Accessibility: Don’t Forget the A in DEI
July marks the beginning of Disability Pride Month, and we at BBUUC are excited to observe and celebrate this special season! Disability Pride Month was first celebrated in July of 1990 and commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990 by former president George H.W. Bush. The ADA was the first national civil rights legislation banning discrimination against disabled people in the world and has since been considered the gold standard for disability rights internationally. The ADA was a historic leap forward for the disability rights movement, but there is still much work left to do.
As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to stand for justice, acknowledge inequity in our society, and advocate for social justice and human dignity for all people. One of the greatest barriers in the disability rights movement is the lack of accessibility and universal design principles in our daily products, environments, and culture. Accessibility is the ability and extent of an individual to reach, enter, or interface with their world. For most of human existence, disabled people have been pushed to the fringes of society due to challenges with access; with technological and financial limitations often cited as rationale for this globally accepted discrimination. In the last century, the advent of modern science and technology has chipped away at this rationale and given us the resources to authentically build a world for all bodies. The ADA was the first crucial step in widening our circle in all aspects of life, and provides a call to action for those committed to the lifelong pursuit of justice and equity.
Despite the protections afforded by the ADA, people with disabilities suffer accessibility barriers daily. These barriers can be as obvious as a narrow doorway preventing a wheelchair user from easily entering a building, and as subtle as a photo on social media which lacks alternative text for the blind. Barriers to access limit education and employment opportunities for the disabled, reduce quality of life, and undermine basic human dignity. The frustration and isolation felt by people coping with limited access that many take for granted cannot be understated. This injustice is further exacerbated in modern times by the simple fact that we now have the resources to right this longstanding wrong and are collectively choosing not to move forward with our inaction.
How do we help? Unitarian Universalists have a proud tradition of social advocacy and fighting for change. The first step is to learn. We must speak to members of the disability community and ask them what challenges they face and how we can help. Too many mistakes are made when we assume to know what is best for someone without their input. This is often described with the slogan “nothing about us without us.” Next, we must educate ourselves. Learn about the disability right movement, look around and think about access barriers in your community, and do the hard and uncomfortable work of unpacking ableism in ourselves. Finally, we must stay informed and be ready to advocate for change, as well as preserving current protections for the disabled community. Many minoritized groups under the DEI umbrella are presently under attack, and the disability community is no exception. There has recently been an insidious undermining of ADA regulations quietly taking place and lost in today’s current daily chaos. It is vital that we, as a spiritual community committed to justice, keep up with the present attacks on accessibility while simultaneously campaigning for universal design in all aspects of life. As July fast approaches, this article serves as a reminder and call to action so that we as UU’s do not forget the “A” in what is accurately written as DEIA – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.
Emily Townsend PT, DPT (she/her)
Dr. Emily Townsend PT, DPT received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado in 2015 and has been in clinical practice for the last ten years. She works with Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, FL where she has served as a pediatric team lead and clinic manager. In addition to working in pediatrics, Emily and her organization have recently begun advocating in the physical therapy profession for further research regarding low vision and its impact on functional mobility and health outcomes. Emily speaks on the national and international levels regarding dismantling ableism in healthcare, disability representation in healthcare, and reducing healthcare disparities in the disability community at large. She is also the creator of Insightfully Sightless, a social media platform which promotes disability stories and advocates for the disability rights movement. She views her lived experience as a blind woman, and one of a handful of blind healthcare professionals in the world, as an advantage born of adversity which enables her to use her background to advocate for disability justice for the betterment of society.