The world does not know what it is missing

It is with a shared sadness that I repeat this email that was distributed to the disability studies list by Colin Barnes (professor of Disability Studies at Leeds University) today.

"Dear All

It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Vic Finkelstein, arguably the most important figure in the history of the ongoing struggle for meaningful equality for disabled people both in Britain and the rest of the world.

As a disabled activist and writer since the 1960s in South Africa and Britain, Vic’s   contribution to our understanding of the oppression of disabled people is unprecedented. In many respects we are all living in Vic’s shadow..

Vic was admitted to Stoke Mandeville hospital on Monday with pneumonia and died peacefully yesterday evening with his immediate family around him (30/11/2011).

On behalf of everyone here at CDS (Centre for Disability Studies) at Leeds may we express our deepest condolences to his daughters Anna and Rebecca. "

There is nothing on Google news about this, indeed the passing of the truly great goes without the faux celebration that the nonentities of this world are showered with. The titled and the rich get their sycophantic obituary pages in the broadsheets. People you have never heard of get knighthoods and silly awards simply because they did the job they were paid to do and were lucky enough to do it in a world of privilege we can only watch and throw up at. Vic did more, he is truly the inspiration for a movement.

We who are aware of Vic's legacy will not forget and we will continue to change the world in order to bring justice to all the "dis enabled."