Hi everyone
Sorry about my verbosity of late but have to tell you about this because it relates to the discussion about the BBC. At a certain graduation at a certain University earlier this year, the guest speaker was the head (I think) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission in Australia (HREOC). This man is blind. His speech was the most marvellous speech that I have heard at such an assembly. He refused to go onto the stage because it only had stairs (no ramp) so positioned himself down with the graduating students and talked to them about his refusal to walk up the stairs as an act of alliance for all people with disabilities. He expressed his disappointment about the University (his own alma mater) and its inconsideration. He was able to go on to talk about how important it is for these graduates to be vigilent about access in particular. He was quite tactful but WOW! did the students get a great lesson. He received the biggest ovation I have seen at such an event. Graduates and families loved it. The people up on stage (except for a few of us) didn't enjoy it and were quite red-faced: the Chancellor, Deans and other dignitaries. The people who invited him to speak were wrapped on the knuckles for it. He was not thanked for his speech. But we have it all on video.
Best regards
Laurence Bathurst
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