Jack Ashley

Jack Ashley, Lord Ashley of Stoke CH PC, has spent half his life campaigning for the rights and better treatment of deaf and disabled people. First as a Member of Parliament (MP) and now as a Peer, Jack’s work, over more than 40 years, has made huge strides toward achieving a society in which deaf and deafblind people have full access.

Elected as the MP for Stoke-on-Trent, Jack entered parliament in 1966 and shortly afterwards lost his hearing following a routine operation that went wrong. After initially fearing he would have to give up politics, he decided to learn to lip read and established himself as an MP who was forceful and outspoken. Jack became famous as an advocate for deaf and disabled people’s rights. His Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill, presented in 1983, was the first piece of anti-discrimination legislation presented to the UK Parliament. As a private members’ bill, without the support of the government it fell. Jack didn’t give up. There were to be ten further attempts before the government accepted that these issues must be dealt with and brought in the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995. Throughout his career as an MP Jack was supported in his work by his devoted wife Pauline.

In 1985 Jack and Pauline founded Deafness Research UK, a medical charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. In 1994 a year after a successful operation to fit a cochlear implant, Jack ended his 26 year career as an MP and became a life peer. He has campaigned more vigorously for deaf and disabled people’s rights since his elevation to the Lords. His work has made sure the rights of deaf and disabled people are a constant presence in the minds of those who write our laws. The 2005 update of the Disability Discrimination Act was the government response to the Disability Discrimination (Amendment) Bill Jack introduced.

Jack has written several books on deaf related issues. In his autobiography, Acts of Defiance, Jack describes his generation’s attitude to disabled people as “casual indifference slightly tinged with pity – but bordering on neglect”. Now 87 with more than 40 years campaigning to his name, Jack continues to be a vigorous and effective champion for deaf and disabled people.

Read about the other JMR Award shortlisted nominees.