Liberation 75 and Human Rights in Jersey 2020 - Disability Discrimination and Gill Curtis MBE

I bumped into Gill Curtis today.
That's not unusual because I see her and hear her words all the time - although she died in 2008.

Gill was of course an artist with vision who worked for the Jersey Pottery for years - but I knew her mostly because of her campaigning for equality and how she saw the unfairnesses of discrimination - most especially from the perspective of disability.
Sadly, I have no recording of her speaking although I would expect the BBC or CTV to have something in their archives but I am provoked by her memory into action whenever I encounter "poor design."

So today I encountered some aspects of poor design that she would have campaigned against - yet they are still commonplace today.

Many people will dismiss these observations as trivial but I try to remind people that we all start life as helpless babies needing everything to be done for us and many of us experience vulnerability again - personally or otherwise - as we make this curious journey towards mortality.

Gill helped me with the Liberation 50 Human Rights seminars 25 years ago and its so sad that she is not here today to help organise something similar for Liberation 75.
Maybe this will provoke others to volunteer.

Here follows a few words about Gill Curtis and her major work in Jersey which sadly remains unfinished.

Anybody who would like to record a video interview or wants more information about a possible Liberation 75 Human Rights Project can contact me Mike Dun by PM on Facebook or tel Jersey 862929

Guernsey leading on disability issues and so much more....?

Shelaine Green of the Guernsey Disability Alliance is interviewed here about some very positive progress regarding disability matters in Guernsey which make Jersey's achievements look somewhat meagre.

Shelaine is not so critical of Jersey but the simple fact is that Guernsey now has;

An elected representative in the States chosen by public election as the champion for disability issues - currently Deputy Gollop (see previous blog posting).

A dedicated civil servant for disability issues on a 5 years contract.

An agreed comprehensive Disability Strategy - which includes international obligations - to be submitted to the States for approval in May.

Shelaine Green came to the Disaibility Alliance via Headway Guernsey and the Disibility Forum.
The Alliance represents 34 different disability charities of all sorts plus individuals. It aims to speak with one voice to the States.

Show me anything remotely similar in Jersey and I will eat my hat.

Please come back Gill Curtis MBE - Jersey needs you.

Will any Jersey States member  volunteer to be the champion for disabled people here?
Form a queue please....