The History Hour

The Americans with Disabilities Act and the invention of GPS


Listen Later

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

We find out about the landmark protest in 1990 when wheelchair users crawled up the steps of the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, campaigning for disability rights.

Our expert is Dr Maria Orchard, law lecturer at the University of Leeds, who has carried out research into disability and inclusion.

We hear about the 2015 attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunisia's capital, in which 22 tourists were killed.

Next, the Gambian woman who in 1997 began making bags and purses out of old discarded plastic and is now globally recognised as Africa's Queen of Recycling.

The South African musical King Kong which opened to critical acclaim in 1959 and whose all-black cast defied apartheid.

Finally, the invention of the Global Positioning System - GPS - in the late 1970s, which now keeps aircraft in the sky and supports banking transactions.

Contributors:

Anita Cameron - disability rights campaigner

Dr Maria Orchard - lecturer in law at the University of Leeds
Hamadi Ben Abdesslem - tour guide
Isatou Ceesay - environmental campaigner
Nelson Mandela - former President of South Africa
Marian Matshikiza - daughter of Todd Matshikiza, jazz pianist and composer
Professor Brad Parkinson - chief architect of GPS

(Photo: 8 year-old Jennifer Keelan crawls up the steps of the US Capitol, 12 March 1990. Credit: AP/Jeff Markowitz)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The History HourBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

556 ratings


More shows like The History Hour

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,613 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

378 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,050 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,478 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,802 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,202 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

959 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,884 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,759 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,035 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,088 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

484 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

355 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

589 Listeners

The Forum by BBC World Service

The Forum

267 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,803 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

975 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

413 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

745 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

337 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,150 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,002 Listeners