Disability: A New History

Disabled children are everywhere in popular fiction - Tiny Tim, What Katy Did, The Secret Garden. But what about the real children of the 19th century? What were their lives like, and where can we hear their voices? In this 9th programme in the series, Peter White searches for documents which reveal the reality of children's lives.He discovers new research into the history of the Brave Poor Things, a charity which set out to 'save' disabled children across the country through organised games, outings, and a Guild song:'A trouble's a ton, A trouble's an ounce A trouble is what you make it. And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts But only how did you take it.'The literature of the Brave Poor Things includes quotes from children - like this girl:'O! I am so glad to be a cripple!' said a happy-faced girl one day when away in the country. 'Glad?' questioned someone. What DO you mean? And she answered, 'I can't help being glad. It is so beautiful to belong to the Guild, and I couldn't unless I had lost m