Disability History Month marked by double film screening

The Centre for Health and Social Care Law recently joined with Cardiff sciSCREEN to hold two film screenings for Disability History Month (22nd November to 22nd December 2016).

Cardiff sciSCREEN brings together academic and other expertise to discuss themes and issues raised by contemporary cinema. The showings of Untouchable and Marvellous were followed by panel discussions and debates on the films.

Untouchable, shown on 22 November, is based on the true story of a wealthy employer with tetraplegia and his personal assistant – a young immigrant living on one of Paris’ social housing estates while Marvellous, shown on 5 December, follows the true story of Neil Baldwin – a man who was once labelled with learning difficulties.

Each screening was followed by a panel discussion in which disabled people shared their experiences with the audience alongside Cardiff University academics and representatives from organisations that work with disabled people. Local comedian Ted Shiress talked about his experience of cerebral palsy after Untouchable and Ben Lewis, a learning disabled person, spoke about his personal experiences which included reaching base camp at Everest, following the screening of Marvellous.

The events covered topics from developments in technology-based rehabilitation, facilitating routes to employment, to disabled people’s legal rights.

The inclusion of disabled presenters at both events created a particular perspective for the audience, many of whom had not before heard disabled people speak about their own experiences, or issues around disability.

Both events were fully accessible. The films were subtitled, and were held in the Lecture Theatre of the Hadyn Ellis Building, which has dedicated spaces for wheelchair users and an induction loop system. Speakers and audience members were able to request particular adjustments. One presenter was accompanied by British Sign Language interpreters.

The events were the result of a grant awarded to Dr Amy Baldwin by the Wellcome Trust ISSF scheme, co-funded by the Wellcome Trust and the University’s College of Biomedical and Life Sciences. The Centre for Health and Social Care Law would like to thank Cardiff sciSCREEN for organising and hosting the events. The film ‘Marvellous’ was screened courtesy of Fifty Fathoms and Tiger Aspect Productions.

For further information about the Centre of Health and Social Care Law please visit their website.