All Accessibility is Political: Understanding the Intersection of Accessibility, Disability, and Politics
You can’t talk about accessibility without talking about disability because accessibility is inherently tied to the experiences and needs of people with disabilities. When we explore accessibility for people with disabilities, we are talking about physical access to buildings as well as digital access to information, technology, education, employment, and every facet of life. Accessibility is a fundamental issue of civil rights and social justice.
The push for accessibility is crucial to JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) initiatives. Ensuring that people with disabilities are included in all aspects of society is a matter of equity and justice. It means recognizing and dismantling the barriers that prevent full participation and striving for a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Even when the pendulum is swinging the other way on JEDI in private business settings, some laws protect Americans with disabilities that can’t and shouldn’t be ignored.
The Role of the ADA
The ADA (and all other laws like it) guarantees civil rights for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990 and updated in 2008, is a landmark piece of legislation prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. This includes jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public. The ADA and similar laws ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
The Political Nature of Accessibility
Accessibility is political because it involves power, policies, and resource allocation. This is true regardless of the environment. Politics exist everywhere, in civic, non-profit, for-profit, and even family settings. Providing accessibility requires governments, organizations, and communities to commit to creating an inclusive society by prioritizing the needs of people with disabilities. Political will is necessary to enforce existing laws, implement new policies, and allocate funding for accessibility projects. When the political will doesn’t exist, it’s up to people with disabilities and our allies to lobby for that political will to change.
Calling out the lack of accessibility challenges the status quo. It demands that we rethink our assumptions about what is considered "normal" and who deserves access to public spaces and resources. This challenge inherently makes people uncomfortable because it asks the very simple but oh-so-complex question, “What about us?” Pointing out that something is inaccessible asks the general public to consider how our society systematically excludes people with disabilities and to take action to rectify these injustices.
Advocacy and Allyship
“There is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
— Amanda Gorman, Inauguration poet
Be the accessibility light. Be brave enough to advocate for others, even when it is unpopular. Be the person in the product meeting who says, “What about users with dyslexia?” Be the person at the school board meeting identifying shortcomings for students with disabilities. Accessibility is not just a technical or logistical issue; it is a moral and ethical imperative. Advocacy involves pushing for wholesale paradigm shifts resulting in a more inclusive world. This means challenging existing norms and practices, speaking out against discrimination, and supporting policies that promote accessibility.
Do these things despite not identifying as a person with a disability. That’s what allies/a11ys do. Being an ally means standing in solidarity with people with disabilities, recognizing their struggles, and using your voice and influence to support their rights. It means educating yourself about the issues, listening to the experiences of people with disabilities, and actively working to make a difference.
Conclusion
In conclusion, accessibility and disability are not just technical issues; they are deeply political ones. Accessibility intersects with issues of disability, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Laws like the ADA are essential for protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities, but it is also up to individuals to advocate for change and be allies in this fight. By understanding the political nature of accessibility and committing to advocacy, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable world for all.
Let us be inspired by Amanda Gorman's words and strive to be the light in the quest for accessibility and justice. Let us be brave enough to advocate for others, even when it is unpopular, and to do so with the knowledge that we are helping to build a better, more inclusive world.
That’s what allies/a11ys do.
Advicates that push Accessibility as a political tool for justice are essentually trying to push a square peg in a round hole. Accessibility laws, like no smoking and seat belt laws, are designed to change social behaviour for better health and safety. Accessibility is a measurement of productivity, not disability, and prodeuctivity defines user satisfaction for both employees and consumers. We need to shift advocacy focus from disability to productivity to improve social economic stability. All people struggle with a human limitation of some kind, and foorly designed technology effects the productivity for everyone. Accessibility laws must hold designers and manufacturers accountable to the established standards, and not the people that use the technology. National productivity is in a downward swing overall.