Victoria Waddington
Standing Around in Toilets with men for money
Joe Bidder interviews Victoria Waddington as part of a series of profiles looking at the lives of leading figures within the Disability Arts movement
Victoria Waddington. Photo by Viv Lewis
Within a single generation we have witnessed a massive transformation of Britain's built environment, a transformation largely brought about by the disabled people's movement, of which Victoria Waddington has been a pivotal figure.
Waddington, born in Newcastle in 1948, is undoubtedly one of the UK's leading access consultants, operating through her company, Victoria Waddington Associates. Her client list is extensive: comprising theatres, galleries, cinemas, museums, civic buildings, arts centres, colleges, universities, offices, hotels and private homes throughout the country.
Waddington gained a degree in textiles at Manchester College of Art. Graduating in 1970, she was employed, initially, as a designer in the fashion industry, working for Ben Sherman Shirts, then as a manager for Asylum Models which served the film industry. In 1983, when living in London, she was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis but continued to work, grappling with access difficulties and discrimination as her symptoms progressed.
In 1987 she changed her life and became deeply in involved with the disabled people's movement. Employment as Press Officer for London Dial-a-Ride Users Association and then as Development Worker for Lambeth Centre for Independent Living brought her into everyday contact with hundreds of disabled people. She became an activist with several campaigning groups notably the Campaign for Accessible Transport (CAT) where she coordinated press and publicity.
In May 1990 Waddington with her partner, Allan Sutherland, organised the press for Campaign to Stop Patronage, a demonstration against ITV's Telethon by 200 disabled people which, in time, eventually led to the demise of Telethon.
On Saturday 15 September 1990 CAT organised a famous demonstration in London's Oxford Street when hundreds of disabled people blockaded the street. 16 disabled protesters were arrested, including Waddington, who recalls proudly “It was one of the best days in my life” adding triumphantly “I was carried in my wheelchair up the steps of Marlborough Street Magistrates' Court!” The event received widespread media coverage which forced the authorities to drop obstruction charges.
Also in 1990, Waddington founded All Clear Designs jointly with James Holmes-Siedle. Its mission to provide access consultancy. Its first contract was an Access Audit of BBC Television Centre. This was followed by an audit of Arts Council's head office in Westminster where Waddington forged a productive working relationship with Wendy Harpe, Arts Council's Head of Disability.
Eventually Arts Council made significant changes to its building and operations: it became a role model for the arts because thousands of arts leaders pass through its doors every year. The revolution had begun.
By 1993 Waddington had founded Victoria Waddington Associates, employing a team of specialists, taking on a variety of access consultancies particularly those funded by Lottery Programmes. She also organised training programmes and became a noted journalist in the access field.
“It's amazing how much of an access consultant's work is involved in checking out the loos” she says, laughing, which is how she came to coin the apt description for her work - Standing Around in Toilets with Men for Money.
For the full length feature profile, please go to next page.
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last updated: 2007-08-26 17:50:43
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tags : professional development interview_profile accessibility womens issues