The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
Spina Bifida
Living with Spina Bifida: two survivors who have overcome being labelled "doomed to die" by doctors.
From the collection of:
Overview
Both Elizabeth Shields from Sutton Coldfield and David Carthy from Bromsgrove were living and working with Spina Bifida when they were filmed by ATV in 1981. Complex questions about life, death and even their right to exist are broached with delicacy by reporter Wendy Nelson. Nevertheless, continuous pain and their awareness of their own potentially shortened lifespan create pressures that extend well beyond the experiences of able-bodied viewers.
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