Disability can seem complicated and individuals can feel and identify in different ways when applied to themselves and their lives.
Understanding of disability in society is influenced by what are known as models of disability; the most commonly talked about ones in the UK are the medical model and the social model.
Daydream Cinema draws on the social model of disability. You can find out more in this video from Shape Arts.
We believe organisations should provide accessible environments and where possible remove the barriers disabled and neurodivergent people face when accessing their events, spaces and workplaces.
We also draw from the neurodiversity paradigm, a philosophy of neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is term stated to have been coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer, but it is likely to have come from collective conversations and experiences over time. Neurodiversity highlights that neurological differences are a natural part of human experience, and as a species we are neurodiverse.
The term neurodivergent was coined by Kassiane Asasumasu to highlight how smaller groups with neurological differences from the typical can face barriers and become marginalised within larger neurodiverse settings.
A person can self-identify as neurodivergent without a medical diagnosis. In this way, the neurodiversity paradigm sits alongside the social model of disability. Neurodivergence is not synonymous with disability, but a person can identify with either or both.
Daydream Cinema’s current organisational experience focuses on people who are autistic, or have ADHD and/or learning disabilities. However, neurodiversity is an umbrella term that can include, but is not limited to:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Learning Disability
- Dyspraxia
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Downs syndrome
- Tourettes
- Cerebral palsy
- PMLD (profound and multiple learning disabilities)
- Brain injury
- Mental health conditions
Many people have co-occurring conditions, which means they have more than one neurological difference or condition. They can also have physical or sensory disabilities and chronic illness.
Daydream Cinema aims to look at access for neurodivergent people holistically, support the community and devise bespoke solutions to the barriers we face.