When we're out and about just walking along everywhere, we don't think about it. We don't think about how effortlessly we walk and we don't think about how much we need to walk. But how can we walk around if we don't have the access to? If we don't have the ability to? Disabled people face a struggle on a day to day basis of simply just being able to move around.
What really made me think about this was the video we watched in class about Judith Butler and Sunaura Taylor "going for a walk". Taylor, being unable to use her legs, "walks" using her wheelchair while Butler strolls along beside her. The video also panned to pedestrians who were "walking" using a skateboard, riding a bike, and someone who was "walking" their dog. It stood out to me that the video kept panning out to other pedestrians "walking" and panning out to show the way that Taylor was navigating during their walk.
Building Access
Access to buildings is essential for anyone who may need to go shopping, buy groceries, when looking for a workplace, or when going to class. If a building only has access by stairs or only has stairs on the inside to reach other floors, how are those who are disabled supposed to be able to access the building and interact within it? Having limited access makes it seem like those who are disabled aren't welcome in that space. I understand that some buildings may be older or some may not be able to get an elevator or have room to add a ramp, but we can at least try. As for the buildings that can make these accommodations possible, they should.
Public Areas
Sidewalks are nice thing to have, giving people access to get places if they don't have a vehicle and without interacting with traffic. But if we're going to have sidewalks, we need better sidewalk maintenance. If sidewalks aren't taken care of it becomes difficult for them to be used. Have you ever ridden a bike on a bumpy sidewalk? It's not pleasant. Now imagine being in a wheelchair and having to navigate through cracks and crevasses or not even being able to use those sidewalks due to them being so rough.
Stigma
A big problem with not validating the movement of those with disabilities is the stigma behind what it means to be disabled. When people think about disability they tend to think that that person "can't" or "shouldn't" do something because of their disability. Those with disabilities deserve the same type of encouragement to do something as an able-bodied person. Have you seen the video of the mom who helped her son with cerebral palsy to skateboard? This boy, Joao, was almost a year and a half old when doctors discovered he had cerebral palsy and was unable to walk independently. Jaoa grew up to be a happy child but longed to skateboard an no matter how much his mother tried to change his hobby, he was determined. So with some help, Jaoa's mother build her son a skateboard that kept him upright and secure while she would run and push him- even up and over ramps! How incredible is this? If every parent tried their hardest to help their children do things that they are told they "can't" or "shouldn't" do it could open so many doors. Of course there will be cases where their ability is limited and someone with a certain disability may not be able to do something no matter how hard they try but that's okay. Trying and failing is better than not having the opportunity at all.
The thing about movement is that as we all get older, our movement changes just like everything else does. Typically as we age our movement becomes less, becomes more fragile and slow, and some of us even end up in a wheelchair or using a cane/walker to get around. Movement changes and the fact of the matter is that there is no one way to "walk".
Building Access
Access to buildings is essential for anyone who may need to go shopping, buy groceries, when looking for a workplace, or when going to class. If a building only has access by stairs or only has stairs on the inside to reach other floors, how are those who are disabled supposed to be able to access the building and interact within it? Having limited access makes it seem like those who are disabled aren't welcome in that space. I understand that some buildings may be older or some may not be able to get an elevator or have room to add a ramp, but we can at least try. As for the buildings that can make these accommodations possible, they should.
Public Areas
Sidewalks are nice thing to have, giving people access to get places if they don't have a vehicle and without interacting with traffic. But if we're going to have sidewalks, we need better sidewalk maintenance. If sidewalks aren't taken care of it becomes difficult for them to be used. Have you ever ridden a bike on a bumpy sidewalk? It's not pleasant. Now imagine being in a wheelchair and having to navigate through cracks and crevasses or not even being able to use those sidewalks due to them being so rough.
Stigma
A big problem with not validating the movement of those with disabilities is the stigma behind what it means to be disabled. When people think about disability they tend to think that that person "can't" or "shouldn't" do something because of their disability. Those with disabilities deserve the same type of encouragement to do something as an able-bodied person. Have you seen the video of the mom who helped her son with cerebral palsy to skateboard? This boy, Joao, was almost a year and a half old when doctors discovered he had cerebral palsy and was unable to walk independently. Jaoa grew up to be a happy child but longed to skateboard an no matter how much his mother tried to change his hobby, he was determined. So with some help, Jaoa's mother build her son a skateboard that kept him upright and secure while she would run and push him- even up and over ramps! How incredible is this? If every parent tried their hardest to help their children do things that they are told they "can't" or "shouldn't" do it could open so many doors. Of course there will be cases where their ability is limited and someone with a certain disability may not be able to do something no matter how hard they try but that's okay. Trying and failing is better than not having the opportunity at all.
The thing about movement is that as we all get older, our movement changes just like everything else does. Typically as we age our movement becomes less, becomes more fragile and slow, and some of us even end up in a wheelchair or using a cane/walker to get around. Movement changes and the fact of the matter is that there is no one way to "walk".
Working in a retirement home I witness the changes in movement over time as you talked about above. Many of these folks struggle with their new loss of movement because they cannot do what they were once able to, but altering the day-to-day structure in the home is conducive to allowing these people the same happiness that they were able to achieve before. It really does rely on the idea that having the opportunity to do something really makes a difference in outlook of individuals. I really like the way you framed that in this piece.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the environment being the cause of disability really opened my eyes. Those stairs are disabled because they can't accommodate everyone. It is not my fault I can not get into a building with no ramp if I am in a wheelchair. The environment disabled me from not being able to enter by not having a ramp. Buildings may not have ramps because the constructors or people who hired the constructors are only considering one body type; which in return excludes and disables those who cant use the stairs. Basically telling them they aren't welcome. We need to consider all ways to move and Cooper would also agree we need to undo and unlearn before we can be more open-minded and begin considering others.
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