When we make the world better for everyone: reframing our action
Have you ever noticed the sloped kerb cuts along the road that make it easier for people using wheelchairs, pushchairs or bicycles to get across?
These kerb cuts were initially designed for people with disabilities but they have had a far-reaching impact on the wider community.
This is known as the 'curb-cut effect'.
(In the UK, we call this a dropped kerb)
The curb-cut effect (as it is widely known) was a term coined by Angela Glover Blackwell.
It refers to the way that accommodations designed for people with disabilities often end up benefiting everyone.
In the case of dropped kerbs, these accommodations have made it easier for all people, regardless of their mobility, to navigate around streets.
When they first gained popularity, dropped kerbs were seen as a costly and unnecessary expense.
But over time, their value became apparent more widely.
They made it easier for people with disabilities to move around but they've also benefited people with pushchairs, shopping trolleys and bicycles.
They made it easier to cross the street and they made pavements more accessible to everyone.
In fact, the benefits of dropped kerbs have been so significant that they have become a model for other accessibility accommodations.
For example, audio description was originally designed for people who are blind or visually impaired but it has become a standard feature on televisions in noisy pubs and restaurants.
Similarly, the push-button door opener was originally designed for people with disabilities but it has become a common feature in public buildings.
When did you last push a button to open a door, even when you could have manually pushed it open because it is more convenient or a better experience?
The dropped kerb effect is a powerful reminder of the importance of accessibility and how accommodations for people with disabilities can have a positive impact on everyone.
It highlights the fact that accessibility is not just about making things easier for a specific group of people but about creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
So, what does that have to do with our work supporting children's wellbeing?
One particular conversation I had one time comes to mind regularly and every time I lead professional development.
I was supporting a Headteacher with strategies and techniques to support his students who needed additional support around their social and emotional wellbeing.
The biggest concern he seemed to have was around how resources need to be distributed fairly across the school, that "it wouldn't be fair to allocate resources to behavioural needs" and he had a duty to all children.
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While it's true he has a duty to all children, there is some quite flawed thinking in what he was concerned about:
First of all:
Fairness is about everyone getting what they need not everyone getting the same.
And second:
When we make the world better for children who need the most care and support* we make the world better for everyone.
*Children who need the most care and support, include children who:
Some of the approaches and strategies we put in place on a day-to-day basis include:
It's not about making school better for 'a select few' - these strategies and approaches improve the quality of life and quality of access to services for everyone.
We can transform our practice and the lives of children and families by removing the limiting beliefs we have and start to create new possibilities.
When we create environments and improve our practice to support the children who need the most care and support, we create environments where every child can flourish.
Reframe your thinking, these strategies and approaches really can benefit every child, it doesn't have to be limited.
The most important thing to remember is to take action. All the information in the world won't make a difference unless you put it into practice!
I really appreciate you investing the time to read my article today, especially knowing your busy schedules and your ongoing to-do lists!
I really do hope that these articles give you the practical tools to implement and make a difference to the lives of the children and families you support.
We are all on a journey of learning, taking the latest research and best practice into account and developing ourselves and our practice.
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As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments, all feedback is warmly welcomed.