Learning about the social model of disability as opposed to the medical model has encouraged me to consider my entire involvement with UAL, including my studying, teaching and student experience role.

I feel that more work needs to be done to communicate that if anything is not accessible, it is an issue with that actual thing. Working on a lexicon to communicate concrete flaws before an encounter, or at the very beginning would go a long way to ensuring an inclusive practice, and empower everyone involved.

This video on Scope’s website shares disabled activists thoughts around how in an environment which is considered and fully accessible, they would no longer be disabled, only their impairments still existing. It has also encouraged me not to feel ashamed or scared around sharing my disability with my colleagues and peers. Hopefully through further research I will be able to build up a way to more explicitly share verbally what my needs are so I am not expending and wasting energy just thinking about them in my own head.