Learning through role models
An important part of learning is role models. Children watch other children and adults and mimic their behaviour, aspiring to be like them. Or in the instance of negative role models aspire not to be like them. Adults do this too and we watch the way other people behave and copy those behaviours.
The challenge across the D/deaf and disabled world is those role models ‘like me’ don’t exist or are limited. Sometimes if they do exist, they are distorted into disability superpower myths which can be even more damaging. It is patronising and stereotyping to be told “blind people have amazing memories” or “deaf people are amazing lip readers”. If you are deaf and you struggle to lipread (lip reading is mostly guesswork by context). It is dispiriting to have people assuming you have this super power.
Role models for children
One breakthrough in the UK was Rose Ayling-Ellis on Strictly Come Dancing [1]. One of her and Giovanni’s dances included a point where the music fell silent. Rose led Giovanni, their dance continued without music, following their inner rhythm. The pause in the music[2] was a tribute to the deaf community and showed rhythm and dance is not totally reliant on music.
Seeing Rose Ayling-Ellis, a deaf woman in a public and creative role, demanding a wide array of skills had, and continues to have, a massive impact. Rose continues her ambassadorial as an actor and through charity work. We enjoyed her signing Raymond Antrobus’s story Can Bears Ski?[3] on CBeebies. She is a role model for deaf and hearing children. 'Can Bears Ski?’ is recommended viewing in deaf awareness for children and adults alike.
Role models for adults
Rose is also a role model for adults. But how many other positive deaf and disabled role models do we see? We see a lot more negative role models, just look at the Bond villains[4] or Voldemort in the Harry Potter books. Having a disability or visible difference, signals the message ‘I am evil’ in the James Bond books and films.
Jan Grue’s article explains all you need to know about the disabled villain[5]. Jan’s headline says everything
For centuries, fictional narratives have used outer difference to telegraph inner monstrosity.
The I Am Not Your Villain[6] campaign, led by Changing faces[7], a charity that supports people with visible differences. Is trying to counter negative imagery around visible differences. One quote that was really impactful was a young women saying:
you never see someone like you in a film, you never see someone who might be different as the hero.
How difficult must it be to overcome this negativity, never seeing positive, inspiring role models that look like you. The British Film Institute (BFI) has signed up to this campaign and committed to stop funding films that use visible differences[8] to negatively represent characters.
Everyday disabled people role models
Rose Ayling-Ellis and other positive role models on TV, in film, politics are great but people are different and have different aspirations and skills. What makes a difference is seeing everyday disabled people out there. Knowing that other ‘people like me’, whatever ‘like me’ is do all kinds of jobs in all kinds of places. For disabled or D/deaf children and adults, seeing people like them, helps them to believe.
- I can get a job
- I have a lot of opportunities available to me
- I can go on to higher education
- I can work in a hospital, an office, a university, a shop…
- I can be an actor, a teacher, a chef, a baker, an electrician
Role models in the workplace
Many of us spend more time in our workplace with our colleagues than we do with our families. These are people we spend time with online and offline, problem solve with, consult with, moan with, maybe eat doughnuts with? If D/deaf and disabled people are in the workplace, just the fact of spending time with people helps break down barriers and reduces disablism (discrimination against disabled people) and ableism (favouring non-disabled people over disabled people).
Creating an inclusive society
The only way we can create an inclusive society is through more engagement with different kinds of people. The workplace is a big barrier because so many people have pre-conceived ideas about what d/Deaf and disabled people can and can’t do. More inclusive workplaces can’t happen overnight. Environments need to be accessible, policies need to be inclusive and people need disability confidence. Fortunately, in the UK we have the Disability Confident employer scheme[9] which helps with guidance on all these aspects and more. But more needs to be done. Barely half of disabled people are employed compared to 82% of non-disabled people. We explain this more in our blog We have no access needs[10]. We need a society where disabled and D/deaf children and adults can see people like them in everyday environments living their lives and contributing to society.
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References:
- Strictly 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis celebrates being deaf with 'happy dance' BBC (2021)
- Rose and Giovanni, dance their couples choice performance with a pause in the music, YouTube (2021)
- Rose Ayling-Ellis signing Raymond Antrobus’s story Can Bears Ski? CBeebies (2021)
- No Time to Die: the problem with Bond villains having facial disfigurements Jessica Gibson, The Conversation (2021)
- The disabled villain: why sensitivity reading can’t kill off this ugly trope Jan Grue, The Guardian (2023)
- I Am Not Your Villain: Equal representation of visible difference in film Changing Faces
- Changing faces, a charity that supports people with visible differences, Changing Faces
- What is visible difference? Changing Faces
- Disability Confident employer scheme UK Government (2024)
- We have no access needs Sunsurfer blog (2024)