I Just Want to Go Out: Thinking About Accesss and Social Attitudes

Hello,

Given the fact that the idea of the blog is an East and West perspective; I thought it might be interesting to do a post occasionally on some of the resources I have found useful as disabled 20 something (well at least for a few more months).  I am in Toronto right now. I am blown away at how difficult it is to find accessible places to eat, and drink.  I find this interesting and frustrating all at the same time.

I find a lack of accessible social space really interesting on two levels:

#1

I question what happens to the social position of disability (what people think of disability) when spaces or activities we commonly use for social gatherings (dates, parties, etc) are inaccessible?   I colleague of mine once commented: “we can build ramps and put in elevators but, we can’t legislate attitudes”. I thought this was an interesting comment. I understand that there is no way to control one’s opinion. However, I often think the connection between what seems like common ignorance and a lack of access are linked. For example: I often meet people whom are surprised to see me out at a pub or night club. This is often denoted by the greeting “it’s so good to see you out” and some sort of gesture to my wheelchair. This is ignorant! This comment irritates me beyond belief.  If you think about it in a broader context though “it is good to see me out”. Many (Not all) of the pubs and clubs in Toronto are inaccessible, or are accessible but, the bathroom is down stairs.  So Yes it is good to see me out because it is likely I have had to traverse a  set of stairs, or refrain from using the bathroom just for the opportunity to attend that social space. It is because of this lack of physical access that I think the amount of visibly  disabled patrons is low. I question how this affects social attitudes. If one is never seen, the assumption or “story” that emerges is that, that population just does not exist or would rather not attend the particular space. We can think about this for other marginalized groups. Think of  when leaders of organizations or communities announce that there are no people in their community who identify as LGBTQ? People only become visible when you create space both socially and literally for them.  If the spaces that are commonly used for social gatherings and social events: where we meet people, where we go on dates, are inaccessible how do we imagine disabled people as part of the social fabric? Recently I went out with a young man who said he would choose the restaurant and call to see if it was accessible.  He struggled to find a place that was accessible. When we finally met up. He was exasperated at how difficult it was, and annoyed that after considerable effort we were still eating somewhere, where I could not pee. To paraphrase he asked “where do you eat?”, “Where do you go on dates?”. When we deny someone access to a common space we not only physically exclude them but, we exclude them from our social discourse. This breeds ignorance and confusion about how someone exists in the world. 

#2.

  I think it’s interesting that when we commonly talk about access we talk about the built environment. I know I have just spent considerable time reflecting on the built environment but, my point is that I think when we think about the built environment we must think about it in concert with other factors of access. Not only is the build environment an issue but, financial access to typical activities is an issue for disabled people. If we stay on the topic of a night out on the town. Accessible transportation is often more expensive, or more time consuming than typical forms of transportation. Disabled people often use their own personal resources to negotiate an inaccessible infrastructure. For example: maintaining a personal car despite living somewhere with a subway  (that is only partially accessible or not at all), or investing in a power or all terrain wheelchair to handle snowy conditions. All of this takes a toll on personal finances if it is even possible financially. Moreover often relatively inexpensive activities for able bodied people are often costly to adapt. For example many of my friends run. Most of them bought a pair of mid-price running shoes (about 100 bucks) and downloaded a “learn to run app”. on their phones. If I want to “run” I have to invest in a racing chair and seek out a club to teach me.  My point being that accessibility is multi-faceted and can be more than ramps. 

These are two of the reasons I find questions of access so fascinating. I think access aids in social imaging of disability. Moreover, I think it is more than just ramps. It speaks to the matrix  of  issues that disabled people negotiate.

I find the lack of access frustrating because, while it is interesting to theorize….

I JUST WANT TO GO OUT!!!

My solution: well not comprehensive is to head to the blogousphere (is that a word?) and check out “Tasting Toronto On Wheels”. I really like this blog.  The author Marlene Benedicto a journalist and food critic who uses a wheelchair, reviews Toronto hotspots for their food and access! Check it out: 

www.tastingtorontoonwheels.me

NB: Many of my ideas about social imagination, social postilion and notions of creating space are animated by the work of  Dr. Tanya Titchkosky. Much of it influenced by the book:

Titchkosky, T. (2007). Reading & writing Disability Differently: The Textured Life of

Embodiment. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.