The Red Coat: A Memoir of Blindness

About Elisabeth Standen

Elisabeth Standen (1944-2020) In 1944 shortly after her birth Elisabeth Standen's parents were told that their first child had been born with a rare bone disorder which in turn would mean that she wouldn't survive. How wrong they were. Not only did she survive but her achievements went far beyond all expectations. Elisabeth rose to great heights not least achieving a First Class Honours degree in Philosophy. Along with all her other academic skills she went on to enhance the lives of many ensuring equality for all disabilities in the workplace (this she achieved in her position as Equalities Officer at Bristol City Council). Not satisfied with workplace equality she went on to teach professionals in many fields from universities to hospitals. Her aim was always centred around her personal experiences at the hands of professionals who had little or no knowledge of the individual needs of disabled people. Elisabeth's hard work was recognised when in 1992 she was awarded an MBE for her services to disabled people. She went on to chair the Bristol Disability Forum and the Association of Blind and Partially Sighted Teachers and Students. Her achievements had no bounds and she thrived on them all. After her retirement she discovered the joy of writing from short stories to poetry followed by this memoir (The Red Coat).