The View from Where I Sit

Tag: physical

  • Disability Representation

    Disability Representation

    Disability has a negative connotation that extends beyond its definition, which includes impairments, activity limits, and participation restrictions. Disabled people’s attitudes and the degree of social exclusion they experience are manifested in actions that vary greatly depending on the kind of impairment and various social, community, and familial factors. The impact of an individual’s position, as well as the type and degree of his or her handicap, and, in particular, his or her gender, can be tremendous.

    People with Disabilities have been fighting for their right to be heard, both in their own lives, as well as in the greater community. This fight continues to this day, and I want to bring their voices and needs to the forefront. Having direct input in one’s life has a clear effect on overall health, well-being, and quality of life.

    People don’t come with labels.

    ‘You don’t look ill’! Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. A diagnosis should never define anyone.

    The skills of handicapped individuals are generally undervalued in society.

    Why is the wheelchair the only emblem used to represent disability?

    This gives a distorted view of disability. We need self respect and mutual respect.

    Wheelchair Privilege

    It is hard to acknowledge our own privilege because privilege is the other side of oppression. Some people are against talking about privilege because they don’t want to be framed as the aggressors or complicit in a system that gives them an advantage at the expense of others. Other critics of the word ‘privilege’ mistake it for a blanket term that suggests that, if you have a privilege, your whole life has been easy.

    Ultimately, privilege is not a concept designed to make people feel guilty or to diminish their achievements. Instead, waking up to how you may have certain privileges is an essential first step towards being able to decisively act, in small and large ways, to use your privilege and make the systems we were born into fairer. One example of this is wheelchair privilege.

    For example, some taxis are only equipped for manual wheelchairs, not electric ones. The physically impaired may be entitled to more benefits than any other disability group.

    In order to use your own privilege for good and to be a good ally you have to be aware, listen and speak up. Focus on equity instead of equality so that everyone is given what they need to be successful. https://www.hivelearning.com/site/resource/diversity-inclusion/5-main-types-of-privileges/

    What about the speech impaired?

    Just because you can’t speak doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to say. The Purple Vote Campaign in Wales is good at doing this. Advocating for yourself is important. Speak with me, not for me!

    Freedom of speech

    Article 21 – Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information

    People with disabilities should be able to exercise the same rights to freedom of expression and information as other people and through all forms of communication of their choice. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) also protects freedom of expression and the right to information. https://www.article19.org/resources/disability-and-information-what-are-your-rights/#:~:text=People%20with%20disabilities%20should%20be,and%20the%20right%20to%20information..

    States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, including by:

    a) Providing information intended for the general public to persons with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost;

    b) Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication, and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions;

    c) Urging private entities that provide services to the general public, including through the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities;

    d) Encouraging the mass media, including providers of information through the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities;

    e) Recognizing and promoting the use of sign languages. https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/article-21-freedom-of-expression-and-opinion-and-access-to-information.html.

    The colour purple is used to represent the disabled community because it means royalty, status and importance.

    Purple Tuesday and the Purple Pound are business initiatives to improve customer service for people with disabilities.

    Paralympic Games is a global sports competition for people with disabilities. It is a modified version of the Olympics for people with disabilities. Highlighting abilities and maximising potential.

    International Day of People with Disabilities showcases wheelchair access, history of disability in education, disabled icons, disabled political figures and celebrates diversity. Celebrated on 3rd December every year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and to mobilise support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. Each year the day focuses on a different issue.

    Advocacy

    Advocacy includes speaking up on other people’s behalf. This could also cover unemployment amongst people with disabilities.

    ‘Disability equals diversity not disadvantage.’

    We should be accepted without having to ‘fit in’.


    Tips for Advocacy

    • Be Persistent
    • Build Effective Coalitions

    Self-Advocacy Skills

    • Be assertive vs Aggressive
    • Be direct
    • Be intentional
    • Be accurate
    • Healthcare
    • Relocating
    • Emotional Needs- Social Isolation

    Advocacy usually includes petitions, protests, lobbying, placards, propaganda, elections, party politics, and pressure groups. Being an advocate makes you an agent of change.

    The importance of rejecting society’s toxic value system

    It’s about dignity. This is important especially when fighting microaggressions. https://www.bustle.com/articles/186060-13-microaggressions-people-with-disabilities-face-on-a-daily-basis.

    At the heart of it, representation matters because people matter. Disabled persons exist in every nation and community across the world. It is essential that we respect human rights for all humans no matter their abilities or disabilities.

  • The Purple Pound

    The Purple Pound

    By: Daniella Jade Lowe

    Disabled shoppers now have equality in business called the ‘Purple Pound’. The Purple Pound represents the spending power of the disabled household. A disabled household is a household in which at least one of the members has a disability.

    The Purple Pound here in England is equivalent to the Black Dollar in America. This is England’s way of ensuring Inclusive Marketing for the disabled population.

    Organisations are missing out on the business of disabled consumers due to poor accessibility (both physical and digital) and not being disability confident in their customer services approach. Out of this came ‘The Purple Shopper’.

    The Purple shopper was created to make the disabled person’s shopping experience a personal one, where stores are accessible at their convenience. No more queuing at checkouts, no over bright and loud environments.

    Businesses can join this initiative and become a Purple Shopper by signing up on their website at http://www.purpleshopper.co.uk.

    The Power of the Purple Pound

    In the UK, it is thought that some seven million people of working age have a disability, which all adds up to an awful lot of spending power.

    It is reckoned to be worth around £249 billion to the economy.

    According to statistics, 75% of disabled people have left a store or website due to inaccessibility. To combat this, ‘Purple Tuesday’ came into effect.

    Purple Tuesday 2020 is a change programme for organisations of all sizes from all sectors to get involved in, with the common goal of improving the customer experience for disabled people 365 days a year.

    Purple Tuesday is about creating a step change improvement in the awareness of the value and needs of disabled customers. It is about making the customer experience accessible.

    Participating organisations will make public commitments (a minimum of one new activity or initiative) to ensure sustainable changes are made. For organisations, this will result in the opening up of products and services to the disability market.

    I like these initiatives because they tackle isolation while promoting independence. Bermuda is a Purple Tuesday campaigner which makes me happy: https://bernews.com/2019/11/bermuda-joins-global-purple-tuesday-campaign/. For more information about this go to http://www.purpletuesday.org.uk.