Image description: at the top of the image is an old black and white photograph showing men matching down a road with the people at the lead holding a banner which reads “Justice Not Charity”. At the bottom of the image there is colour photograph of a crowd of people in the middle of which people hold a banner which reads “Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People”.  In between the the two photographs the following words appear “DPA Disabled People’s Archive”

Since it was established in 1985, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) has documented and preserved its own history together with that of the wider Disabled Peoples’ Movement and the trailblazing individuals within it. 

The archive contains thousands of historical documents and photographs as well as video and audio tapes, banners, posters, placards, badges, t-shirts, reports, rare books, leaflets and campaigning materials spanning many decades. It has all been donated to the archive by individuals and disabled people’s organisations. The archive continues to grow and, thanks to our partnership with Archives+, it is safely stored at Manchester Central Library. 

GMCDP is proud to be able to preserve this unique and invaluable resource. It brings together published and unpublished records from a range of organisations, demonstrates the power of collective action and highlights the achievements of the disabled peoples’ movement. 

Our overall aim is to ensure as many people as possible can access this significant resource, and the next phase will be to systematically catalogue the archive and make parts of it available via open viewing, exhibitions, web access and publications. 

Archives+ is situated in Manchester Central Library and brings together a partnership of amazing regional and national collections of documents, photographs and films, and helps to satisfy a growing demand for accessible community history and personal heritage.

This information is also available in an illustrated colour leaflet and a text only version with image descriptions suitable for screenreader users.