Diversity through Disability: The Importance of Disability Awareness
Painting by Timothy, a local artist in Gulu
When someone asks you about diversity, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Chances are — like the majority of Americans — you think about race. You think about gender. But you don’t think about disability.
Disability comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms. They include — but are not limited to — physical disabilities, mental disabilities, sensory disabilities, and behavioral disabilities In the United States alone, over 61 million adults (26%) live with a disability, but the number is thought to be much higher because many people lack access to the kinds of healthcare needed to receive a disability diagnosis. Even though this marginalized identity applies to such a large proportion of our population, disability is often left out of conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Why is this the case?
Disability is heavily stigmatized, and it leaves many individuals feeling as if they need to hide their identity in order to fit into their communities. In a recent survey created by five different UT organizations and distributed to students with disabilities at UT Austin, many students shared their experiences living in the current environment:
“…It’s easy to feel alienated in able-bodied spaces, so to have an accommodating space where you can feel safe I think would help so many students.”
“As a disabled student, I don’t feel like simply having a disabilities services department is enough. I crave having a community of disabled people with which I am able to connect and share experiences with. I crave that kind of camaraderie and support.”
Just like other marginalized social identities, systemic problems continue to create both social and physical barriers for disabled individuals despite the establishment of laws that are meant to protect them. To date, the most powerful piece of legislation for disability awareness is the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. This civil rights law prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all walks of public life. However, laws are able to prevent outright discriminatory actions, but they cannot change mindsets or foster communities and pride in identity.
So, what can we do?
For one, educating yourself about disabilities is important. Talk to your friends. Talk to colleagues. Make sure you are aware of your implicit biases and make an effort to notice how disabilities can affect your everyday life. Not all disabilities look the same, and remember to be mindful of that. On campus, UT offers a multitude of resources that you can use to educate yourself, and they are linked here.
Secondly, advocate for disability awareness and appreciation within your communities. It is important to remember that individuals with disabilities should be at the center of these conversations, and we should work on elevating their voices rather than speaking for them. Andrew Pulang, a disability awareness advocate, explains this concept beautifully in his article. Nonetheless, conversations and initiatives surrounding disability culture,awareness, and accessibility should not be the sole responsibility of one community or organization. We must create integrated systems that seamlessly incorporate disability education and appreciation.
This is exactly what the upcoming Disability Cultural Center at UT hopes to achieve. Members of the Disability Advocacy Student Coalition, Natural Sciences Council, and three other student organizations are working on this project in hopes of creating a physical safe space for individuals with disabilities that “serves as a hub for organizing, community-building, and programming.”
As of now, the group currently envisions a centrally located Disability Cultural Center on campus that includes accommodations for people with all disabilities. There will be both a quiet room and a space for more interaction; dimmable lights; movable furniture that can be easily reconfigured for wheelchairs, canes, and companion animals; and flexible furniture that accommodates a wide range of body sizes. The Center also has plans to include a Disability Resource Library where students can learn more about disability history and read pieces from authors with disabilities.
Allyship with the Disabled community is important in order to subdue the rampant ableism that is unfortunately present in our society. By working towards creating spaces that celebrate and raise awareness for disability, we can begin to unlearn harmful societal practices. Disability Cultural Centers are found across many universities in the United States; however, this will be the first center in Texas, allowing UT to set a precedent for other campuses across the state to appreciate disability culture and model inclusivity at its best.