Gregor Wolbring is the purest, cheekiest and most prolific commentator I know on issues affecting people with disabilities. Perhaps it's his European origins blended with his Albertan sensibilities as Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary. He does not appear to be constrained by the usual nuances of language or moral righteousness exhibited by many advocates. He calls the issues as he experiences them himself and is smart enough to understand the implications and dangerous side effects of society's mad dance with medical, scientific, nano-technological and genetic advances. He is far too worried for cheap shots.
I'm proud to have carried his commentary in my New Years series What Are you Skating Towards? and Becoming Visible.
Gregor has landed a new gig, writing for The Conversation (Academic Rigour, Journalistic Flair) on the Paralympic Games. His first post Expectations for the Paralympics provides a sobering contrast between expectations for the Games by the mainstream British public and those of folks with disabiities and their families. Here are some excerpts:
- Since the Emergency Budget two years ago, disabled people and their carers have seen a drop in income of £500 million. This is one of the disturbing findings of Destination Unknown a report by the think tank Demos outlining the impact not just on people with disabilities but equally their families. Households in the study are becoming more socially isolated, and reducing the amount of activities they engage in – from essentials such as work and medical appointments to perceived ‘luxuries’ such as volunteering and training. This is at odds with the Government’s vision of stronger and active communities.
- 50% of the British public see the Games to empower disabled people but only 23% of disabled people think like that.
- 4% of the British public think the games make disabled people feel like second class people versus 20% of disabled people who voice that sentiment.
- A SCOPE news release states further that, “Between April and September this year (2011) the number of disabled people claiming they experienced aggression, hostility or name calling saw a dramatic hike from 41% to 66%.”
And Gregor being Gregor offers a bonus commentary, Leg-ism leaves Some Paralympic Stars Out on a Limb. Here are a few excerpts:
The Cheetah legs of Paralympic athletes such as Oscar Pistorius and Aimee Mullins have triggered a lot of attention.
Artificial legs are often hailed as “liberation tools," giving their wearers the “essential” ability to walk. At the same time, other therapeutic assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, are demonised through the use of phrases such as “wheelchair-bound” or “confined to the wheelchair”.
In 2003 I wrote a book chapter called “Confined to your legs” to question the leg-ism evident in the discourse around artificial limbs and in society in general. And the bias against wheelchairs has been questioned by people with disabilities for a long time.
...the media is fast to use terms such as “inspiring” with Paralympians. But how can they inspire if the reporting of disabled people often continues to be disabling in so many instances. Instead of using labels such as “wheelchair-bound” the media should aspire to inspire people to accept and support ability differences.
Gregor's is committed to shifting the eye of the beholder from deviancy to dignity. In an age when more and more of us are caught in the needs maker's grasp his value is priceless.
