The Most Accessible Time of the Year!

A traditional advent calendar filled with festive treats is how some people choose to mark the occasion when the first of December rolls around.  This year though, why not also get involved in a Christmas countdown that makes a difference?  The hashtag, #AccessibleAdvent is trending on Twitter.  It’s part of a Christmas campaign where disabled people post one thing every day that could be done to improve accessibility and their lives.

“Remember that access & inclusive design benefits everyone, not just disabled people”

An Alternative Advent

The campaign was created by disability activist, Ginny Butcher.  Ginny lives with muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair full time.  Like many others in the disabled community, she’s often faced with barriers to accessibility.  From a lack of facilities, like parking for wheelchair accessible vehicles to encountering ableist attitudes from others, Ginny wanted to make her frustrations known.  Not only that, but she also wanted to show how small changes can make a big difference to the lives of disabled people and create a more equal society.

Ginny explained to Enable magazine: “I wanted to use December and the idea of Advent to do something fun, but also something related to disability. I had a couple of ideas, but I thought what I needed was a positive campaign or a hashtag that could allow myself and other people to speak about what we need, voice our wants, and just imagine a world that is better for us and works for us.” (Enable Online, 2020)

Educating In Inequality

The #AccessibleAdvent campaign also highlights the bigger issue that many people in the disability community feel their voices aren’t heard by society.  Ginny hopes Accessible Advent can empower those who don’t feel listened to and even become a useful educational tool for businesses and able-bodied people alike.  She hopes that #AccessibleAdvent can challenge misconceptions and help people understand the benefits of accessibility for all.

Fellow campaigner Jon Attenborough commented: “Non-disabled people are likely not to notice those things and we can share that to help people understand; unless you’re disabled, it is hard to imagine all these small, daily, niggling things that will really get you down and make life harder.” (Enable Online, 2020)

Simple Solutions

Since the campaign kicked off earlier in the month, the project has taken Twitter by storm, with disabled people across the globe contributing.  From simple, practical changes, like requesting more restaurants supply accessible menus for visually impaired diners to the more profound.  Disability campaigner and writer, Mik Scarlet believes that the way forward for accessibility is understanding that making life more accessible is a win-win scenario for everyone involved, disabled and non-disabled alike.

He said: “Remember that access & inclusive design benefits everyone, not just disabled people. It is more attractive, works better for all & ensures a society that allows people to age & change while maintaining independence. It’s a tomorrow for all.” (Mik Scarlet Twitter Account, 2020)