Disability : a new history. Finding a voice. 5/10.

Radio documentary presented by Peter White entitled 'Finding a voice'. This episode concerns a little known (although successful at the time) 18th century book entitled, 'Essay on deformity' written by the politician William Hay in 1754. Hay was born with a spinal curvature, and delivers a funny, direct, first person narrative. David Turner, of Swansea University, sees it as a landmark publication describing, the experience of living with a physical disability in the 18th century along with personal views on his situation. Naomi Baker, of Manchester University, finds Hay interesting because his essays are full of contradiction. Hay has strong views on diet and exercise and through his own health and well-being counters the arguement of the time that deformity was caused by ill-health and disease. Chris Mounsey, University of Winchester, is interested in the way Hay talks of using and improving the parts of you that work best, including the mind. Hay had a successful career as MP for Seaford in East Sussex, and also published two editions of a political pamphlet about the problem of poverty. Tim Hitchcock, University of Hull, looks at the influence Hay's disability may have had on his life as a politician but found very little relationship between the two, and although he worked on the poor law he was not particularly empathetic towards the poor. Naomi Baker says that he saw himself as a rational character who lived by his mind, defining himself as being educated and civilised. William Hay, is an unusual role model, but Chris Mounsey feels that his work still remains an inspiration for disabled people now.