Vic learnt the reality of discrimination in South Africa, where he was born and where he spent time in prison for his anti-apartheid activities. Expelled from South Africa, he came to England in 1968 and very soon joined up with other disability activists and thinkers in the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation. With this inspiring and feisty group of people, Vic formulated and articulated the social model of disability. Importantly he recognised the importance of disabled people coming together to struggle – as black people had in South Africa – against the discrimination rife in society.
Understanding the importance of disabled people coming together led Vic to go to RI Congress held in Winnipeg, Canada in 1981, where Disabled Peoples’ International was born. Vic and others then came back to the UK and set up the British Council of Disabled People (now UKDPC), with seven other national organisations of disabled people. This initial membership soon burgeoned to also include local and regional DPOs.
Learning from the experience of others around the world, Vic also espoused the Independent Living movement and was a pioneer of the disability arts movement in the UK.
His career has been as a disability researcher and academic, so luckily we have a good record of his thoughts and ideas. For these thoughts and ideas, and for his pioneering activities he will long be remembered. UKDPC owe him everything. We honour him.
