I agree with Beth (see below). When the excercises are designed to teach
global lessons about the disability experience I think they are misguided
and offensive. BUT, i have recently been thinking that there are some very
specific, practical lessons that a targeted excercise can deliver. For
instance, architects should have the oppportunity to experience what the
real turning radius of a wheelchair (or several different kinds of
wheelchairs) is/are, or slopes of ramps. Or the difference between different
kinds of tactile stimuli. Or.... many others. I know this is all
pie-in-the-sky because architects and others get next to NOTHING about
disability, besides codes and law. Nothing about ideas, about social
participation, philosophy etc. But, my point is that the more specific and
practical, the more I think those kinds of direct experience can yield
useful information. Anything that smacks of "crip for a day" should be
abolished. simi
Simi Linton
Disability/Arts
140 Riverside Drive
New York, New York 10024
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
[log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 12:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: disabiility simulation exercises?
Hi Shane and all!
It seems to me that urban planners would be better served by feedback from
disabled people who know best about environmental barriers rather than just
have able-bodied folks simulate the disability experience. Who better to
ask
than the experts, the folks who navigate barriers every day of their lives?
Simulation exercises are clearly medical model contrivances, which are
designed to elicit either pity, revulsion, frustration, or other negative
reactions. If someone puts on a pair of smudged eyeglasses or glasses with
black spots in the center, or a blindfold, this still does not represent my
experience of blindness.
We do not need people trying to know our daily living skills. I find these
exercises to be presumptuous, silly tests of functional limitation that only
reinforce "lack" or "difference." We need for able-bodied people to examine
their own attitudes and behavior toward disability and disabled people. We
need equal opportunity and enforcement of our civil rights, not inaccurate
"simulations" of impairment to give an able-bodied person a feel-good
experience.
Of course, this is just my opinion and I never claim to speak for any other
disabled, or nondisabled person, for that matter.
All good wishes,
Beth
Beth Omansky Gordon
The George Washington University
Washington, DC
USA
In a message dated 4/22/2002 8:42:13 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
> Hi Keith,
>
> I agree listening is important and vital - you are absolutely right - and
> no, I do not "think" anything you said in your first few lines below is
> true - thats the downside to quick email discussions on listservs - not
> everything gets explained fully no matter how hard one tries. I wish
Lilith
> all the best with respect to her endeavour in critiquing these exercises -
> a
> worthy endeavour and ambitious task to say the least. Im sure she'll find
> lots of problems and examples of what should not be done.
>
> All Im trying to say is that for some people (not everyone) there is
> utility
> in simulation exercises. Nobody is saying he/she fully "understands" what
> its like to walk in someone else's shoes - whether your black, orange,
blue
> or purple and of varying ability - Explain why we shouldnt be doing
> disability simulation exercises with folks who in any other situation
> wouldnt even think about the issues? Particularly in the context of my
> profession - urban planners, developers etc? For the faults that may
reside
> in any given exercise - nothings perfect - the upside potential is so much
> greater. I too see the "problems" and understand the points you are making
> but it still doesnt persuade me not to try and raise some level of
> awareness
> that may prevent one individual from making one new "barrier". Just my
> humble opinion.
>
> Thanks for your thoughts,
>
> shane
>
________________End of message______________________
Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List
are now located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
________________End of message______________________
Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List
are now located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
|