Interviewer: Aaron Creese Interviewee: David Mendelsoln
Introductions
Aaron (00:00:00):
Hello. Welcome to today’s interview with David. Hi, David.
David (00:00:05):
Hi there.
Driving the minibus
Aaron (00:00:07):
All right. So today we’re going to be talking about your time as a bus driver during all
of the movements back in the day. So take it away then, David.
David (00:00:23):
Yes. Thank you. Well, yeah. It’s the bus driver memories, and also there’s another
occasion which I can also tell you about. As a bus driver, I was involved, as a support
person in Avon Coalition of Disabled People back from about 1991. I
attended some of the meetings with other facilitators and Disabled people who were
actively involved in the organization.
David (00:01:03):
Then I think it was in probably summer or warmer seasons of 1991, that I was asked
to drive a minibus, and I ended up with 30 people and we drove to London for a
demo. I can’t entirely remember the theme of the demo, but there were a lot of Disabled
people there, and obviously there were a lot of discussions. And I think Disabled people
were very keen for improvements to legislation, given the challenge of what was then the
dominant policy or attitude around able-bodied people, challenging the medical model of Disability and trying to promote a more holistic [inaudible 00:02:02].
David (00:02:02):
That was an interesting thing and I enjoyed driving the minibus, it was a challenge in
the London traffic, but I managed it okay, and we had a good time there, lots of
people there, lots of discussions, lots of banners and music and promoting … really
challenging government policy at that time.
Children in Need direct action
David (00:02:28):
Then the other occasion I wanted to mention, which I think was really quite amazing,
really, and that was again in 1991. Again, I was involved with Avon Coalition of Disabled People, and there were people, decided they wanted to challenge, again, the
[inaudible 00:02:52] that was very prevalent with the BBC and Children in Need, which [inaudible 00:03:03] stereotype young Disabled people in a very, very
negative and inappropriate way.
David (00:03:14):
With what decided to do, we just decided to go to the event, which … There was a sort
of pre-launch event on Whiteladies Road in Bristol. They were marching
outside the studio centre in Bristol, [inaudible 00:03:36] and we mingled, we
were able to get to the marquee and we looked around. Well, I think the decision was
made, probably prior to attending, that then people would block the road, so we… again,
I was there in a support role. And they decided to lock arms and block Whiteladies Road and put up banners challenging the [inaudible 00:03:53] approach that Children in Need had towards Disabled people. And again, obviously, it got [inaudible 00:03:53]
and we were there for a good few minutes. [inaudible 00:03:57] and the cavalry were
mustered which, I think we got that [inaudible 00:03:57] because [inaudible 00:03:57]
explain why we were there and probably [inaudible 00:03:57] made a good impact to
challenge that [inaudible 00:03:57] at the time. [inaudible 00:03:57]
Aaron (00:03:56):
So, what was your most memorable moment throughout your career?
David (00:05:13):
[inaudible 00:05:13] I can’t really, obviously it’s a long time ago. And I do remember
[inaudible 00:05:20] we were in a depression. Well I was, I think, [inaudible 00:05:42]
revelation about talking with Disabled people and learning their stories. And I think
one of the things that came out of it all was that I realized that I was a Disabled
person as well. So that was quite big too. Because I was admitting that my [inaudible
00:06:01] couldn’t be seen as a Disability that limited me in that way that I communicate
with society. And I think with Avon Coalition of Disabled People, it opened up a
new door, a new way to see myself. And I think that was [inaudible 00:06:24] enriched my
identity. It made me more empathetic and more [inaudible 00:06:34] I identified with
people in this community of Disabled people.
Aaron (00:06:45):
All right. Thanks. Thanks so much, David.