February 22, 2016 - 23:58
In the first chapter of "Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity," disability studies is defined as that which focuses on the external variables: "the social, political, and intellectual contingencies that shape meaning and behavior" (Claiming Disability, 6). In Melanie Yergeau's "I Stim, Therefore I Am," The Loud Hands Project, and S#!T Ignorant People Say to Autistics, space is created for individuals with autism to freely express their thoughts and behaviors. And, in acheiving this, Simi Linton's objective in studying disability is also encompassed, for the individuals in these videos call attention to not just themselves and their abilities, but to how others perceive them and their actions as well. Indeed, by defying stereotypes, assumptions, and insults through self-expression, the artists in these videos redefine the "social, political, and intellectual contingencies" that shape popular conception.
In "I Stim, Therefore I Am," Yergeau's voice dictates the narrative: the images shown, roman numerals flashed across the the screen, and close-ups of Yergeau's body parts appear in synch with her speech. Earlier in life, she "listened to [her] teachers" and timed her pauses between sentences. The neuropsychologist "validated [her] self-loathing," and she tried to limit her stimming. However, in reclaiming her autistic self, she both reclaims her behaviors as well as gives them new, positive meaning-her meaning. In The Loud Hands Project, individuals for whom oral communication does not come easily are given a space to convey their own statements on paper signs. While some statements encourage people to speak through alternative modes of communication, other signs proclaim identities ("I am a student"), acknowledge times people were wronged ("People hurt me"), and assert agency ("It's my turn"). And in "S#!T Ignorant People Say to Autistics," the artist draws attention to all of the narrow-minded questions people often ask those who have autism, while providing a list of educational tools at the end that can help ignorant people understand autism more.
In all of these videos, individuals with disabilities are the protagonists. These clips do not merely feature or talk about individuals with disabilities-they are at the forefront of the pieces. Productions such as these are essential to the public discourse not just because people are ignorant, but because the individuals who have the disabilities are the ones that know themselves and their behaviors best. Though "normal" modes of communication perhaps are not as easy for some of these individuals, by conveying their thoughts and opinions in the ways that best suits them, they continue to redefine what is a "normal" mode of communication.
Throughout my life, I have had the pleasure of listening to my brother Brian speak as an advocate for disability rights. My brother is now 25, and he has spoken at local elementary schools, conferences for the Massachusetts Down syndrome Congress, and various colleges and universities. Many of his talks touch upon the political work he has done at the State House or the education and high school diploma he has received in mainstreamed classes, but almost all of his speeches center around self-advocacy. As you can tell from the following speech at Harvard, Brian has no trouble asserting his opinions, and, by expressing himself through speeches (more of his work can be found here: http://brianspeaks2u.com/), Brian helps to reshape and redefine disability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLoxXvZyVuP_bRSL4lcE3xAEkjXQF6QUrt&v=4vnAAdprl2g.