Yes, the Jane Elliot exercise is extremely interesting I think. And by
raising them as an issue you helped me get at the core of my negativism.
What I really have against disability simulation is that they seldom are
just that - simulation of disablement. They are, I think, most of the
times just simulation of impairment or simulation of being "bound" to a
specific technical aid. Catering to the question: What does it feel
like?
I believe that to simulate disablement you have to create a situation
where the "ordinary" life conditions and personal characteristics of
non-disable people are turned around and in themselves form the basic
for exclusion. Only then will people be able to experience in some way
what it means to be ousted because of who you are or what you represent.
If the simulation contains impairment connected experience the feeling
of exotism and wonder will cloud that issue, making it possible - yes
indeed easy - to "blame" the feeling of being the outsider on the
impairment, and so on the persons themselves. I also believe it is
extremely important to have a qualified and trained group performing the
exercise, making sure it does not get "sour" half way through.
I tried to interest a local disability organisation for the Elliot
exercise a couple of years back. The board members were very sceptic and
negative to introducing it here in Sweden. The reason mentioned being
that it would create too much anger among the participants and so would
harm the struggle for disability rights. To me that signalled that the
exercise probably would have been useful. I mean if you are used to
privilege and do not get angry when you are put in a position of
oppression - you should really question if the exercise simulate
oppression in a good enough way. Or shouldn't you?
If any of you have knowledge of exercises of this type I would
appreciate information as the subject is bit of a bug on my brain.
Susanne
Susanne Berg
Luntmakargatan 86 A
113 51 Stockholm
tel. 08 . 157354 mob. 070 . 515 7356
e-post [log in to unmask]
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Från: The Disability-Research Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] För Keith McVilly
Skickat: den 30 april 2002 08:18
Till: [log in to unmask]
Ämne: Simulation exercises
Concerning the effectiveness of simulation exercises (and I can
appreciate both sides of the argument as they have been presented in
recent weeks), I'm surprised that no one has thought to debate the
controversial "Brown eyes - Blue eyes" exercises developed by Jane
Elliott. These simulation exercises were specifically developed to
raise consciousness about racism and the effects of labels.
For further details, try: www.horizonmag.com/4/jane-elliott.asp
Regards,
Keith.
Keith R. McVilly
B.A.., Grad. Dip. Psych., M. Psych. (Clinical)
MAPS & Member of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists
University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine
Centre for Developmental Disability Studies
PO Box 6 RYDE 1680
New South Wales
Australia
Tel. 61-(0)2 - 8878 0500
Fac. 61-(0)2 - 9807 7053
Mob. 61-0419 590 857
E-mail [log in to unmask]
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