Joey Deacon facts for kids

Joseph John Deacon (born May 24, 1920 – died December 3, 1981) was a British author and TV personality. He is known for his autobiography Tongue Tied, which he wrote with the help of his friends. His story helped people understand what life was like for those with physical disabilities.

Life with Cerebral Palsy

Joseph, often called "Joey," was born with severe cerebral palsy. This is a brain condition that affects how muscles move. It caused his arms and legs to be very stiff.

His muscles often stayed bent, especially his arms. This made it very hard for him to control his hands and legs. Joey mostly used a wheelchair, though he could walk a little with help.

It was also hard for most people to understand Joey's speech. Only his closest friends could clearly understand what he was saying.

Early Life and Hospital Stays

When Joey was a child, he lived in a special institution. Later, he made shoes in a place that helped people with disabilities. Because he couldn't talk easily, some people mistakenly thought he wasn't very smart.

However, Joey was actually very intelligent. His mother always believed in him. She would ask him to count cars passing by their house. Joey would blink for each car, showing he understood.

In the hospital, he proved his intelligence many times. He used blinks or pointed with his nose to answer questions.

Joey had several leg surgeries when he was about four years old. Sadly, these operations were not successful. When he was six, his mother passed away from tuberculosis. Joey was then raised by his grandmother.

At eight, after more surgeries, he went to Queen Mary's Hospital. Six months later, he moved to Caterham Mental Hospital. He stayed there for the rest of his life. He kept in touch with his father until his father died.

Writing Tongue Tied

In 1970, Joey began writing his life story, his autobiography. He worked on it with three friends. Ernie Roberts, who also had cerebral palsy, had been in the hospital since he was ten. Ernie could understand Joey's speech.

Ernie listened to Joey speak and then repeated it to Michael Sangster. Michael wrote down everything in longhand. After that, a student named Chris Ring checked their work. Finally, Tom Blackburn typed the book. Tom learned to type just to help with the book!

The book was 44 pages long and took 14 months to write. It was called Tongue Tied. A radio show called Woman's Hour talked about Joey and his book. This led to a TV show about him.

Later Life and Documentaries

The four friends — Joey, Ernie, Michael, and Tom — became very close. In 1974, their friendship was shown in a TV documentary. It was part of the Horizon series and was called Joey. This show won awards like the Prix Italia and a BAFTA.

After Joey, another documentary was made for the children's show Blue Peter. This helped more people learn about Joey's life.

After finishing Tongue Tied, the team started a second book. Joey wanted to write a story about a disabled man. This man desperately wanted to learn to walk to marry his girlfriend. However, this novel was never published.

The money earned from Tongue Tied and other donations helped the four friends. In 1979, they were able to buy a bungalow on the hospital grounds. This allowed them to live more independently. Joey passed away two years later, at age 61. After his death, Blackburn and Roberts moved to a house outside the hospital grounds. They lived there with the help of support workers.

Blue Peter and Its Impact

In 1981, the year he died, Joey Deacon was featured on Blue Peter. This was for the International Year of Disabled Persons. He was shown as someone who achieved a lot despite his disabilities.

However, the TV appearance had an unexpected effect. Children in school playgrounds began to copy Joey's unique speech and movements. The name "Joey" sadly became an insult for someone thought to be stupid.

Joey's Lasting Legacy

In 1982, a paper was written about Joey's story in a medical journal. It explained how, after 50 years in an institution, a new way was found to test Joey's intelligence. This showed that he had normal intelligence all along.

In 2020, 100 years after Joey Deacon was born, a charity called the Deacon Centre was started. It is in his hometown of Caterham. The center aims to continue Joey's legacy. It provides "creativity spaces" for people with mental and communication disabilities. They offer activities like creative writing, music, art, and drama.

See also

In Spanish: Joey Deacon para niños