Disability Awareness Training: Addressing attitudinal barriers

Written By A O

Adapted from ‘Resilience & the Power of Opportunity’, a training delivered to SEIN members by the Diversity Trust.

Last month The Diversity Trust delivered training on disability awareness for SEIN members and some of the wider community. The training was delivered by Samantha Renke, who is an actress, broadcaster, writer, disability rights campaigner, and diversity & inclusion consultant. You can find out more about Samantha and her work here.

During the training societal attitudes towards disability were challenged and some of the harms of these attitudes were explained. Here, we will highlight some of the key messages from the training and give some direction on how we can educate ourselves.

Challenging Misconceptions

‘Registered Disabled’ isn’t a thing

There is no register of people with disabilities. In fact, the term ‘registered disabled’ is harmful and can be mis-leading, putting an unachievable pressure on people to ‘prove’ their disability. Disabled people have pushed back against the formation of a register as it could further stigmatised the community, and there is concern the information could be misused.

Take a personally tailored approach to language

Different people prefer different terminology, it is good to be aware of commonly preferred terms but make sure to respect individual preferences.

People often prefer ‘unseen’ for disabilities that aren’t visible as it doesn’t minimise the disability.

People in the Deaf community tend to capitalise the ‘D’ to reflect that it is part of their identity, not a diagnosis.

Making businesses accessible is financially beneficial

The Purple Pound refers to the collective spending power of disabled consumers. The spending power of disabled people and their families is worth an estimated £274 billion a year the UK. Check out PurpleTuesday.co who help organisations understand and implement solutions for enhanced accessibility.

Outdated Legislation enforces barriers

A lot of policy and legislation has been created and worded by non-disabled people. This can force disabled people to use derogatory and uncomfortable language when trying to access support.

When the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) was merged into the Equalities Act (2010) many thought that it diluted the emphasis on the specific needs of disabled people, shifting focus from equity.

Combating ableism can benefit a wide cross-section of society

An example of this is the ‘curb-cut effect’, the phenomenon of disability-friendly features being used and appreciated by a larger group than the people they were designed for. Curb-cuts were designed with wheelchair users in mind, but benefit pushchair users, elderly people, cyclists, people with luggage, postal workers, …

Pre-covid disabled people were calling for the use of video meetings as a reasonable adjustment. We have seen how useful video meetings have been to both disabled and non-disabled workers.

Disabled people don’t have ‘special’ needs

What is special about the need to use the loo, go to the park, have clothes that fit? Like everyone disabled people have specific needs, these needs are just less commonly met.

There are more clothing lines for pets than there are for disabled people. Disabled people are already infantilised by society and this is exacerbated by unsuitable clothing, leaving people more open to abuse.

“Nothing About Us Without Us”

“Nothing About Us Without Us” is a slogan used by disabled activists, emphasising that disabled people need to be at the forefront (or at least included in) of all work towards disability equality.

Q: In an environment where funding for consultation is tight, how can organisations ensure that people with disabilities are involved in decision making?

A: Disabled people already face extra costs to have the same standard of living as non-disabled people – the ‘Disability Price Tag’. In 2023 Scope estimated this on average to be an additional £975 per household, so it is extremely important not to ask for free labour from people with disabilities. Instead you can:

  • Use social media: Hashtags like #ActuallyAutistic and #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs collate ideas, opinions, and resources already online from disabled people.

  • Consult established organisations: Asking for guidance or partnership with existing organisations can take the strain off unpaid individuals. Check out the work of Glasgow Disability Alliance and the Scottish Co-production Network.

  • Apply for specific funding: Access to Work is a government grant scheme which helps people with a disability to start or remain in employment, helping support your employees with disabilities. Funding listed on SCVO can be filtered to funds supporting access for disabled people, consider including the salary of a project lead or consultant with lived experience in funding bids. We will also make an effort to include any relevant funds in our newsletters!

The Medical Model of Disability

The medical model of disability says people are disabled by their impairments or differences. The medical model looks at what is 'wrong' with the person, not what the person needs. Many believe it creates low expectations and leads to people losing independence, choice and control in their lives. In mainstream culture it can be seen in things like ‘Children in Need’, the film ‘Me Before You’, and the use of a puzzle piece as the symbol for autism.

You’re disabled under the Equality Act (2010) “If you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.”

The Social Model of Disability

The social model of disability is a way of viewing the world, developed by disabled people. It is the idea that “I am not the problem – attitudinal, environmental & social barriers are the problem”.

 
 

The UN defines people with disabilities as “Those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

Summary

Society disables people through barriers:

  • Physical

  • Communication & Information

  • Attitudinal

The information in this post begins to address attitudinal barriers we may be subconsciously enforcing and can be used as a springboard to further learning. It is important to continue to educate ourselves so we can collectively dismantle all the barriers disabled people face.

Learn More

Watch:

  • Trapped, Disabled & Abused: Dispatches: Documentary revealing the lack of awareness and support for disabled survivors of domestic abuse.

  • Silenced: The Hidden Story of Disabled Britain: The shocking story of how disabled people in Britain were shut out of society for decades – and how they fought back.

  • Crip Camp: Documentary about a groundbreaking summer camp that galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement.

  • Then Barbara Met Alan: The untold love story of two cabaret performers and disability rights activists who met at a gig, fell in love and became the driving force behind an unprecedented campaign of direct action.

  • I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much: TED talk by comedian and journalist Stella Young that breaks down society's habit of turning disabled people into "inspiration porn."

Read:

  • Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw: Reimagining Success as a Disabled Achiever (Eddie Ndopu): A memoir penned with one good finger, Ndopu writes about being profoundly disabled and profoundly successful.

  • Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century (Edited by Alice Wong): Collection of contemporary essays by disabled people.

  • Go the Way Your Blood Beats (Emmett de Monterey): Emmett de Monterey tells us what it was like growing up as a disabled queer kid in 1980s London.

From the Diversity Trust:

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Pronouns and the Importance of Gender Inclusive Language