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Jill Parkinson throws her fortnightly pack of punches
Moving goalposts
The news that there is to be "one unified body" dealing with
various aspects of discrimination fills me with despair.
The move, trumpeted by Minister Barbara Roche, was described as "the
most significant in the last 25 years". But it should be treated
by all disabled people with distrust and cynicism.
Most of the groups to be pulled into this unified body have laws on their
side with movers and shakers upholding these rights on their behalf.
Now let's see; which group will be at the back of the queue in this new
all-singing and-all-dancing quango? Yes, you've guessed it! Disabled people...
Don't hold your breath
So, the broadcasting big-wigs have promised that they will endeavour to
represent disabled people in television.
We are "on the verge of real change", according to top dogs
at the BBC, BSkyB and Channel 4.
"Verge": now there's an interesting word. It can mean a couple
of things; a lump of do-nothing grass by the side of a road, or an exciting
breakthrough.
But when the moguls start talking in terms of "Action plans",
"Targets" and "Policies", I'd forget the excitement
and opt for getting your lawn-mowers out!
Let us take just one program from the BBC's repertoire; EastEnders, their
flagship, pride and joy. This is beamed, into our homes ad nauseum. It
is meant to reflect the diversity of Britain yet in truth, practically
all of the "characters" are unattractive dullards you'd rather
not have the misfortune to meet.
It seems like it is fine and dandy to see these types on television but
not disabled people. Why not?
There are some fantastic disabled people in our society, with personality-plus,
yet they continue to be sidelined: left on the verge.
Euro-United
Did you watch The Eurovison?I did and I love it. It is naff enough to
be positively compulsory.
Little itty-bitty Estonia should be mightily proud. They did a superb
job of hosting the competition.
Some of the bigger European countries were sniffily predicting that Estonia
was too small to handle the event. But they did a grand job and provided
the first truly inclusive Eurovision contest.
They had singers of all ethnic backgrounds, a trio of warbling transvestites
and a disabled chanteuse.
The top honours though should go to the set designer. It was a spectacular
set with not one prohibitive staircase in sight; only stylish, practical
ramps. A message for all those British television set designers - let
Estonia show you the way!
And finally
Have you been watching Channel Four's excellent The Book Group? Sadly
the first series has finished but it certainly deserves a second.
Kenny, one of its central characters, was a wheelchair-user, played by
an able-bodied actor. You might remember him from the Scots cereal advert;
the handsome hunk with the alarmingly restless kilt?
I did not have a problem with the casting because the research, writing
and acting were first-class.
I would suggest that you do not have to be disabled to portray disability
sensitively, factually and with humour - you just have to do it damn well.
Posted: 31 May, 2002
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