The University marks 50 years of disabled people’s rights

2020 marks 50 years since a landmark piece of legislation: The Chronically Sick and Disabled Person’s Act 1970.

The first ever disability rights legislation in the world, it was pioneered by Alf Morris, MP for Manchester Wythenshawe and later Lord Morris of Manchester, and recipient of an honorary doctorate from The University of Manchester. Informally known as the “Magna Carta” for disabled people, or more affectionately as ‘Alf’s Act’, it was truly groundbreaking. Until it was passed, disabled people were often locked away in institutions, not educated alongside others, rarely regarded as having the potential to live independent lives and having no rights or support to do so.

Following an initial approach by the Morris family to The University’s Disabled Staff Network, we partnered with Manchester Histories, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, North West TUC, Manchester Metropolitan University and others to produce the “Celebrating Alf’s Act – 50 Years of Disabled People’s Rights”, an online festival under the Manchester Histories banner.

Our themes were ‘celebrate, challenge, learn’ and following a call out to individuals and groups in Greater Manchester and beyond, a wonderful montage of disabled people’s lives, histories, contributions, political struggles, and joyous creativity were presented.

The accessible live broadcasts and the in-depth pieces and gallery are still available on the Manchester Histories website with many contributions from University’s disabled staff and students and our research nationally and internationally being featured.

DigiFest was free and open to all. It raised the profile of the ongoing struggles for disabled people’s rights. It celebrated the diversity of disabled people’s contributions to making society better for everyone. It highlighted what is to be learned from the past 50 years of disabled people’s rights and showcased the future in the rich mix of rights still to be won, creative avenues still to be explored, and the inclusive and accessible communities still to be fully realised.