Books on Disability in the 1950s???

MarcusH · July 2020

Hi

I'd be grateful for help with some background research. I write novels set in the 1950s, and in my next book there'll be a character with cerebral palsy.

Years ago I used to work for Scope, (during the name change) so hopefully I'll know to avoid some of the common pitfalls. However, I do need books that describe the day-to-day experience of people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities – books that reflect the prevailing attitudes and language in the 1940s, 50s or 60s. I'd really appreciate any recommendations.

M

janer1967 · July 2020

Hi and welcome to the community,

Have you looked at our CP section or parents of children with disabilities. It may give you an idea of other members who can help

@Richard_Scope may be able to help here

Richard_Scope · July 2020

Thanks @janer1967, Hi @MarcusH here are some links that may help:
http://enablemagazine.co.uk/best-books-writers-disabilities/
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/A_History_of_Disability.html?id=DxLlLsBanUYC
https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/disability-history/1945-to-the-present-day/
and a fantastic blog on the history of Cerebral Palsy:
https://teresahillier181865019.wordpress.com/

MarcusH · August 2020

Many (belated) thanks @janer1967 and @Richard_Scope much appreciated. I think the Disability Voices material is going to be especially useful – and I've downloaded the transcripts.

Cheers

Richard_Scope · August 2020

Anytime @MarcusH
Anything else we can do to help please let us know.

chiarieds · August 2020

Hi @MarcusH - I can certainly recommend 'My Left Foot' by Christy Brown in the first link Richard gave above. I've also read 'The Diving Bell & the Butterfly,' also very good, but not about cerebral palsy.

I don't know if the following fictional book may be of some use to you, but I found it incredibly emotive. It's written by William Horwood whose daughter had cerebral palsy, as do the main characters in this book. 'Skallagrig' was written in 1987, & the story starts in 1927 illustrating the life of a boy left in a grim Victorian northern England hospital for decades. His story is interwoven with that of Esther, a 17 year old girl with CP in 1982. I shouldn't have picked it up, as I feel like reading it again (for the 3rd time).

It might be difficult to get a decent paperback copy for less than £15 however, unless your library can locate a copy. I would say it's a must for anyone interested in how CP (& other disabilities) have been viewed over nearly 60 years; a social history with great insight.

TeresaH · August 2020

HI everyone, some great recommendations! @MarcusH I have also found a dramatisation of 'Skallagrig' online via YouTube. It is still out there. Alan Counsell's book So clear in my mind - a great personal memoir. Sue Wheatcroft's book Worth Saving: Disabled children during the Second World War - this is no specifically about cerebral palsy but a good book for background reading and social commentary. Recommend Speaking for Ourselves oral history collection https://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history/Disability-Voices (select cerebral palsy). I could go on ..... I am going to start adding to the Resources page of my blog (mentioned above by Richard) but have been a bit short on time lately. If you check periodically there may be something there which might prove useful!

Richard_Scope · August 2020

Hi @TeresaH
I have been following your blog, it is excellent! A very warm welcome the community. Really great to have you with us.

TeresaH · August 2020

Thank you! @Richard_Scope

MarcusH · August 2020

Hi @TeresaH Thanks for your suggestions. The Disability Voices material is especially useful. Also thinking of the experience of parents, do you have interviews with them? As part of your Longfields project for instance?

TeresaH · August 2020

@MarcusH Yes I do have some interviews with some parents but not many. I am in the process of preparing the interviews and transcripts for deposit in local archive. Happy to discuss some of the 'common themes' with you that arose but maybe over an email or telephone call instead? Thinking about confidentiality!

Cher_Alumni · August 2020

Username_removed said:

Check out the resources within the University of Leeds. The recently retired Colin Barnes will be a huge help. His writing triggered the DDA.

Just to back up what @Username_removed suggested, here is a direct link to many, many disability publications in the Critical Disability Studies archive at the University of Leeds https://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/library/ I have drawn heavily on this work during my time at university and it was a massive help.

Good luck with your novel @MarcusH - let us know how it goes!

Books on Disability in the 1950s???

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