The role of art in accessibility: The goal is complete respect
Just Skin: A stencil of me standing in profile with hands stretched out above my head as if I am in second position for ballet, feet wide, arms making a circle above her head. Here the stencil is placed over my skin, acting as the silhouette.
Accessibility and inclusion go hand in hand.
Accessibility is not enough. You can have the most accessible environment and if people still think disability is a problem, then you have people who can enter spaces, but not take up space. For full inclusion, disability can’t be a dirty word. It can’t be something everyone is afraid of and it can no longer be a fate worse than death.
So what else do we need?
We need:
Spaces to be a love letter to the body.
Places to be representative of people with disabilities.
People with disabilities being in community, at the center and sharing leadership.
Disability centered art can show the way.
It can say you belong here, we want you here, you and your access needs are woven into our foundation.
What we need is for everyone to have attention for the body. People need to be respected.
Disability centered art helps build that attention, that respect. by putting people with disabilities in the center of the conversation through disability pride, wisdom and joy.