymouth Sound.

New Ways at Northgate New Ways at Northgate
Documentary 1969 35 mins
From the socially dead to community care – a case study in re-humanising disabled people

Not Just a Spectator Not Just a Spectator
Documentary 1974 35 mins
Before we were the Superhumans: a genteel look at disabled people at sport and leisure in the 1970s

Off to Work They Go Off to Work They Go
Promotional 1973 13 mins
See how Janet and Tony cope with the challenge of communicating with their hearing colleagues as the young adults enter the world of work


A Place in Scouting A Place in Scouting
Promotional 1966 29 mins Location: Potters Bar
One of the Troop - awkward attempts at including disabled young people in Scouting in the Sixties

Probe - Alf Morris announces the recalling of the Invacar Probe - Alf Morris announces the recalling of the Invacar
News 1976 12 mins Location: Northampton
Alf Morris, Minister for the Disabled explains why use of the Invacar is to be phased out, to the dismay of some disabled drivers.

Invalid Carriage Invalid Carriage
News 1976 6 mins
The 'invalid carriage': a vital mobility aid or a death trap on three wheels?

Invalid Carriage Protest Invalid Carriage Protest
News 1977 2 mins Location: Solihull
Disabled motorists take on the Government and corner a Minister in the process.

Return to Action Return to Action
Documentary 1947 19 mins Location: Egham
Bricklayers, lawyers, teachers – disabled men and women are encouraged to retrain for new jobs

Prince Charles Meets Disabled Drivers Prince Charles Meets Disabled Drivers
News 1981 3 mins Location: Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit, home of British Motor Sports host an event for disabled drivers, with Prince Charles taking a turn on the assault course.

Poppies of Flanders Poppies of Flanders
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Richmond
A one-armed soldier is among those shown diligently manufacturing poppies on the 10th anniversary of Armistice Day at a factory in Richmond.

So We're Different but ... So We're Different but ...
Documentary 1976 31 mins Location: Coventry
Teachers and pupils of 3 schools in Trafford, Stevenage and Coventry make the case for the acceptance of difference without discrimination.

Sir Douglas Bader launches employment scheme for disabled Sir Douglas Bader launches employment scheme for disabled
News 1980 2 mins Location: Chelmsford
“Disabled workers are good workers”. Sir Douglas Bader visits a Chelmsford Job Centre to launch his new “Fit for Work” scheme for the disabled.

St Loye's College in Exeter St Loye's College in Exeter
Current affairs 1962 3 mins Location: Exeter
St Loye's College shows its enabling training courses on offer.

Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Disabled Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Disabled
Amateur film 1967 19 mins Silent Location: Stoke Mandeville
Rare home movie capturing sporting action in 1967 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, birthplace of the Paralympics.

They're only Human Beings Like Everybody Else They're only Human Beings Like Everybody Else
Current affairs 1970 28 mins
“A Magna Carta for disabled people” – the ground-breaking 1970 legislation that transformed lives.

Thorpe: Moving House Thorpe: Moving House
Home movie 1960 6 mins Silent Location: Wolvey
A new home and a new beginning - disabled filmmaker John Thorpe records his own house move.

Training Centre for the Disabled in St Austell Training Centre for the Disabled in St Austell
Current affairs 1963 1 mins Silent Location: St Austell
Visitors look around a new training centre for the disabled in St Austell.

Trigger Films on Mental Health Trigger Films on Mental Health
Documentary 1977 17 mins
Watch out for the early use of fishing as Mindfulness in this slow-paced reflection on mental health.

A Trip to Windermere A Trip to Windermere
Amateur film 1975 4 mins Silent Location: Windermere
A pleasure boat trip for a group from the Merseyside Society for Deaf People.

Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Access
Magazine and Review show 1981 7 mins Location: Selly Oak
From Selly Oak to Birmingham's Head Post Office in a wheelchair - how hard could it be?

With Your Assistance With Your Assistance
Amateur film 1955 21 mins Silent Location: Fulham
Broken clocks, basket-weaving and compulsory cheeriness – a glimpse into how disabled servicemen were prepared for civilian life in the 1950s

Work at St. Dunstan's Work at St. Dunstan's
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent Location: Regent's Park
Activities at St. Dunstan’s hostel for blind soldiers in Regent’s Park.

Plans for Living Plans for Living
Amateur film 1966 22 mins
The Pinner Cine Society looks at the work of Northwood's welfare services.