Community Input IS a Necessity
“Nothing about us without us”
The phrase “nothing about us without us” has been a mantra picked up by many communities over the years. Originally, it was created to express that no policies should be decided by a representative without the input and participation of the group’s members. The disability community has adopted this mantra for policies, physical and mental accommodations, and representation.
Media has always had a bad habit of having the majority group write and create for minority groups. This has created numerous assumptions for the greater population about what being a minority means. This has created many problems for the disability community. Only a few are what it means to have a disability, what that looks like, and how to accommodate them.
The only way to fight against these assumptions, when it comes to representation and creating an accessible experience, is to include people in the disability community in the production process. This could include consultation, writing, designing, producing, or engineering.
The important part is to listen, don’t just assume.
Good Resources:
