CYC 3000 - Disability Justice Manifesto
Welcome & Thank you for being here!
This is a safe space to obtain knowledge regarding the disability justice model, disability models in CYC practices and how CYCP's can apply a disability justice framework to the Child and youth care profession.
Image Description:
Four school aged children are jumping on the yellow floor of a bounce house. One of the school aged children is wearing a blue dress, the child beside them is wearing blue jeans and a red, green, light blue, dark blue, white and grey short sleeved shirt. The child to the back of the one in the blue jeans is wearing a light green short sleeved shirt and a white skirt. What appears to be the oldest child of the four of them is a bit further from the other three and is wearing a beige and blue striped short sleeved shirt and bright red shorts. The bounce house is yellow on the floor, with green and blue walls and red towers with orange cones on the top, making the bounce house look like a castle.
Disability Justice is ...
“The disability justice model was created by women of colour, transgender folks and queer disabled folks. Disability justice identifies that capitalism and individualism are the main causes of ableism and the way that disabled folks are stigmatized, traumatized, and treated. Thus, being said, Disability Justice realizes that disability cannot be discussed without the mentioning of other forms of discrimination, trauma, and hatred towards disabled and non-disabled folks. Which includes, but is not limited to, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, anti-immigrant bias etc. The disability justice model focuses their attention on the most discriminated voices in the disability community (LGBTQIA+ folks, women of colour, and people of colour etc.). As they have experienced the discrimination, trauma, and hate firsthand and will be able to best explain that disability is an intersectional issue. The biggest pieces that need to be taken from the disability justice model are the need to center multiple marginalized voices, the right to use their voices and speak for themselves in general but as well as about what is and is not disability justice and being completely led by disabled folks. As well as being anti-capitalists, supporting prison abolition, de-institutionalization, community support, mutual aid, and self-determination (Niang, n.d.)”.
Medical Model of Disability
This model views disability as something that needs to be 'corrected' or that can be ‘fixed’. In this model, Disabled folks are told about the multiple ways to fix or correct their body through surgeries and alterations. Instead of listening to disabled folk’s voices. This model can show up in many ways within Child and Youth Care Practice, but the most common way the medical model may show up is through language and terminology used within the CYC practice. Thus meaning, as the medical model states that it views disabled folks as people that need to be ‘fixed’ or ‘corrected’, so an example would be someone within the CYC field meets with a disabled individual and assumes that the disabled individual wants to fix themselves. Which would be false, as that is not the way anyone should be viewing disability and disabled folks.
Social Model of Disability
This model shows how society is incredibly ableist and has informed our viewpoints about disability and disabled folks through generations. This can emerge in Child and Youth Care practice in many ways, as most times individuals do not realize the terminology, phrases, or words they might be using are ableist. An example would be a Child and Youth Care practitioner is speaking with one of their co-workers and states that when they were getting their coffee from Starbucks that morning there was a ‘crazy idiot psycho’ in front of them while they were waiting in line. One of the CYCP’s disabled co-workers overhears this conversation and gets very upset. These terms are incredibly ableist and very mean. As it makes disability and disabled folks seem that they are crazy, an idiot or a psycho or all the above. Which is so far from the truth. It is no excuse to use ableist terms in any field of work, but sadly the CYCP has learned through society that it is okay to use the words that they did. As for many generations ableism is all everyone has known. Thus, it is crucial that Child and Youth Care Practitioners and all individuals become more self-aware of the language they use and gain knowledge about how those words are ableist and use different words, phrases, or terminology instead.
Disability Rights Model of Disability
This model focuses on how disabled folks are discriminated and oppressed human beings who deserve their human needs to be met to provide equity among all human beings. The model also includes the variety of laws that have been implemented to describe how disabled folks deserve to be treated. The way the disability rights model could emerge in Child and Youth Care Practice, varies, as there’s many ways that Disability rights could be questioned. An example could be a disabled youth comes into this specific Child and Youth Care Practitioners practice to make a statement about how their school will not put in an elevator for them and other disabled folks at their school. Even though the student has done petitions, had the other disabled students and non-disabled students use their voices and advocate for the elevator and brought up how the elevator would be incredibly beneficial for everyone and not just disabled students. But they were still not listening to any of the disabled students. The disabled individual was incredibly upset, frustrated, and overwhelmed by this. The Child and Youth Care Practitioner would then sadly have to explain to this student that since the principal, board etc., are not listening or providing their students with basic human needs such as an elevator, they might have to sue the school board on behalf of their human rights not being met. Which is not possible for everyone as it is a thorough, expensive, exhausting, and overwhelming process to endure. As well as even if the student does win the lawsuit, it does not mean that the school board will follow through and put in an elevator at their school. Thanks to ableism and capitalism this sadly happens a lot more than individuals may think that it does.
Instagram Accounts created by disabled folks!
Instagram algorithm is not much better than Tik Toks, as it constantly removes accounts that do not violate their guidelines. Social media needs to do better.
@lilith.fury | Lilith uses she/her and they/them pronouns. Lilith is a Horror actress and a plus size model. She is Latina, & Indigenous, an Asexual lesbian, disabled, survivor and a Jewish individual.
https://www.instagram.com/lilith.fury/
@fatdisabledworthy | This Instagram account showcases fat disabled folks.
https://www.instagram.com/fatdisabledworthy/
@the20somethingspoonie | Although this person does not post her name, she uses she/her pronouns. This account posts meme's, tips, resources and support regarding living with chronic illness.
https://www.instagram.com/the20somethingspoonie/
Tik Tok accounts created by Disabled folks!
We need to discuss the blatant Ableism that has been happening on Tik Tok for quite some time now, and how as a company Tik Toks algorithm is trying to silence Disabled folks. Non-disabled folks need to advocate for disabled folks and make sure that their voices can still be heard on platforms such as Tik Tok. Thus, please check out these disabled folks accounts and support them in any possible ways that you can. Thank you.
@paigelayle | Paige uses she/they pronouns. They state in their Tik Tok bio that she will be posting about 'Autism and stuff'. Paige identifies as queer, is 21 years old and lives in Canada.
https://www.tiktok.com/@paigelayle
@naiab1005 | Naia uses she/her pronouns. Naia is a person of colour with Autism and is apart of the LGBTQIA+ community.
https://www.tiktok.com/@naiab1005
Another thing that recurs throughout Tik Tok is the lack of BIPOC disabled folks being represented throughout the app. This needs to change.
Applying a Disability Justice Framework in Child & Youth Care Practice
If a CYCP is going to be using a specific building and a room in that building, they need to make sure that the building and room are inclusive of everyone. Make sure there is a ramp in and out of the building, make sure there is an elevator in the building. As well as making sure that the room is completely accessible as well. Thus, could include bigger spaces between table and chairs, taller and shorter tables, chairs without arms and chairs with arms, quiet areas, a comfy area (bean bag chairs, pillows, a carpet etc.). There are many more ways to make sure a building and room are accessible but that is just to name a few.
Listen to disabled folks’ ideas, concerns, feedback, and voices. As they are the ones that are disabled and accommodating them, and their needs is vital.
If a CYCP is incorporating an activity, whether it is arts and crafts or an outside activity, they should make sure that it is accessible and inclusive of everyone that will be participating in the activity.
Always remain open-minded, ready to receive constructive feedback and learning and obtaining new knowledge.
There is no one size fits all, thus meaning all children and youth are different, so being as inclusive and accommodating as possible is crucial.
Advocating and being an ally to disabled folks. This could mean creating a petition to get more accessible and inclusive playgrounds or incorporating and collaborating with disabled folks on projects, workshops etc.
Blue, yellow and green parachute image
In this image there is ten individuals standing in a circle outside in a field, holding a blue, yellow and red coloured parachute above their heads. Although there is ten individuals in the image, two out of the ten individuals have only shown their arm and their leg. The adult in image is wearing light blue jeans and a black short sleeved shirt, the first child beside the adult is wearing a peach coloured short sleeved shirt and pastel pink cropped jeans. The next child is wearing a shirt sleeved white top with pink shorts. The next child is wearing a bright blue baseball hat, a grey long sleeved shirt and beige cargo shorts. The next child is wearing a red bandana in their hair, black and white long sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to their elbows and a purple skirt with black stripes. The child beside them, you can only see their elbow and a bit of their arm. The child beside them is wearing a pale pink baseball hat, a grey short sleeved shirt and grey patched sweatpants. The next child is wearing a bright yellow short sleeved shirt and red pants. The child to the left of them is wearing a yellow fedora hat with dots on it, a dark blue short sleeved shit and green shorts. The last child in the image beside them, only their army green pant leg can be seen beside the adult. Behind the ten individuals is a light blue sky with many white, fluffy clouds. There is also a small dark green hill on the left side of the image and a big dark green hill to the right side of the image.
Wooden Building blocks image
A big pile of children's wooden blocks with a light blue background. The wooden blocks are blue, yellow, orange, red and a natural light wood colour. The wooden blocks in the image include a variety of shapes! There's triangles, circles, rectangles, squares and half circles.
Rain boots image
There are two children in this image. They are both standing on wet pavement with rain boots on. The child to the left of the image is reaching down into a puddle of rain water on the pavement with their hand. This child has on rainbow striped rain boots and a bright yellow dress. The child to the right of the image is wearing light blue rain boots with a buckle on the side of one of their rain boots and red, white, beige and dark blue striped shorts.
Children playing with lego blocks image
This image has two young children sitting on the floor playing with bright coloured lego blocks. There is an adult sitting off to the left side of the image, but you can only see a little bit of their leg and their hand with a orange lego block in it. There is also another adult sitting towards the back of the image, you can see their body and a little bit of their face. They have a huge smile on their face while watching the two children play with the legos. This adult also has a soccer ball in one of their hands and their other hand is on their feet. The child to the left of the image is grabbing some of their toes on one of their feet. This child is wearing a orange short sleeved shirt and grey pants. The child to the right of the image is squatting over some of the lego blocks with some in their hands and is wearing a white short sleeved shirt over their jean overalls.
Water playground image
This image is taken at an outdoor water playground. There is seven different coloured rings that sprays out water when people go through them. Starting from the right side of the image, the rings are: orange, yellow, pink, green, blue, yellow and then a turquoise one. The cement is painted with various designs and there's also holes in the cement that sprays out water for people to play in. There's also these seven big balls that are covered in red, orange and yellow paint, that spray out water as well. In the background of the image the sky is grey, there's some green trees and big water spray poles towards the trees and on the back of the water playground area. There is two children in the image, the first one is up close and is going through the yellow second last water spraying ring. This child is ducking from the water being sprayed on them and they are wearing yellow swim shorts and sandals. The other child that is further back near the blue water spraying ring has on a light blue bucket hat, a light blue and pink short sleeved swim shirt, light blue swim shorts and pink crocs.
References
Niang, C. (n.d.). Disability and Child and Youth Care CYC 3000 Week 3 [PowerPoint slides]. Learn.Humber.
Niang, C. (n.d.). Disability and Child and Youth Care CYC 3000 Week 5 [PowerPoint slides]. Learn.Humber.
Rick Hansen Foundation. (2020). A GUIDE TO CREATING ACCESSIBLE PLAY SPACES. Rick Hansen Foundation.
Wix.com. (n.d.). Building Blocks [Image]. Wix.com.
Wix.com. (n.d.). Children playing on bouncy castle [Image]. Wix.com.
Wix.com. (n.d.). Image by Artem Kniaz [Image]. Wix.com.
Wix.com. (n.d.) Kids Playing with Lego [Image]. Wix.com.
Wix.com. (n.d.). Untitled [Image]. Wix.com.