Sara Acevedo, a disability studies scholar and activist, dives deep into the language surrounding disability. She shares her transformative journey in advocacy, sparked by her experiences at a summer camp for disabled adults. The conversation explores the empowering reclamation of the term 'crip' and contrasts the social and medical models of disability. Acevedo emphasizes the significance of neurodiversity and provides practical insights on how non-disabled individuals can better understand disability through the lens of those with lived experiences.
Sara Acevedo highlights the pivotal role of language in framing perceptions of disability, influencing identity and autonomy among disabled individuals.
The distinction between disability rights and disability justice emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of access and intersectionality in addressing multiple forms of oppression.
Deep dives
Exploring Disability Studies and Activism
Sara Acevedo's journey into disability studies began with her early experiences at a summer camp for disabled adults, which sparked her passion for understanding disability justice. Her academic pursuits took her from studying French linguistics in Spain to obtaining advanced degrees in disability studies and anthropology, ultimately leading her to identify as neurodivergent. Throughout her career, Acevedo emphasized the importance of building community within the disabled community and fostering communication across diverse identities. This foundation informs her activism and scholarship, as she navigates between personal experiences and the broader discourse on disability rights and justice.
The Power of Language in Disability Identity
Language plays a crucial role in shaping the identity and experiences of disabled individuals, as it conveys agency and autonomy. Acevedo discussed the distinction between the medical model and the social model of disability, noting how language can frame perceptions and impact the disabled experience. For instance, while a term like 'visually impaired' describes a medical condition accurately, identifying as 'blind' can reflect a deeper sociopolitical choice and sense of identity. The reclamation of terms such as 'crip' illustrates the movement towards a powerful collective identity, emphasizing language's potential to empower or oppress disabled individuals.
Disability Rights Versus Disability Justice
The distinction between disability rights and disability justice is significant in understanding how disabled individuals navigate their identities within societal frameworks. Historically, disability rights movements focused on asserting legal rights and protections for disabled individuals, while the disability justice movement encompasses a broader understanding of access and intersectionality. It acknowledges that disability intersects with other marginalized identities, highlighting the need for collective action that addresses multiple forms of oppression. Acevedo urges a shift from merely seeking inclusion within existing structures to fostering a deep sense of access that values the inherent dignity and experiences of all disabled people.
Advice for Non-disabled Communities on Language and Inclusion
Acevedo emphasizes the importance for non-disabled individuals to actively seek knowledge from disabled voices and engage with materials authored by disabled people. She critiques euphemistic language that can obfuscate the realities of disability and stresses the need for authentic engagement with the community. Rather than relying on disabled individuals to educate them, non-disabled people should be proactive in their learning, which fosters genuine understanding and respect. Ultimately, Acevedo promotes a vision of access that transcends mere participation, aiming to create environments where disabled identities are fully acknowledged and celebrated.
As the team works on season 10, we wanted to bring you something extra special. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be recasting listener favorites from across all nine seasons of the podcast, highlighting one episode from each season that you, our listeners, particularly enjoyed.
First up is season 1, “The Language of Disability” with disability studies scholar and activist, Sara Acevedo. Qudsiya often points new listeners to this episode as a foundational primer on the concepts of disability justice, the social versus the medical model of disability, the term “crip”, and many other critical concepts that help us understand the disabled experience.
After you listen, please remember to send your audio or written testimonials sharing about what Down to the Struts has meant to you. You can email them to downtothestruts@gmail.com.