World Radio

In October 2004, Nicky Chapman became the first person with a congenital disability to be appointed to the House of Lords under the People's Peers initiative. Her maiden speech caused a storm in the Upper House, when she condemned the Government's Mental Capacity Bill because "if this Bill had been passed 43 years ago, I would not be here".

It is difficult to imagine that when she was born with brittle bone disease, doctors feared that her disability would limit her existence to such a degree that her life would not be worth living. She is 2 feet 9" tall, and is the only peer living on income support (£128.42 per week).

(from No Triumph No Tragedy, BBC Radio 4)

// posted by DXer @ 2:51 PM