Social Security Policy and the Early Disability Movement—Expertise, Disability, and the Government, 1965–77. (1st October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Millward, Gareth
• Is Part Of: Twentieth century British history. Volume 26:Number 2(2015)
• Page Start: 274
• Page End: 297
• Publication Date: 2014-10-01
• Subjects: Great Britain -- History -- 20th century -- Periodicals; History -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 941.08205
• DOI: 10.1093/tcbh/hwu048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2359

Abstract

Abstract : In 1965, the Disablement Income Group launched its National Disability Income campaign to fight for equal treatment of disabled people in the British social security system. By 1977, a series of benefits were created to cover the general population. Yet, despite the obvious political significance of these developments, very little research has focused on the early pan-impairment disability non-governmental organization (NGO). Existing scholarship has come from one of two traditions: the 'poverty lobby' and NGO histories that focus on expert campaign groups; and disability studies which describes a teleological narrative of the development of disabled people's attempts to secure civil rights. This article contends that neither approach is satisfactory. The crossovers between these two historical approaches are necessary to understand how these groups operated and to appreciate their political significance. Using the archives of the Disablement Income Group, the Disability Alliance and the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, this article shows that the history of these NGOs is more nuanced than previously described. Similarly, the novelty and growing power of civil rights and poverty lobby campaigning should not be overstated. Through a specific analysis of the lobby in its social and political context, historians can find a clearer picture of how these groups operated and better analyse their significance.