'BD8/The Blind Set'

Copyright: BBC

The tapes have been arranged as follows:
sequence of actuality recordings made on 5 inch tape and arranged according to the numbers on the original boxes (MS 4000/6/1/54/1-168)
clips and assemblies (MS 4000/6/1/54/169-175)
versions of 'The Blind Set' broadcast programme (MS 4000/6/1/54/176-187)

MS 4000/6/1/54/188-189 comprises recordings of a meeting held by an unidentified blind welfare group in February 1968, some months before the broadcast of 'The Blind Set'. The purpose of these recordings are unclear, but those attending the meeting discuss Charles Parker and his work on 'BD8' and 'The Blind Set', and it is obviously associated with these projects in some way.
MS 4000/6/1/54/190 comprises a recorded plea by Harvey Morris, for radio programme on visual impairment, and contains suggestions for the themes Charles Parker might focus on. It is likely that Parker used this recording in his research for 'BD8' and 'The Blind Set'

See MS 4000/2/124A and MS 4000/2/124B for related paper files including tape transcripts, research notes, papers and information booklets, production, post-production and post-transmission correspondence and papers, scripts and music for 'BD8'; and dub actuality draft and broadcast scripts, notes, production, post production and post transmission correspondence, newscuttings for 'The Blind Set'

'BD8' was broadcast on BBC1 television channel in 1967. The project consisted of two documentary films by Philip Donellan and Charles Parker about provision for education and care for blind people in the U.K, the experiences of blind people, and the attitudes of sighted society towards them. 'BD8' is the guideline for the certification of visual impairment. The programmes proved very controversial with blind listeners. The script and soundtrack was by Charles Parker, based on recordings in Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Sheffield, and Torquay. The two programmes are named:

/1 The Enclosed World of the Blind./2 The Independence of the Blind.

'The Blind Set: An Encounter with Prejudice' was a 60 minute radio programme, broadcast on BBC Midlands Radio 4 on 9 October 1968 on the themes of 'BD8' (MS 4000/2/124A), highlighting how much further advanced research in the USA was, particularly in training people to use the mobility aid known as the 'long cane', and comparing prejudice towards blind people with prejudice towards other minority groups, and discussing similarities between racial discrimination and discrimination of people with disabilities. This programme produced strong criticism of both form and content. It was compiled and introduced by Charles Parker, and incorporated readings and songs from literature and folklore, performed by Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, Frankie Armstrong, Pam Bishop, Fred Grindrod and John Harris. It was edited by Irene Bailey.