Unit 2: Inclusive Practices
Blog Post 1: Disability
Film by Christine Sun Kim
Christine Sun Kim is a deaf artist who uses sound and silence to explore her experiences of deafness. Her film, “Time Owes Me Rest Again,” is a visual poem that captures the beauty and complexity of her world. The film is made up of a series of images and text that are accompanied by Kim’s own voice. The images are often abstract and dreamlike, and the text is poetic and lyrical. The film is a powerful reminder of the richness of the deaf experience. Interestingly I discovered upon further research that there is no universal sign language for the deaf, instead each country has its own which is unlike Braille.
Also upon further investigation we only have one person in FBS that is currently completing a British Sign Language course but otherwise have no teaching staff to cater to deaf students.
UAL Disability Service Webpages
The UAL Disability Service webpages provide a wealth of information and resources for students with disabilities. The pages include information on accommodations, support services, and financial assistance. The pages also include a directory of disability organizations and a list of disability-related events. The UAL Disability Service is a valuable resource for students with disabilities, and the webpages are a great place to start.
One of the strengths of the webpages is the clear and concise language used. The information is easy to understand, and the pages are not cluttered with unnecessary information. The pages are also regularly updated with new information, which is important for students who are looking for the most up-to-date information.
One area where the webpages could be improved is the accessibility of the information. The pages are not fully accessible to students with visual impairments, and the text could be made larger and easier to read. The pages could also be made more accessible to students with hearing impairments by providing transcripts of videos and audio recordings.
#DisabilityTooWhite article/interview with Vilissa Thompson
I found the #DisabilityTooWhite article by Vilissa Thompson to be a powerful critique of the lack of diversity in the disability community. Thompson argues that the disability community is often dominated by white voices, and that this can make it difficult for people of color (POC) with disabilities to feel welcome and included. The article also calls for more representation of POC with disabilities in the media and in disability advocacy organizations. I agree with Thompson that it is important to have more POC advocates in these spaces, as it can help to break the stigma surrounding disability in some cultures.
The article is an important reminder that the disability community needs to be more inclusive. We need to make sure that all voices are heard, and that all experiences are valued. We also need to make sure that disability advocacy organisations are representative of the communities they serve.
I would like that the #DisabilityTooWhite article leads to more changes in the disability community and in turn we see more representation of POC with disabilities in the university and in turn in media and in disability advocacy organisations. I also would like to see a greater focus on the experiences of POC with disabilities. This could be something we trial on our course in partnership with the UAL Disabiltity Service to have open conversations with students bother current and past to gauge weak areas and where further work is needed.
This is important for representation and in turn might help breakdown the stigma around disabilities.
This is further supported by research that shows students from different backgrounds have different rates of disclosing a disability or impairment to their higher education institution (HEI, 2021). Spiritual students were the most likely to disclose a disability, at 27.2%, whereas in contrast Hindu students were only 5.6%. This could be due to the different cultural and religious norms around disability. Some cultures may be more accepting of disability than others, and this may make students from those cultures more likely to disclose their disability.
This therefore emphasises the importance of representation in this area to ensure breaking down of stigmas. These changes are essential for creating a more inclusive and welcoming disability community. A disability is not a shortcoming or an embarrassment. It is simply a part of who they are. They deserve to be heard and valued, and they deserve to be included.
‘Deaf Accessibility for Spoonies: Lessons from Touring Eve and Mary Are Having Coffee’ by Khairani Barokka
The article “Deaf Accessibility for Spoonies: Lessons from Touring Eve and Mary Are Having Coffee” by Khairani Barokka provides a valuable perspective on the intersection of disability, chronic illness, and accessibility. Barokka, who is both deaf and a spoonie, discusses the challenges she faced when touring with her play “Eve and Mary Are Having Coffee.” She also offers practical tips for making events and performances more accessible to people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. However I thought the article could have been more comprehensive. Barokka focuses primarily on the challenges of providing deaf accessibility for spoonies in the context of touring. However, the principles she discusses could be applied to other settings, such as schools, workplaces, and healthcare facilities.
Additionally the term ‘Spoonies’ is difficult to define and many people will be unaware of its origin and meaning, as it is not stated within the article itself. I had to search extensively to fully understand the use of the word in this context.
Terms of Reference Journal from Shades of Noir (SoN) around Disability
The Terms of Reference Journal from Shades of Noir (SoN) is a collection of articles that explore the intersection of race and disability. The articles address a wide range of topics, including the history of disability in the black community, the experiences of black disabled people in the media, and the challenges of accessing healthcare as a black disabled person. The journal is a valuable resource for learning more about the experiences of black disabled people. It shows a perspective that is often excluded/ ignored from mainstream research and policymaking.
However, the journal could be more comprehensive in its coverage of specific disabilities. For example, the journal does not specifically mention the needs of people with visual impairments or hearing impairments. Additionally, the journal could be more specific in its recommendations for how SoN will implement its principles in practice so that this in turn could be used for our LCF BA Fashion Marketing Course.
References:
Barokka, K. (2017) ‘Deaf-accessibility for spoonies: lessons from touring Eve and Mary Are Having Coffee while chronically ill’, Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance, 22(3), pp. 387-392.
Blahovec, S. (2017) Confronting the Whitewashing Of Disability: Interview with #DisabilityTooWhite Creator Vilissa Thompson. Huffington Post
SoN (2020). Disabled People: The Voice of the Many.. [Online]. Shades of Noir. Last Updated: August 3, 2020. Available at: https://shadesofnoir.org.uk/journals/disabled-people-the-voice-of-the-many/ (Accessed 22 July 2023)
The Selby (2011) “Christine Sun Kim” Available at: https://vimeo.com/31083172 (Accessed: 20 July 2023)
UAL (2023) “Disability and dyslexia”. Available at https://www.arts.ac.uk/students/student-services/disability-and-dyslexia (Accessed: 21 May 2023)