The question posed by Simi Linton – “Are we here to further Disabled people’s efforts toward equity, fairness, and opportunity, or are we here to expand definitions and practices of dance?”, made me ponder over the fact that why is it that we have to look at someone who is differently abled as someone who is not alike, as someone who needs to claim equity, fairness and opportunity?
I personally believe that all humans are differently abled, they all have different qualities and capabilities which make them disparate and divergent from one another. Some are excellent at mathematics or physics and become great scientists whereas someone who sings well becomes a musician, why is there a need to look and categorize someone who is disabled at all? Just like all of us, they also have different and unique abilities.
It is true that theatre, film and literature have the ability to explicitly take on disability but is there a need to highlight this? It is extremely upsetting to see the discrimination disabled people suffer when it comes to isolation in the educational systems. They also have to encounter problems pertaining to transportation, accommodation and community support systems which in turn affect their employment opportunities.
Talking about the inclusion of appropriate areas in theatres and other places for wheelchair users is again a very conscious decision that designers make. It is extremely disrespectful to not think of them as equals and accommodating them in compromised locations in such places.
“Disregard for the equitable and pleasurable use of buildings is a decision that designers make and those decisions are based on ideas about who belongs there.”
It is true that at times the effort put into broadening representation of disabled people and gaining equity, creates a hierarchy & systematic segregation that is often masqueraded. I disagree that such actions should be necessary to be enforced in the very first place, but if such attempts are made, it is very crucial that they do not hurt the sentiments of any other person in any way. We as humans have to understand the fact that we all are equal and should respect the each other’s abilities.
“I personally would love to see a lot of disability onstage—the time is ripe to open up the subject and how just how interesting disability is, and simultaneously, how ordinary it is.”
Exactly! Disability need not be highlighted at all, it is as ordinary as any other thing. Why is it that whenever a disabled person does something, performs on stage, we look differently at that act? We look at that person as an ‘overcomer’, someone who is doing that act despite the disability! It is very disappointing to witness people making such comments and gestures. It is about time that this change be stimulated into the thinking of all humans to treat each other with equity and same amount of respect.
"The trouble is that once you see it, you can't un-see it. And once you've seen it, keeping quiet, saying nothing, becomes as political an act as speaking out. There is no innocence. Either way, you're accountable." — Arundhati Roy