Three thought-provoking perspectives from artists, athletes, and activists on their disability and how they view societies support and inclusion of them and others in the community.
In the first video the veteran Paralympian and journalist Ade Adepitan makes a very pertinent point that “ society has not allowed me to shine”, it’s not the disability that is necessarily stopping or inhibiting the person with societal inclusion but society as a whole that is still lagging in developing and investing money, time and resources to facilitate means to include these members of our communities.
Nick Webborn the Paralympics GB, highlights how public transport accessibly design is often an after thought, designed for compliance rather than genuine inclusivity. The Department of Transport has clear guidelines for their Designers on how they should design for best practices in their paper ( Inclusive Mobility ), in this they touch on another of Nicks comments where good design doesn’t just benefit those with disabilities but many able bodied members of society additional to social inclusion. This could be through additional space for wheelchairs and buggies, quiet zones for those with varying non-visible conditions or tactile surface for visual impairments.
Good design has a holistic approach to inclusivity and is backed up by the governments Equality act 2010, protecting people from discrimination in the many guises it comes in.
Karé Adenegan, a Paralympic athlete, discusses the isolation she felt in schools, where inadequate accommodation discouraged her participation in athletics. She also addresses the reluctance within the black community to acknowledge and celebrate disabilities, stressing the importance of representation and supportive environments.
Christine Sun Kim, a deaf artist form the United States comments on how her deafness has the potential to have a negative impact on access to education, arts & culture and entertainment if society doesn’t incorporate inclusive structures into the daily fabric, this is where absolutely everything we create should have some consideration as to how it could be adapted, constructed or design for greater inclusivity rather than it being an add on or after thought so as to just comply with regulations at a minimum level.
The intersectionality of race and disability can exacerbate exclusionary practices particularly non-visible disabilities and not only impacts day to day life with regards to inclusion but be dismissed in law if not immediately evident.
The case of Neli Latson, an 18 year old autistic African American man who was reported for acting suspiciously whilst waiting for a library to open and arrested and charged with a felony of assaulting a law enforcer and sentenced to 10 years. Prosecutors moved to have his record of suffering from Autism thrown out arguing it “too convenient”.
This situation was clearly viewed through a race lens and the disability disregarded more because it was convenient to the prosecution not to see it as relevant to his actions when frightened by the approaching officers in the incident and tried to run away. (Jasmine E. Harris 2021)
It is of huge importance to view our inclusion of all members of society through the lens of intersectionality as a critical social theory not only when we try to design for a fairer society but when addressing a levelling up of our society for a more complete inclusion.
References
– Video, YouTube – Ade Adepitan gives amazing explanation of systemic racism
– Video, YouTube – Christine Sun Kim: “Friends and Strangers”
– Video, YouTube – Paralympian Karé Adenegan breaks down the intersectionality of race, disability and gender.
– Department for Transport – Inclusive Mobility. A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure. 2021
– The Yale Law Journal – Reckoning with Race and Disability, Jasmine E. Harris 2021
Your descriptions of each of the individual’s experiences breaks down clearly how the individual has been treated. This is a great way of sharing the existing problems that society has with excluding those with disability. I appreciate how you have linked the topics of disability and racism and highlighted how in certain situations one my exacerbate or mean the other is not considered. Your overall point that we should consider intersectionality when looking into these issues and points is well founded and I thoroughly agree.
Interesting read! I notice we focused on some similar aspects regarding the Ade Adepitan – very much agree on the view that society as a whole is lagging behind. It would be great to hear your thoughts on this topic of disability inclusivity in regards to your teaching practice as I am aware that you work in a very practical area. I too appreciate the section where you acknowledge the complexities of intersectional discrimination and would be interested in more information on the specific example you gave.
Prior to fitting out CSM KX we looked at the possibilities of accesible benches which we have in one area but they could be better by making them height adjustable. I’ve noticed having read some material and thought about it more we need to look at it much more, basic practice such as Safe systems of work don’t have any place in them where disability is given any thought.
Many of the machines would be too heigh for wheelchair access and I would be interested to know how many applicants we have for art schools in general that have physical disabilities as I feel there’s more applicants at academic stream universities that have disabilities, is there something putting them off?
Your take on intersectionality and the parallels you draw between all three videos is clear and well described. The point you make about inclusive design benefiting all of society is true in several aspects, and it reminds me of a point I made about Kim’s artwork, so it’s interesting to consider how it shows up in Ade Adepitan’s film too. I hadn’t heard of Karé Adenegan’s story before, so I will take a look at that in greater detail! I think your conclusion is poignant, especially in regards to Neli Latson’s case, as it brings the legal system into question rather than only focusing on the social and design impacts.
The case of Neli Latson struck me too, it’s tragic and really highlights the intersectionality where non visible disabilities can be so easily brushed aside to suit the social norms for those who seek to gain advantage or dismiss to prevent tackling of difficult situations.