Now on Bbc News ahead of the paralympics injapan, the bbc� s Disability Correspondent introduces us to five people who have experienced important moments in the history of disability. Hello, im nikki fox. Thanks forjoining me at the Queen Elizabeth olympic park here in london ahead of the summer 2020 Paralympic Games. In this Special Edition of Witness History, were looking back at some important moments in the recent history of disability and sport. Coming up a medallist who competed at the first Paralympic Games. Well hear about the Special Olympics for those with Learning Disabilities. Away from sport, well find out why students at Americas Deaf only university shut down their campus. Plus, well hear about the specially designed carfor disabled people that was both terrifying and exhilarating. But first, when Sports Enthusiast Van phillips lost his leg during an accident, he became immediately frustrated by the Clumsy Prosthetics on offer. Determined to run again, he went on to invent the first Carbon Graphite prosthetic running leg in 1984. It has since simply become known as � the blade�. When you lose a body part, its different from any other experience because its gone. Itsjust gone. That was the hardest part, knowing that it was irreversible. I had my accident in the spring of 1976, and i was 21, and winter had just broke and it was now time for spring water skiing. Id just taken a big cut to the left and the boat quit. So then all of a sudden over my right shoulder, i turn around and another boat came right at me and so the odds are that my ankle� s that wide, thats what it hit, the propeller. Had i not had a wetsuit on, i would have bled out, there was just no way major arteries were cut. But my knee was bent, the wetsuit was tight. Itjust stopped the blood flow. They put a cast on your stump and then on the bottom was a pink Rubber Foot and so im sitting there looking at my pink foot and you just feel like your life is gone. Archive their artificial limb, especially if its a leg, is the most important thing in their life. They ought to get, and it seems that now one day they will get, The Very Best that modern technological skills can provide. The question is when. Ijust knew intuitively that there was a better way. Just years, several years prior, theyjust put man on the moon. So my early attempts at creating something that would spring and push off was you know those little insoles you put on the side of your shoe . Well, that was my first concept lets build one of those and those early ones were actually, they werent too bad, i had a little block of foam on the toe and the heel but then i got really blessed. I met a man called dale abildskov. Dale was one of the worlds leading Aerospace Graphite engineers. That night we drew up the drawing of what the leg was to look like and within two, maybe three weeks, i built a leg and i attached it to my socket. Iran down his condominium hallway, i mean fast. That was freedom. That was, that was real inner freedom. I probably built 50, maybe 60 more legs, different types, different arrangements. Broke � em, fell down. Till we finally launched our first foot. The first Carbon Graphite energy storing prosthesis ever. So if you look at the structure, its millions of tiny little hair like fibres, and those fibres stretch, just like our tendons do, and so that energy can be stored in those fibres and thats how we came up with the c shaped cheetah foot. My Foundations Name is called second wind. Im involved in developing a foot for landmine survivors. And they have to go to work. You know, theyre labourers, theyre planting fields, they dont have the luxury of sitting down. For asia, a lot of people work in rice patties. You cant wear a standard foot in water, they rot. In afghanistan, iraq, theyre on rocky hillsides, going up and down mountains. We built a design that has increased function, decreased weight and increased strength. The foot has to be able to endure all kinds of different climates. Were calling it the world foot. World foot for all countries, for all peoples everywhere. And when i think of all the amputees in the world that i can actually share that, there was never a greaterjoy than that for me. Van phillips on the invention which revolutionised parasports. Our next witness was a bit of a pioneer herself. In 1960, Margaret Maughan surprised even herself when she became a Gold Medallist at the first Paralympic Games in rome. But it all started at a british hospital. In 1959, i was working in malawi, involved in a car accident, when i became paralysed and was brought to stoke Mandeville Hospital in england and from then my life changed dramatically. The director of the unit was Ludwig Guttmann and his idea was movement. People just not allowed to lie there, becoming ill and miserable. | archive its paralysis that keeps| the 200 contestants in wheelchairs, but it cant prevent them from being sportsmen. Itjust worked out happened that i happened to be quite good at archery and i used to win the monthly competition quite often. In 1960 i was very lucky and very surprised to be invited to be in the team to go to the very first international Sports Event for wheelchair people in rome. Archive visitors to the vatican where 350 paralysed people who have competed over there in what they called the Paralympic Games. The olympics had just taken place and we were going to stay in the Olympic Village in the same accommodation. To our horror when we arrived on the ground, all the buildings were up on stilts. Whenever we went in or out and a building, these two soldiers would carry us up two flights of stairs and down two flights of stairs. It was a very tedious business. During the whole of the games, there was such a togetherness. Everybody making new friends, it was great camaraderie and we just supported each other. Archery was one of the first competitions to begin. We would shoot six arrows each. And then a little army of people, one for each target, would rush up to the target and collect the arrows and the same thing happened again. I had no idea what my score was, and then i was allowed to go off and watch other people doing different events. We were put on the coaches ready to go back to the village. Somebody said, wheres Margaret Maughan . We need her, shes needed for a medal ceremony. So they had to then proceed to lift me out of the coach, put me back into a wheelchair and i was wheeled up a little ramp onto the leading position and presented with the gold medal. I wasnt really very excited about it, it had just happened. Everything was so bewildering. Its now known as the first medal won by a british person at the first Paralympic Games. I myself managed to take apart in five paralympics over the years. Its just a marvellous experience, the whole thing. Margaret maughan, britains first paralympic Gold Medallist, who sadly died in 2020. Up next, a Sporting Moment which helped change attitudes. In 1968, the first games for athletes with Learning Disabilities was held. They were promoted by americas famous political family the kennedys, one of whom had a learning disability. Witness history spoke to Organiser Anne Burke and to athlete Frank Olivo about a time when people like him were often feared or ignored. I was a teacher in the Chicago Park district in 1965 teaching physical education. Teaching skills to special athletes like frank, and frank was in the very beginning of the programme. I was 20 when i was in the Special Olympics. I had spinal meningitis. It made me slow. Back in the early � 60s, there was no activities and no schooling for people with disabilities, or they were in institutions at the time. I tried to get on with everybody on the Block And Theyjust looked and laughed. I wrote to Mrs Eunice Kennedy shriver and asked her if she would donate some money to put in the first special games. She was very excited. I wrote a proposal to her and the Kennedy Foundation helped fund it. Right here at soldier field, we put on the first games. There were 1,000 athletes. In ancient rome, the gladiators went into the arena with these words on their lips, let me win, but if i cannot win, let me be brave the attempt. Today, All Of You young. Athletes are in the arena. Many of you will win, but even more important, i know you will be brave and bring credit to your parents and to your countries. Let us begin the olympics. Thank you. Applause volunteers were needed for almost every individual athlete. J this was new for even the volunteers to have even an opportunity to meet first hand a special child or an adult. Reporter there are seven basic events running, jumping, throwing and swimming. My coach came and tell me i am in the 50 yard dash. I was excited but kind of nervous. The 50 yard dash, shortest yet severest test of speed in the Special Olympics competition. It was hard at first, when they raised the gun and said, on your marks, get set, bang. I didnt know if i was going to take off, but i took off we were all kind of fast runners. I came pretty close to the nose. Reporter only two tenths of a second separates first and third. I was catching my breath, and my coach, he said you won first place and i said, thank god seeing 1,000 athletes on the field, showing off their skills and actually thrilled to be able tojust be there. Winning wasnt the goal, it was crossing the finish line. I felt proud of myself other people always put me down, saying, you wont amount to nothing, and they say now, he does amount to something, hes special Anne Burke and Frank Olivo, who sadly died in 2019. Remember, you can watch Witness History every month on the Bbc News channel, or you can catch up on all our films alongside more than 2,000 radio programmes on our online archive. Just go to bbc. Co. Uk witnesshistory. Now to the 1980s, and a protest which made the national news in america. In 1988, students at the deaf only Gallaudet University barricaded their campus, protesting their Board Of Trustees� decision to appoint a hearing president. Witness history spoke to dr irving king jordan. Its important to know that i am totally deaf I Cant hear a jet engine, I Cant hear anything. Right now im working with a Sign Language interpreter, sarah, sos sitting front of me next to the camera, so instead of hearing your questions, i am seeing sarahs signs. Newsreader Gallaudet College has i been the centre of deaf education | in america since1847. In 1987 the president at that time stepped down. Right away there was a push for the board to recognise that the next president should be a deaf individual. So they narrowed it down to three finalists. Two of us were deaf and one was hearing. I have a lot to bring to the university but i also have a lot to learn from it, and that process must start right away. The Board Of Trustees voted to name Elisabeth Zinser the seventh president of gallaudet. Dr zinser had a lot of experience but she didnt know anything about deafness. And thats when i guess you could say the protests started. Someone had the bright idea to bring buses to block the gates. The Rallying Cry was we want a Deaf President now chanting Deaf President now we want a Deaf President one of the posters out front said honk if you support a deaf prez, and of Course Everybody drove past, saw that sign, honked. Honking. Then the press started to come, and for a week it was the front page of the washington post. Are the students prepared to continue blocking the entrance as long as the board refuses to meet your demands . We give up our soul in order to get a Deaf President. The chair of the board was jane bassett spilman. And she came to campus and called a meeting. She wanted to talk and explain her decision. Woman are you going to resign . Crosstalk and chanting. She used the word children, said you children are making too much noise, I Cant communicate if you make so much noise. But using the word children to College Students . Ooh, that was not good. When Dr Zinser realised the intensity of the feelings and the sense of the campus, she decided to step down. Cheering and applause. The board discussed and decided to name me president. There is one person i want to single out for very special thanks. Applause. My wife linda. Applause. Right now i am getting emotional, so i have to stop. At gallaudet, people who are deaf must have unlimited educational and professional opportunity. I was delighted with the speech, i was delighted. Dr irving king jordan, the first Deaf President of Gallaudet University. Finally to britain, just after the second world war, when the government began providing free vehicles, specially designed for disabled people. Colin powell tells Witness History about his Love Hate Relationship with the invacar he received in the 1960s. Its very much a result of the War Veterans coming back disabled from the second world war. It became apparent to the government that they needed some form of transportation. Newsreel all Have Motor Invalid Chairs and many of them go out i in them every day to work in nearby factories along the great west road. The government came up with designing what we would best describe in those days as being an invalid carriage. But then they got the Brand Name, which was the Brand Name of the manufacturer, they became the invacar. All were hand controlled, in other words if you take the three petals in a normal vehicle, the clutch, the accelerator, the foot brakes, they were all incorporated to be only operated by hands. I am a victim of polio and have always suffered a restricted mobility. I was 16 when i first got my invalid carriage. The excitement of this vehicle coming into your possession after years of being dependent on, in my case, my parents, to take me anywhere, was an absolute delight and thrill. It gave you the feeling of somehow levelling out the Playing Field of the limitations put upon you by your disability. It took me to college, when i was a student, it took me to my firstjob, but when we look at it objectively we can see a Lot Wasnt Right with it as well. Reporter 8596 of disabled people using this vehicle have said to havej complained about its unpredictable behaviour on the road. They were not reliable, they were unstable, they were fundamentally unsafe. The fact that it was a single seater meant in your formulative teenage and 20s years, it was a very antisocial method of transport, because, you know, when you started to form friendships with girls and what have you, i was a bit of a rebel, and I Cant say with my hand on my heart that i didnt sneak a young lady in my car on more than one occasion. Shed sit where the wheelchair would sit, on the floor, very uncomfortable, totally no padding, no seatbelt, totally unsafe. Reporter the campaign to get| invalids onto four wheels instead of three switched in october to tower bridge. I did take part in a protest against these vehicles. We were looking for the government to consider issuing a regular, adapted ordinary cars. Eventually the protest got so heated that the government allowed this scheme to allow the provision of a regular car adapted for disabled persons. This Triumph Spitfire is the first Sports Car to be converted and cost £115 to switch to hand operation. Most things you find in the Disability World are never designed by a disabled person. Theyd be decided by someone who thinks they know what a disabled person needs. I might be disabled but im a human being, im as normal as anyone else. Its just that i have additional challenges in my life as the Mass Market Motoring could have accommodated from day one. Colin powell there talking about the invacar. Thats all from this Special Edition of Witness History, from the Queen Elizabeth olympic park here in london. Well be back soon with more extraordinary stories from the past. But for now from me and the rest of the Witness History team, its goodbye. Hello. Between the showers on saturday, we reached 23 celsius in suffolk. We had nine hours of sunshine in parts of cornwall. That is often the case when we have sunny spells and showers. The north York Moors saw about 17 mm of rain from the showers during saturday as well and they havent altogether died out through the night because weve got the complication of a Weather Front. What it is is cooler in the north. Temperatures into a single figures in rural parts of scotland and Northern Ireland. Thats because were behind this cold Weather Front. As i say, thats complicating our sunny spells and scattered Showers Scenario because weve actually got rather more cloud to start across parts of northern england, showers following on that brisk wind into the North And East of scotland but fewer showers further west across scotland, very few showers for Northern Ireland generally speaking and further west, but they will break out both on our Weather Front and further south. It looks like the most potent showers during the day on sunday are likely across southern and eastern parts of the uk, slow moving with Hail And Thunder and lightning. Once again torrential downpours, we need to keep an eye on those. And temperatures generally will be a degree or so down on those of saturday because of that northerly breeze although a fairly light breeze in southern areas, as i say. And those showers will rumble on and through this evening and for a start tonight, but then they do fade away. We lose that Weather Front away from southern and eastern areas and itll be a fresher night for all, i think. Well notice that difference by the time we get to monday morning. But some Brightness And Sunshine and a relatively quiet start to the week. Our Weather Front� s not too far away in the south, so thats going to provide the Focal Point again for a few showers and perhaps developing over the Cumbrian Mountains and up into snowdonia in wales, one or two not far away from Northern Ireland, and Western Scotland should be fine and dry but still cool in the North And East with that Gentle Northerly Drift which gets cut off by our slight ridge of high pressure for a time late monday into tuesday. But then, were looking at the atlantic influence coming in from Midweek On which is going to be difficult to pinpoint the detail at this stage. So, dont take this as read but it does look more unsettled again as we go through the midweek and beyond period. That, as you can see, illustrated here on our weather charts with more showers and longer spells of rain appearing, and even some showers to start the week as i say in southern areas and across wales in particular. So, yes, fewer showers, a little bit quieter to start the week, still quite cool and it stays cool with more Wind And Rain later. This is Bbc News, im lewis vaughanjones. Our top Stories Day nine of the Tokyo Olympics and more gold for team gb, while australia dominate in the pool and the fastest men in the World Line up for the 100 meters final later. Fierce fighting in afghanistan. Three cities are battling the taliban. Kandahar airport has come under rocket attack. Young people in england are to be offered discounts, including from uber and deliveroo, to get their covid 19 jabs. Banning the big boats. After years of environmental protests, large Cruise Ships can no longer dock in the centre of venice