Audre Lorde – writer, activist, poet, mother, warrior, lesbian, black, woman, feminist, socialist, teacher, librarian
Learning from the 1960s, talk delivered at the Malcom X Weekend, Harvard University in 1982.
I teach contextual studies at a university located just outside London and recently, the lifts in the building were out of action. Announcements were made to inform students of the change and why. We changed building where accessibility wouldn’t be an issue, and everybody attended the lecture without any absences. Out of the 74 students in the cohort, two are wheelchair users. While I’m uncertain about the number of students with non-visible disabilities among the remaining 72, it was important not to make assumptions about who may or may not rely on the lift. It made me consider whether the dashboard differentiates between visible and non-visible disabilities? And what falls under the category of Other Disabilities? I also don’t know what other aspects of the individuals’ identities interact with their disabilities.
One of the insights taken from the short films is the intricate nature of intersectional identities, encouraging me to consider not only the main categories but also the nuanced layers within them. For example, Ade’s disability is visible, whereas Chay and Christine’s disabilities are non-visible, which introduces another layer of complexity; they may face challenges in accessing support. Additionally, living with a non-visible disability can be slight, or it can have a huge effect on their daily lives. This becomes a more significant issue when disability then intersects with other aspects of individuals’ identities.
‘There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives’ is what Audre Lorde (2017, p. 124) and others before her had already been talking about. And Kimberlé Crenshaw provided a framework for understanding the concept of Intersectionality. Ade Adepitan, a black, disabled, male Paralympian, TV presenter, and author, illustrates double discrimination at the intersection of race and disability. For example, job rejections with explanations such as “they can’t accommodate you” or “it’s too difficult” due to disability or encountering racial prejudice without clear reasons for job rejection making it challenging to prove, in other words, systemic discrimination.
Christine Sun Kim shares how her invisible disability intersects with various aspects of her identity, including being a mother, artist, female, Asian, and her socioeconomic status. She discusses relying on interpreters for communication, which amplifies challenges in navigating accessibility in areas such as education and entertainment. Additionally, being a mother affects her artistic practice. She reflects on her experiences living in different countries and acknowledges the benefits of governments that support their citizens.
Chay Brown, Director of Operations, discusses the intersectionality of his identities: neurodiverse (hidden disability), male, white, trans man, gay. He explores how these intersect within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly regarding mental health and neurodiversity. As a neurodiverse individual, he faces challenges integrating into the gay community, such as deciphering nonverbal cues and navigating social situations.
In other ways their disabilities have also empowered them in various ways: For Christine being an artist allowed her to enter the hearing world. The Paralympics provided Ade with the opportunity to shine. Chay established TransActive to address challenges within the LGBTQ+ community. They all expressed the importance of visibility and recognition. Ade emphasised the need for inclusive spaces for everyone without segregation, while Chay promoted open dialogue and comfort in sharing experiences. Christine used her art to assert the presence of the deaf community. Ultimately, their messages revolve around prioritising people and their experiences.
[552 words]
References
Lorde, A. (2017) Your Silence Will Not Protect You. Great Britain: Silver Press.
Paralympics GB (2020) Ade Adepitan gives amazing explanation of systemic racism. 16 October 2020. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAsxndpgagU (Accessed: 5 April 2024).
TED Talk (2016) Kimberlé Crenshaw: The urgency of intersectionality. October 2016. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality/transcript?language=en (Accessed: 5 April 2024).
Hi Sheran,
I really enjoyed reading your work, we got to know what your professional field is, in addition to the ‘dis’abilities of the students you teach. Quoting Audre Lorde, was such a beautiful touch because it emphasises how every individual is indeed a multifaceted diamond. I am curious about how you can recognise it with in your classroom and what the process is for that recognition.
Your consideration of visible and hidden disabilities when it comes to the UAL dashboard data is well questioned as it leads you to asking about how disabilities are differentiated- and what support can be given. I’m curious to know how you think UAL should tackle this issue?
I think what stands out the most to me is that you recognise Christine Sun Kim as a mother which is a crucial part of her identity and the art she makes- but also as she has travelled to many countries she sees differing levels of support for accessibility. I think how you speak of Ade Adepitan and his experience of discrimination as a wheelchair user and black man in the UK really backs the fact that here in the UK we must do more to accommodate everyone, including those who have visible and hidden disabilities , because accessibility is for everyone.
Thank you for sharing your point of view!!
kind regards,
Leila
Hi Leila,
Thanks for your comments. Regarding invisible and invisible disabilities unknown on the UAL dashboard date could be updated with categories such as ‘autism, mental health, acquired/traumatic brain injury, sensory processing, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, partial sight and hearing loss’ – I guess the question is whether there is a definitive list – especially in regards to the spectrum and who decides what is invisible or not.
Hi Sheran,
Your blog was an insightful read. I liked how you use the example of the broken lift in the building to frame issues relating to accessibility as well as linking this to the dashboard data. I wonder what would have happened if no other accessible spaces were available that day? A friend told me about the site Euan’s guide (https://www.euansguide.com/) which reviews the accessibility of different venues and buildings, in which to benchmark other venues and spaces with.
The questions you pose in relation to the dashboard data are also very interesting, I also thought about what is meant by the Other Disabilities category. And if there is a way to take into consideration how disability interacts with other identity aspects, what could this show?
In your review of the interview resources, you mentioned the nuanced layers of each of the individuals intersectional identities, and I like how you have picked up on the non-visible and visible sides of disability and how this does affect lives in very minor or major ways. The Audre Lorde quote you use in the beginning perfectly sums up the complex lives and challenges the interviewees face. I think you are right in saying the interviewees disabilities have empowered and pushed them to create those spaces and visibility which don’t exist, for example Chay establishing TransActual or for Christine Sun Kim using large scale graphics and murals to raise awareness for equality for deaf people.
Thanks for your comment Jon, I wondered this too ‘how disability interacts with other identity aspects, what could this show?’ – I think intersectionality is a useful framework, and works well in some cases, but at times I also think that our intersectional identities are very complex and question whether we need to be grouped or remain as individuals.
Hi Sheran,
I greatly appreciate your thoughtful words on disability, intersectionality, and empowerment.
You show great care when addressing the fact that many disabilities are not necessarily visible and that accommodation is a necessity (not a “good to have”).
You articulate the ways disability intersects with the multitude of identities of the authors from our sources, noting the way they can compound systemic discrimination.
Finally, I appreciate that you end on a hopeful note: that visibility and inclusivity can engender empowerment and progress. A great note to end on as we embark on bringing these lessons into the classroom.
Thanks Adam for your comments. I also think universities can play a larger role in ensuring we have the resources and means to enable us to engender empowerment and progress.