Asiya
I want to echo Robert's concerns...particularly his encouragement
for some serious critical reflection on notions of "disability" & "normalcy"
I would suggest that you consider, as one possible alternative,
to provide a small slice of the magnificent DIVERSITY
of those of us living with disabilities...
to paraphrase Robert "PWDs (simply) being ourselves"...in all our
glory, complexity, simplicity
perhaps you can provide images of us :
at home, work, play, in dance, art, theatre, film -- creative
endeavors of any/all manner...
living and working, around the world
images that will challenge and destabilize the (simple, simplistic,
reductionistic) taken-for-granted categories of "disabled";
"normalcy;" "able-bodied"...and offfer a larger, more expansive, more
inclusive -- and humanistic as well as provocative -- vista of the
human community and condition
You might even consider asking PWDs to send you photos of themselves
in their home, work, communities...you could do this through various
listserves and on social media such as Facebook, twitter, you tube,
etc.
I would imagine that the response would be wonderful!
And who knows what will emerge in and through this process? a website
with images of PWDs from across the globe...a point of departure for
on-going critical and generative dialogue and networking...more?
I sincerely think that this simple project of creating a calendar
could lead to some exciting processes
Sincerely
Amy H. Gardner
"My deepest concern seems to be the survival of manhood, of humanity,
of the spirit, because if these blossom and take hold, the economic,
the social, the political injustices will fall for lack of support; or
at least so I am obliged to think"
Katherine Dunham
Amy H. Gardner, MD, MPH, PhD
Medical Anthropologist
Independent Scholar, Educator and Consultant
Founder and Director,
Orísun Healing Consultancy
(orísun n. “source”; “well-spring”)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert Williams-Findlay <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 15:06:11 +0100
Subject: Re: Positive disability images?
To: [log in to unmask]
I have a real problem with this concept: "positive disability images" -
what does it mean? Now a photo of the Minister for Disabled People with an
axe buried in her skull might just work for me - but joking apart, I find
the concept problematic.
What is "disability" here? Does it refer to the nature of individual's
impairment (measured functional loss) or oppressive social restrictions? Are
these images where disabled people ape "normality" or maybe strive to
establish social worth? I reject the whole idea of positive disability
imagery - David Hevey makes a very strong case against it. However Asiya,
if you want to show disabled people engaged in protests or challenging the
status quo - then that opens up a different dynamic. Disabled people being
ourselves is not a "positive disability" images as far as I'm concerned.
Bob Williams-Findlay
On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 11:22 AM, Asiya Islam <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I am in the process of developing a diversity calendar for LSE and am
> looking for images related to disability. However, I do not want
> stereotypical wheelchair images of disability. Does anybody know of a good
> image resource for this purpose?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Asiya Islam
>
> Equality and Diversity Intern
> London School of Economics and Political Science
>
> ________________End of message________________
>
> This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
> Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (
> www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
>
> Enquiries about list administration should be sent to
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Archives and tools are located at:
> www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
>
> You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
>
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
Disability Studies at the University of Leeds
(www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to
[log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
|