Please note that our website is currently under construction and as yet is not accessibility friendly. We sincerely apologise for this but are working towards further development.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR A STUDENT DESIGNER WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP DESIGN OUR WEBSITE SPECIFICALLY TO MEET ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS IN MIND PLEASE.
DISABILITY INSPIRED ALLIANCE
Disability Inspired Alliance (DIA) is a new organisation championing
for the way people living with ‘unseen disabilities’ are seen and perceived in
society as a whole.
Disability Inspired Alliance has
been working tirelessly to develop and introduce ‘a new symbol of
recognition.’ The symbol in question has
been designed to represent people whose disabilities are unseen. DIA realised
the need for a new sign was long overdue since several members in the organization are themselves living with unseen disabilities.
Fundamentally, DIA are striving for
social change at a local,regional, national and international level. Acceptability,inclusion and accessibility
were the three main areas that inspired DIA to explore the need for change.
With the use of both a new pictorial
image and the letters USD (UnSeen Disability), DIA will push for their sign to be both standardized
and used as Public Information Symbols both locally, nationally and globally.
The DIA clearly want the use of the pictorial signage and letters not only to
be used to convey a message but to act as an effective way of providing
important visual information.
DIA, Directors and Designers Eureka
Shabazz, herself disabled and Gary Lecky argue that this is a political, social and environmental move
to highlight the difficulties people living with unseen disabilities are faced
with each and every day.
Arduous research carried out by DIA
showed that people living with unseen disabilities were more likely to
experience discrimination and prejudice not only from able-bodied people but from
other disabled people, particularly those in wheelchairs (mobility chairs) and
those with walking sticks.
The DIA could find no signage
symbol representative of unseen disabilities with the exception of
three signs that represented Blind and Partially Sighted people (see Symbols 1,
2, 3 and 4 below) and the Access to Hearing.
Blind or Partially Sighted Sign
Symbol 2.
Partially
Sighted or Blind Sign
Symbol
3
In fact the only generic sign mis-representing disabled people is the pictorial image of the standardize
wheelchair itself which is currently used nationally and internationally.
Symbol
4
CASE STUDIES
An interview with one such woman, who
herself was ambulant said; ‘The wheelchair does not represent me because I’m
not in a wheelchair. Although I can walk, I find it very very difficult.’ Another man who was interviewed by the DIA was
very unhappy about the global image of a wheelchair used to highlight his
disability.
When DIA spoke with young teenager
living with an UnSeen Disability, she said, ‘Every time I book tickets at a
theatre I always get asked the same question, are you in a wheelchair?’
The DIA also found that there often
seems to be a hierarchical structure of disability which appeared to exist
between those in wheelchairs and those who were not therefore perpetuating a
division between the two groups. Wheelchair users ranking themselves the
highest, followed by walking-stick users then those who were partially blind.
People
living with unseen disabilities also felt that they had
to prove their disability to those who had visible disabilities. Proof of disability often stems from having
to prove the degree of disability through Works and Pensions - DLA assessments thus
compounding the unseen issue.
DIA also found that people living
with unseen disabilities were frequently told ‘you don’t look disabled’ or
asked what their disability was or even as far to say that they should not be allowed
to park in disabled bays because they weren’t in a wheelchair or carrying a
pair of crutches!
Arguably one has to question, ‘what
does disability look like and whose perception of disability is it? Furthermore, is there a set model of
disability? The answer is yes. Not only is there a set model of disability
but two other models; the medical model and the rehabilitation model each with
their own set of criteria’s and definitions.
With the introduction of The
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in 1995, this legislation was largely
implemented to promote and ensure civil rights for disabled people and to
protect disabled people from discrimination.
However, discriminative comments
towards people with unseen disabilities were indicative of people’s attitudes,
stereotypical perceptions, cultural influences, myths, assumptions and
prejudices. It was clear from those we
spoke to that having a disability seemed to be perceived purely as physical
ailments as opposed to conditions that caused disabilities.
Comments such as ‘Why do you have a
blue badge?’ and ‘This toilet is only for disabled people and ‘Do you know that
seat is for disabled people?’ made it poignantly clear that the Disability
Discrimination Act of 1995 is not protecting people with UnSeen Disabilities
from discrimination.
In 2003 the Disability Rights
Commission wrote,
‘Legislation is no guarantor of social change; nor can
the law operate in isolation from other social and economic forces. The causes of social change are complex, the
reasons for legislative impotence various. To stand a chance of success the law
must be adequately framed......’ (Politcs.co.u.k website)
The DIA state that it is important
to remember unseen disabilities are simply ailments that may debilitate a person
but are not always visibly seen. Unseen ailments can range from:-
- Hearing impairment (Deafness)
- Partially sighted/Visually Impaired
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Visual Impairments
Most people assume if you are not
in a wheelchair, using a walking stick or don’t have a guide dog then you don’t
have a disability. This could not be
further from the truth.
DIA’s Pictorial ‘Symbol of
Recognition’ and letters USD (UnSeen
Disabilities) aims to be symbols/signs which will not only deliver a message, but move towards developing a better
understanding towards those living with UnSeen Disabilities.
We at Disability
Inspired Alliance (DIA) feel it is important for you to fully
understand who we are, what we do and the objectives of our organization. Disability
Inspired Alliance (D.I.A) was initially
set up after lengthy discussions with people living with both seen and unseen
disabilities.
We found that people living with Unseen Disabilities feel they have to
‘prove’ their disabilities at times to general members
of the public. They are presently
misrepresented by only one existing generic sign the wheelchair! We at D.I.A have
designed several new generic Public Information Signs which truly represents
Unseen Disabilities and are currently working on others.
Disability Inspired Alliance (DIA) who are a
Community Interest based organization, with less than five employees, carried out research and recognized the need to create
change within society and began championing arduously for people living with
Unseen disabilities such as:-
D.I.A states that we
should all ask ourselves two fundamental questions – ‘What does disability look
like? And whose perception is it? What is important to remember, ‘Not all
disabilities are seen.’ One of the
Directors of D.I.A,
Eureka, is herself disabled and knows only too well of the prejudices of having
a disability.
D.I.A’s KEY PRINCIPLE PHILOSOPHY –
- ·To champion on behalf of Adults and
Children living
with Unseen Disabilities
- To raise awareness of the prejudices associated with
Disabilities
- To create new Public Information
Signs for Accessibility
- To work towards creating awareness of
Public Information Signs locally, nationally and internationally.
