We're Thinking About: The social model of disability
‘What we’re thinking about’ is a regular behind-the-scenes glimpse into Rising Arts Agency. It's our thinking as well as our work that makes us unique and interesting. We’re not just what we do, but how we do it.
“Access is a right, not a privilege.” Community member Anna Rathbone put these words on her poster for our very first #WhoseFuture billboard campaign. Accessibility is a key value of our work, but it’s not necessarily something we’re known for. But we have interrogated Rising’s internal processes. We overhauled our recruitment processes under consultancy from Anna, we’ve done disability awareness training with WECIL and we included a d/Deaf and disabled group in “Our Culture '' to welcome new members into our community. As a result, we have more disabled representation in our community and in our board who keep us accountable. They also tell us that at Rising they have felt welcomed, seen and heard in ways they aren’t in most other organisations.
But now feels like the time to really stick our flag in the ground, and let people know that we are here for accessibility.
"It’s society that disables us. It’s the stairs that disable you from accessing an art gallery, NOT the fact that you’re in a wheelchair.”
On the 18th July, Rising Arts Agency will take over two billboards on St.Lukes Road in Bedminster for the next stage of the #WhoseFuture campaign. As you may know, we’re doing our things differently this time - instead of one big summer splash, we’re staggering the campaign with four billboards throughout the year - in different locations, with different focuses.
The first billboard was on the corner of Easton Way and posed a new provocation each week, exploring ideas around rest, care and protest. At our monthly Community Meet-up in May, old and new members put their heads together to come up with the ideas for the next campaign.
One theme really stood out: Accessibility, Inclusion and Disability Justice. So we ran with that.
This campaign is led by our community, specifically: Ant Lightfoot, Daisy Hunter and Jesse Cooper, between them bringing a variety of experiences of disability, neuro-divergence and chronic illnesses.
Jesse Cooper presents his ideas at our Community meet up in the Arnofilni
"We need to capture and celebrate the chaos and messiness of disabled lives...
Themessiness that comes from living in an ableist world."
“For me this campaign is about the social model of disability and educating and informing people about that,” says Ant. “It’s society that disables us. It’s the stairs that disable you from accessing an art gallery, NOT the fact that you’re in a wheelchair.”
“We need to capture and celebrate the chaos and messiness of disabled lives. We exist in a gray area; we are not solely dependent, or fully capable, but somewhere in between,” adds Jesse. “The messiness that comes from living in an ableist world.”
Too often narratives around disability fall into unhelpful binaries, like over-normalising or othering. Helpless victim or superhero. We wanted this campaign to be celebratory, but as our consultants stressed - it should steer clear of ‘toxic positivity.’
As Ant said, “It’s not “hooray for my disability” - it’s not a ‘superpower’ but it doesn’t make me a victim either - it just IS. Being a disabled person is neither good nor bad - it just is.”
As lockdown lifts, our consultants also discussed the importance of keeping accessibility at the forefront as we return to normal. So NOW feels like the opportune moment to have this conversation.
We are here for society adapting to disabled people's wants and needs, NOT the other way around. And whilst Rising Arts Agency ourselves are continuing to learn about how we can be more accessible to more of the disabled community we want them to know that we are here and we are building a truly intersectional community WITH and by them.