Appendix 4: The “Inviting the community in” support model Inviting community in When people think about what means for disabled people they almost always thing it “inclusion” means disabled people going into community spaces without ever thinking that “mainstream” non6disabled people might need to make a return journey to places in which disabled people know the most or are most comfortable. Turning the direction of around by inviting non6disabled people into places where disabled “inclusion” people feel known and have greater knowledge (social capital) has a number of advantages for everyone, including: Helping non6disabled people see new ways of thinking and seeing the world, as well as learning about disabled experiences, creativity and emotions. people’s Allow disabled people the chance to make community spaces that celebrate their own culture and benefit from the friendship and wisdom of people who have had similar life experiences. Change the way disabled people are sometimes represented as members of “less6productive” the community. Examples of projects in which disabled people have invited non6disabled people into common community include, but are not limited to: Inclusive dance, theatre, cabaret, writing, painting and visual media groups encompassed with a disability arts movement intent on the sliver of “sowing difference into the safe spaces of the (Kuppers, 2003) majority,” Accessible bike building and maintenance collectives, some of which also lend bikes to visitors or members of their community Computer literacy and Alternative and Augmentative Communication classes run by disabled people for the benefit of all members of the community
Appendix 4: The “Inviting the community in” support model Inviting community in When people think about what “inclusion” means for disabled people they almost always thing it means disabled people going into “mainstream” community spaces without ever thinking that non6disabled people might need to make a return journey to places in which disabled people know the most or are most comfortable. Turning the direction of “inclusion” around by inviting non6disabled people into places where disabled people feel known and have greater knowledge (social capital) has a number of advantages for everyone, including: Helping non6disabled people see new ways of thinking and seeing the world, as well as learning about disabled people’s experiences, creativity and emotions. Allow disabled people the chance to make community spaces that celebrate their own culture and benefit from the friendship and wisdom of people who have had similar life experiences. Change the way disabled people are sometimes represented as “less6productive” members of the community. Examples of projects in which disabled people have invited non6disabled people into common community include, but are not limited to: Inclusive dance, theatre, cabaret, writing, painting and visual media groups encompassed with a disability arts movement intent on “sowing the sliver of difference into the safe spaces of the majority,” (Kuppers, 2003) Accessible bike building and maintenance collectives, some of which also lend bikes to visitors or members of their community Computer literacy and Alternative and Augmentative Communication classes run by disabled people for the benefit of all members of the community