Dale Cruse, CPACC’s Post

Barrier Free – Blindness (Photo in “Japan: The Basics” (2nd Edition)) #Japan #JapanTheBasics #Photography #Symbolism #BarrierFree #Blindness #Blind #Disability

I'm working on an exciting blog for Another-Now, focusing on hidden and visible disabilities in the fashion industry. I’ll be exploring why we don't see enough representation of disabled models. In the past, disabilities were often ignored or hidden. Could this past neglect be why the fashion industry still doesn't feature disabled models as much as it should? 🤔 Tell me, what are your thoughts about the disabled/hidden disabilities in the fashion industry? Please do comment down below.👇👇👇 #disabilities #fashion #disabledmodels #hiddendisabilities #deafness #disabledfashion #adaptive #anothernow #photographer #fashionblog #deafphotographer

The Hiding of Disability: Confronting the Uncomfortable Truth about Disability Erasure What happened with Tempest Photography is something that lurks in the shadows of societal norms and cultural expectations, a deeply ingrained discomfort with #disability—a discomfort that fuels the erasure of disabled people and bodies from public consciousness. This discomfort stems from ableism, a pervasive system of discrimination that privileges able-bodiedness while marginalizing and devaluing #disabledexperience. At the heart of this erasure is the uncomfortable reminder that #disabledbodies challenge prevailing notions of health, productivity, and worth. In a society fixated with perfection and productivity, disability is often perceived as a flaw to be concealed rather than a natural facet of human #diversity to be at least respected if not celebrated as a reminder of #resilience and overcoming. The discomfort surrounding #disability is further compounded by its association with disease, dependency, and fragility. These negative stereotypes perpetuate fear and pity, reinforcing the narrative that disability is something to be feared, shamed or even avoided altogether. As a result, #disabled people are often relegated to the margins of society, their voices silenced and their experiences invalidated. Ableism thrives on the premise of normalcy, perpetuating the belief that deviation from the norm is inherently undesirable. This narrow-minded perspective not only erases the rich diversity of human experience but also reinforces harmful hierarchies that privilege certain bodies over others. Moreover, the erasure of #disability from public discourse and exposure perpetuates systemic #inequalities, denying disabled individuals access to resources, #opportunities, and #representation. From inaccessible infrastructure to discriminatory hiring practices, ableism permeates every aspect of society, erecting barriers that exclude #disabled people from fully participating in public life. To see this started in schools where class photography is something children celebrate and relish is not only appalling but shameful. It demonstrates how despite DEI interventions disability is still seen as something to be hidden from view and erased. Only by confronting the uncomfortable truths about #disabilityerasure and challenging attitudes with a collective commitment to dismantling #ableism in all its forms that change can happen. It demands embracing #disability as an integral part of the human experience, so we can create a more just and #compassionate society one where every individual is valued for their unique contributions, regardless of their ability or perceived difference. It's time to unmask ableism, confront the discomfort, and build a world where #disability is not hidden or erased, but celebrated as an aspect of our shared #humanity. https://lnkd.in/d6ghx-Gb

FYI, new doc'y..... "The Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment (GADIM) has a documentary film, Props No More, underway that will introduce viewers to disabled media creators who are making content that challenges the continuing negative stereotypes of disability in much mass media. The disabled creators in the documentary are from journalism, film, online media, and the entertainment industry and illustrate to the world how to maneuver around barriers to make empowering and accessible media. Props No More the film will continue as Props No More the media platform to be a place for disabled media creators to teach and mentor disability community members worldwide who want to create their own innovative media content."

'YUCKY' STUFF & ABLEIST THINKING A great segment on Radio National last week - highly recommend a read/listen. Daniel Browning In the segment, amongst other great interviews, is one with Sam Petersen, an artist behind an exhibition, entitled 'Yucky', which confronts ideas of 'yuckiness' & other prejudices faced by people living with disabilities. This segment reinforces the 'burning need', in Australia, to embrace a social model of disability, rather than a medical model - particularly in our housing & built environments. What does this mean? Social Model of Disability: - Says that disability is caused by the way society is organised Medical Model: - Says people are disabled by their impairments or differences - Looks at what is 'wrong' with the person & not what the person needs - Creates low expectation & leads to people losing independence, choice & control in their own lives For Example: A young man with a wife and young children has an accident which results in needing a wheelchair for mobility. When he leaves hospital, he wants to return to his home to resume living with his wife and children - his family. In a social model, the home could already enable his return with only minor modifications because it was designed to suit a greater range of physical capacities from the outset, as all homes are (in this fantasy world of inclusion). In the medical model, he would remain in hospital until a communal home designed for people with disabilities became available. We need our housing to be broad fit and inclusive. Our existing and emerging housing stock continues to be ableist and discriminatory. #inclusivedesign #inclusionmatters #designforchange

"This 9-year-old double amputee will walk the runway at New York Fashion Week" When I see titles like these, I think to myself: "So what? Many other kids get to do this. Is it only the disability that makes her special?" But I often read the article anyway because the story may be interesting or inspiring, despite the unfortunate title. I'm always disappointed when, alas, the article highlights the disability, not the individual. Another opportunity missed to explore the inner life, dreams, aspirations, and emotions of a person with a disability. Another opportunity missed to illustrate that we are people first, living our lives, adapting to our challenges, pursuing our goals. Another opportunity to celebrate an extraordinary human being.....who happens to have a disability. I hate how insidious it is. It can be subtle, and often escapes the notice of disabled people, as well as able-bodied people. We need to start critically thinking, and pushing back. Start demanding person centered titles. Writers need to use quotes from the individual, not their caregiver. Share how they feel and what their goals are. How did they get here, and why is it such an accomplishment.

[ 🗒 Free Access Article] “They really looked, looked and looked:” Contemporary dance, disability and the circulation of emotions Over the past decade, several inclusive dance projects, in which professional dancers with and without disabilities collaborate, have been started in Sweden. The article explores disabled and able-bodied dancers’ and leaders’ experiences of and strategies for managing gazes and emotions – in encounters with the audience and other surrounding people – from a phenomenological perspective. Eleven qualitative interviews were conducted. The interviewees meet gazes filled with benevolence, surprise, pity and fascination. The emotions stick to the disabled dancers’ bodies, distance them from their own bodies and arouse uneasiness that needs to be handled. However, disabled dancers and disabled persons in the audience may also meet in the gaze of recognition. The companies’ internal gazes are important, too. When disabled dancers are only physically integrated or when differences are hidden, the potential for change gets lost. If choreographers and audiences succeed in looking beyond the body itself, an empathetic identification may take place. Another strategy is to completely break with voyeurism by blocking all gazes. The companies show new ways of interacting, thus expanding the possibilities for both able and disabled bodies. Read this article by Elisabet Apelmo in the latest issue of Alter - European Journal of Disability research/Revue européenne de recherche sur le handicap (18-1/2024), avaiable onlinde : https://lnkd.in/dHgg-Jei #Dance #Disability #Phenomenology #Gazes #Emotions

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔: Nipun Malhotra, founder of an organization promoting disability awareness objected to the portrayal of disabled characters in the film "𝑨𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒉 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊" and filed a legal notice to #Sony Pictures. But, the film was already released with a 'U' certification from CBFC. 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕 rejected dismissed the #petition on grounds of "maintainability" and said that the primary challenge i.e. overcoming disability was not established. 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬: 1. They said that the "the freedom of speech and expression of the #filmmaker on one hand & the rights of persons with disabilities need not be balanced because the rights in question (dignity, non-discrimination and #equality) do not include the right to curb the filmmakers’ rights to exhibit a film duly certified for such exhibition". 2. SC emphasized that films must be certified considering contemporary societal standards and must not needlessly portray abuse of disabled persons. 3. Further, stressed the need for #media to shift focus from medical aspects of disability to social barriers. Hence, the Court highlighted the need for #awareness and inclusion of disability experts in certification processes but refrained from imposing new guidelines or specific changes to the film. 𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐎𝐕: The Supreme Court was right to find a 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 "𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫" 𝐚𝐧𝐝 "𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫" and to rule that films must be certified based on contemporary societal standards. However, Sony Pictures has not apologized for using outrageous words to define disability, which is disappointing. Nipun Malhotra Thank you, for fighting this case and bringing this important development to our cinematography era. Films are a powerful medium for change, and it’s crucial that they portray all people with respect and dignity. #cinematographyact #RPwdact #humanright

Do you have trouble finding representative, real-life images to go with your content or story? I will be joining Lara Davis at a webinar on 18 April to talk about Business Disability Forum's 'Changing the image of disability' campaign, and the new, free image bank available to journalists, picture editors and media organisations. We will be sharing images from the collection. We will also be talking through guidance for everyone on how to commission, select and use images around disability not just in disability-focused content but in all content. This is a free event, which is open to journalists, picture editors,  marketing and PR agencies, publishers, brand professionals, photographers and businesses. Sign up for the event: https://ow.ly/ikSQ50Rb9ls [Text description: Under three images of disabled people in different settings, the text reads: Free webinar for journalists and media organisations. Thursday 18 April at 10.30am. Need to find authentic images to portray disabled people and disability? Want access to a free image bank? Not sure how to select and commission realistic images of disability] #PictureResearcher #PictureEditor #PictureDesk #FreelanceJournalist #ChangingTheImageOfDisability #InclusiveCommunication #StockImages #FreeImageBank

We at SoundScribe Accessibility are over the moon to share these short videos by Daryl and Co, a Disabled-led children's theatre company. The 6 short films respond to common questions around disability asked by young people and raise awareness of the social model of disability in a playful and fun way. Each film features dancers and colourful animation and are around one minute long (easy to watch on a lunch break!). 🟡 Do you always need help? 🔴 What’s wrong with you? 🔵 How do you get somewhere if there are only stairs? ⚪️ Why do you use a wheelchair when you can walk? 🟢 What is it like to use a wheelchair? 🟣 How do you get into your bed? Thanks to Quiplash CIC for the hookup on this project. Produced in collaboration with Mimbre and commissioned by The Space (Digital Arts) https://lnkd.in/dM7sb5za All of the films have integrated captions and audio description. Please share with the young people in your life 👦 👧🏾 👶🏼 #accessibility #disabilityinclusion #dance #audiodescription