Disability can seem complicated and individuals can feel and identify in different ways when applied to themselves and their lives.
Our understanding of disability in society is influenced by ‘models of disability’; the most common in the UK are the medical model and the social model. These are frameworks to understand disability and we tend to use a mixture of models in practice.
While the medical model views disability as a person’s condition, an impairment or disorder to be overcome, the social model was developed by disabled people and their allies as a counterpoint to this.
The social model views disability as a result of systemic exclusion caused by physical barriers (i.e. a lack of ramps and accessible toilets) and attitudinal barriers (how society thinks, behaves and makes decisions about the barrier).
Daydream Cinema draws on the social model of disability and belives understanding and finding ways to apply the social model of disability is a key way organisations can become more inclusive.
You can find out more about the social model of disability 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.
What is neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity highlights that neurological differences are a natural part of the human experience. As a species, we are neurodiverse. The term neurodivergent refers to how smaller groups with neurological differences from the typical can face barriers and become marginalised within larger neurodiverse settings.
Neurodivergence is an umbrella term of different neurotypes that can include, but is not limited to, autism, ADHD, learning disability and mental health conditions. A person can self-identify as neurodivergent without a medical diagnosis.
Neurodivergence is not a medical term or a list of diagnoses.
Neurodivergent is not synonymous with disability (it does not mean the same thing), but a person can be or identify with either or both.
Many neurodivergent people have co-occuring conditions, and can also have physical or sensory disabilities and chronic illness. For this reason, it is important for cinemas and venues to consider access for neurodivergent people holistically.
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
Daydream Cinema aims to look at access for neurodivergent people holistically, support the community and devise bespoke solutions to the barriers we face.