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During my travels, I learnt that changing societal perceptions of disability is crucial for fostering wellbeing among disabled people, as these perceptions shape the way society interacts with and supports them. By transforming how disability is viewed, we can create a society that values the contributions and potential of everyone, ultimately enhancing the wellbeing and quality of life for disabled people.
How people think about disability affects how they feel about disability. Societal attitudes of disability often remain founded in fear, misunderstanding, and stereotypes, influenced by a complex interplay of factors.
In New Zealand I visited a school for disabled children in Christchurch, who were supported by EGL in helping their students transition into employment. The teachers spoke about how people don’t often talk about disability. I asked why and the response was “fear plays a huge part in it. Fear of getting it wrong, offending, upsetting or hurting.” Disability evokes fear, simply because it represents the unknown.
But that silence is loud and it is painful. By not speaking, by neglecting the conversation, then this is telling the world that disabled people aren’t important and that their voices don’t matter. I continued the conversation, asking where do you think that fear comes from, and the teachers agreed that mostly it was due to the fact that most people have limited exposure to disabled people and lack understanding about their experiences, capabilities, and needs.
But logically, if the general community doesn’t regularly interact with disabled people as neighbours, coworkers and friends, then fear of the unfamiliar will take hold. People won’t have personal experiences to counteract their stereotypes and this fear can further lead to exclusion.
One teacher emphasised the need for us as a society to change the way we look at disability as at the moment there is “so much shame, fear and confusion about the topic but it doesn’t have to be that way.”
When people avoid discussing disability-related topics it reinforce the idea that disability is taboo or something to be ashamed of. It also has the potential to cause harm.
During my visit to Deaf Aoatoara, Christchurch I discovered how the Deaf community faced significant challenges during the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 due to a lack of access to sign language interpreters and communication support during the emergency response efforts.
This meant that many individuals were unable to access important information about evacuation procedures, emergency shelters and medical assistance, leaving them feeling isolated, forgotten and vulnerable in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
I learned how accessible communication support is so crucial for the wellbeing of the Deaf and disabled community.
Emily Hyland, Lara Draper and Ruth Coburn
"There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more"
Disabled needs are human needs. Disabled people are often othered from the rest of society, with their needs often categorised as ‘special’ or ‘additional’, having a knock-on effect on their wellbeing. But everyone has needs, so why are theirs being segregated? How do we change this? How do we shift this attitude?
I think back to my conversation with Doug from ALACD. Many people hold the common belief that disabled individuals are limited in what they can accomplish and lead lives that are inferior to the non-disabled. This belief is rooted in deep-seated stereotypes that associate disability with inability. The reality is that disabled people have the capacity to lead fulfilling lives and contribute in meaningful ways to the community, but they must be given the opportunity.
During one of my conversations with a disabled person in New Zealand on World Down Syndrome Day, they introduced me to the "Assume That I Can" campaign, created by CoorDown and Small New York, featuring model and actor Madison Devlin. To mark World Down Syndrome Day in March, the campaign challenges societal assumptions about disability, promoting the message that assumptions shape reality, and urging people to assume capability rather than limitation.
"Your assumption becomes reality," she says in the video. "But hey, if your assumptions become reality, then assume that I can."
For CoorDown president Antonella Falugiani, changing the perspective with which people approach disability is the challenge launched by the association for 2024, "We decided to launch a call to action, which aims to engage the whole society, not just our community because disability really affects everyone, and everyone must be able to act to change the culture that produces discrimination."
Behind every disability is a person with distinct experiences, hopes, and needs.
In the UK, we can implement public awareness campaigns similar to "Assume That I Can," which challenges societal norms and encourage a shift in how we perceive disability. Such a campaign could be extended to encompass the spectrum of disability and could play a vital role in educating the public and reducing the stigma that often surrounds disability and help support disabled people's wellbeing.
Disability is not a choice. The way you respond or react to it is.
"The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimetre, the way … people look at reality, then you can change it" - James Baldwin
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