And today is International Day of Persons with Disability (not our choice of words, but we’re not arguing with the United Nations). As they say:
Persons with disabilities, “the world’s largest minority”, often face barriers to participation in all aspects of society. Barriers can take a variety of forms, including those relating to the physical environment or to information and communications technology (ICT), or those resulting from legislation or policy, or from societal attitudes or discrimination. The result is that persons with disabilities do not have equal access to society or services, including education, employment, health care, transportation, political participation or justice.
Evidence and experience shows that when barriers to their inclusion are removed and persons with disabilities are empowered to participate fully in societal life, their entire community benefits. Barriers faced by persons with disabilities are, therefore, a detriment to society as a whole, and accessibility is necessary to achieve progress and development for all.
Part of access is exposure – the exposure of disabled artists to a wider audience – and thats what the documentary Total Permission does. So after our mammoth 24 day count down, put your feet up and relax with 30 full minutes to wonder at. Enjoy.
Go on, give yourself Total Permission to watch!