What we mean by ‘access’
Summary
- There are many ways to think about access
- Access is a way of analysing and acting the world
- It is primarily informed by lived knowledges of disabled people
- Everybody has access needs, not just disabled people
- Access is not the same as representation, but both are important
- Our understandings of access are always changing
- We recognise that disability is created by society, and want justice for disabled people
- Everybody’s perspectives are important
- We want everyone to participate in creating access that is right for them
On the one hand, we recognise that access (and access needs) will intersect with everybody, whether they’re conscious of it or not — not only people who consider themselves disabled. On the other hand, we feel it is crucial to recognise the expertise, leadership and centrality of disabled people. Access is not representation, and representation is not access. We name both in order to underline their shared but different significance, and to advocate for both.
Our approach to access builds on concepts like ‘access intimacy’ (Mia Mingus) and ‘access as a temporary, collectively-held space’ (Carmen Papalia). We embrace the concept of abundant subjectivity, where all perspectives are welcome and relevant.
We often describe access as as an experimental field and as a platform for generosity. We understand that access is ever-changing. Throughout our work, we are actively thinking about how access is framed, created and negotiated. We are also concerned with how access and consent are interrelated — interpersonally and collectively.
ALL is underpinned by broad principles of inclusion, access and self-determination for disabled people. We recognise the social model of disability and aspire to disability justice. We also recognise the disastrous persistence of eugenics in supremacist cultures. We honour the interconnectedness of disabling factors, and value the multiple, intersecting identities of partners and audiences.
Most of all, our aim is never to hoard access. Instead, we encourage a proliferation of approaches that reflect the diverse needs of artists, communities and lives.