I wanted to share this exchange I had w/ a grad student friend re
the inaccessible book party ("When to demand access" thread), because of
how it highlights the pitfalls of individualizing access issues, and the
risks of fighting for it. There are 5 messages, in chronological order.
It's a little long, but light reading, relatively speaking! My original
background post is added at the end, in case you need the background info.
John
------------------------------------
Date: April 30, morning
From: an ablebodied grad student friend
To: John Kelly
Subject: Re: Access at book party #1
Hi John,
Sorry that I haven't replied sooner, but I've been out of town.
But I did manage to read your message and have time to think about it
(thankfully) before running into [the professor] at a colloquium today.
He asked me if I was going, and I graciously thanked him for his
invitation and told him that I wasn't. Personally and politically, I
didn't feel right about going, because you were prevented from going
because of the accessibility problem. He said that it wasn't possible to
change the forum, and I responded by (nicely) saying that I understood
that it wasn't possible (given that it's in a priviate home, etc.), but
that it wasn't fair for me to have networking opportunities that weren't
available to you. He looked a little surprised and puzzled, but accepted
my explanation. We then went on to discuss other issues, but I think that
it gave him pause. Perhaps next time something is scheduled, this will be
in the back of his mind? I hope so. By the way, I thought that Paul
Longmore's response was very constructive and clear.
Take care,
[Friend]
----------------------------
MY RESPONSE:
Date: April 30, evening
From: John B Kelly <[log in to unmask]>
To: [Friend]
Subject: Re: Access at book party #2
Hi [Friend],
I really appreciate your action -- it's funny, on the listserv the
emphasis has been on what I should do independently. Obviously, I was
directly impacted, and feel I made the best of it. I would have been
afraid to ask you to decline on accessibility's behalf, but feel very
supported that you did, and so graciously! It's allies to marginalized
groups that are so crucial at a time like this. I get very confused around
how far to take an issue, when taking a stand is called for, and when it's
best to politely ask for access, and then let it go. What I'm glad I
didn't do is just take the oppression on as a purely personal defeat (ie,
not asking for a change of venue).
Thanx again.
John
------------------------------------
FRIEND'S RESPONSE:
Date: May 1, morning
From: [Friend]
To: John Kelly
Subject: Re: Access at book party #3
Hi John,
You're right, it is interesting that the list replies all focused
on you. That's what I find so frustrating about accessibility
issues--it's often an individualized response. To be honest, I said what
I did partly out of frustration with that individualization, and the
inequalities of opportunity it helps to perpetuate. I see [another chair
user] being excluded from events all the time, because many colloquia are
held in the lounge on the 2nd floor, and there are problems with the lift.
It's bee n hard to stand by and not say anything. He doesn't want to make
a fuss and be perceived as a trouble-maker.
In this case, I felt comfortable taking your lead and making a
polite, personal protest of my own. But in [other chair user's] case, I
could make him feel worse, or help to create an impression of him as a
"problem." Ignoring problems can help to reinforce them, but calling
attention to them may have costs as well. And as (just) an ally, I'm not
the one who will bear most of the costs either way. Sorry to go on about
this, but perhaps you can tell that I've been thinking about this quite a
bit??? Thanks for listening.
[Friend]
----------------------------
MY FINAL REPLY:
Date: May 1, evening
From: John B Kelly
To: [Friend]
Subject: Re: Access at book party #4
Hi [Friend],
Would you feel like posting to the listserv on this, or I could
clean up your posts (removing names, schools, etc) and put them up? Like
Kate Kaul implied in her post, I really think access isn't taken seriously
until those NOT affected speak up. We wheelchair-users are too few,
isolated, and disempowered to get far on our own. I can undxerstand
[other chair user's] reaction, and I do feel like the cart got upset a bit
when you spoke to [the professor] (see next paragraph). But I'm so glad
you did, because it was YOUR action, done from your perspective.
I got another note from [the professor], unexpectedly, titled "an
unfortunate situation," and rather defensive. I hadn't responded to his
more confident earlier note -- I think you got to him a little.
Unfortunately, this defensiveness is probably unavoidable, which is why
it's crucial for AB allies to act -- the resentment can't simply hone in
on the "troublemaker" disabled person ([other chair user's] legitimate
concern). We disabled people need to take the risk of "unleashing" our
allies, who get to act according to their own visions of justice, not
simply acting on "our behalf."
As you can see, too, this has been a very intense time for me,
too.
Take care,
John
----------------------------
FRIEND'S FINAL MESSAGE:
Date: Tue May 02 17:32:20 2000
From: [Friend]
To: John Kelly
Subject: Re: Access at book party #5
Hi John,
Sure, go ahead and share it with the list. And yes, I think that
[other chair user's] worries are entirely warranted. He's built a
_wonderful_ reputation for himself here, and it would jeopardize what he's
worked so hard to attain if he tried to push what is seen as an expensive
change to the building.
I'm sorry if [professor's] note was at all unpleasant for you, but
his defensiveness was probably in response to better understanding the
overall unfairness of it. Also, his actions are limited, given the
"private" nature of the event and the identity of the person hosting it
(the widow of the person to whom the volume is dedicated). He probably
feels quite squeezed right now, and there isn't a good fix for this
particular situation. Does he offend us, or her?
[Friend]
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
MY ORIGINAL POST TO DIS-RESEARCH:
>From [log in to unmask] Wed May 3 16:27:45 2000
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 20:37:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: John B Kelly <[log in to unmask]>
To: Disability Research List <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: When to demand access
I was recently part of a department-wide invite to a book
publication party. My adviser is one of the editors of a sociology
anthology. I'm not sure what to do, and would like the wisdom of anyone
who could respond. I use a power wheelchair, and would never get carried
up steps.
I'm ambivalent about the thing twice: not sure I really wanna go
all that much, but maybe it would be good for networking, etc, since I
might well teach in this field; secondly, I'm not sure whether I wanna
make a deal over it (not sure I would go even if it were accessible, and I
have that "what if" anxiety of "what if they switch locations and I end up
not being able to go?"), but then maybe I should/have to, because of the
exclusion ("We are sorry Mr. Negro [circa 1960 USA], but perhaps you could
enter via the servants' entrance? Once inside, I'm sure you'll enjoy
yourself")
Any relevant experiences?
Thanx,
John
Here's 2nd response from the RSVP person, with names removed.
-----------
John,
I am sorry to report that there are stairs in both the front and back
of [the host's] building. If we could help carry your chair up the
stairs, we'd be happy to do so. Her apartment is all on one floor and
very open (in the eyes of a person not in a wheel chair). I think it is a
fairly accessible place once inside.
I know that power wheelchairs vary greatly, so its your call whether
yours can be carried in doors and whether you'd want that sort of assistance.
[The host] asked me to apologize for the problem.
[RSVP person]
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