Introduction
An opportunity to address the problems of people with disabilities is a significant practice that allows not only providing this vulnerable population with opportunities for socialization but also drawing public attention to its pressing problems. The collaborative grant aimed at organizing an exhibition of the creative works of people with disabilities is designed to help them demonstrate their abilities. Equality issues are discussed as meaningful social concepts, and ethical nuances are considered in the context of public relations. As relevant resources, articles by Clare (2011) and Ahmed (2009) will be engaged to draw attention to the peculiarities of the socialization of the population in question. The expressions of this population’s cultural characteristics with an emphasis on the collaborative grant program will be evaluated in the framework of the works of Hall (1997) and Juncker and Balling (2016). Meekosha (2006) suggests paying attention to social projects aimed to support people with disabilities, which is a similar practice. The value of the considered collaborative grant lies in an opportunity to engage the population in question in joint activities and draw public attention to this unique culture with its specific manifestations and challenges.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Collaborative Grant
Attracting attention to the problems of the disability community of Australia is an obvious strength of the project aimed to involve the target audience in the presentation of their creative works. According to Meekosha (2006), the analysis of this topic in a social context rather than its marginalization is a significant achievement that mobilizes interest in specific positive changes. The ideology of people with congenital or acquired disabilities deserves attention as an aspect that is addressed infrequently and has unique manifestations, and the considered cultural project is a significant driver for discussion. Hall (1997) examines the cultural characteristics of this audience and analyzes the factors that determine the distinctive features of minority groups, including those with disabilities. As the author notes, the attitude of society towards the problems of minorities is largely based on the general context promoted as official programs and projects promoted at the state level (Hall, 1997). Accordingly, the collaborative grant is a valuable practice that serves as a driver for creating a positive image of the population in question.
The proposed collaborative grant is a program that addresses the possibilities of the disability community from the perspective of one of the theoretical models. In particular, Clare (2001) provides a classification of the paradigms of disability, and the supercrip framework is discussed due to the grant in question. This model involves evaluating a vulnerable population from the perspective of challenges that are overcome daily, and any of their activities can be considered an act of courage (Clare, 2001). In addition, due to the involvement of a large number of participants and the coverage of a large territory intended for the creative exhibition, a wide range of the exhibition members and guests can appreciate one another’s opportunities and establish useful contacts. Thus, involving the target audience in a joint project is an important step towards building the image of the disability population as citizens who demonstrate courage and everyday heroism.
Despite the strengths of the collaborative grant, there are also individual weaknesses that deserve discussion. In particular, the proposed project almost does not involve theoretical justification for specific interventions and proposed changes. It is essential to address this omission since the program of the creative exhibition is non-standard and has clearly defined objectives to realize. For instance, based on the position proposed by Juncker and Balling (2016, p. 236), one can pay attention to the “concept of being-in-the-world” consisting of the constant interaction of people in the process of socialization. For this disability community, this concept is of particular importance, and in addition to justifying the value of the grant, relevant arguments in favor of addressing important moral and ethical nuances should be presented.
Another gap that deserves attention is the addressing of the creative potential of the disability community with the lack of emphasis on diversity. According to Ahmed (2009), this phenomenon is unique in terms of manifestations and may be considered both an insoluble paradox and a background for interventions. In the proposed collaborative grant, the main focus is on attracting disabled people to creative activities through the exhibition project. Nevertheless, the concept of diversity is not openly emphasized and is mentioned once. Therefore, to reveal the objectives of the grant as objectively as possible, more attention could have been paid to the issue of diversity and its manifestations in the context of the socialization of disabled people.
Significance of the Project Proposed
The proposed collaborative grant has value in terms of evaluating disability as a social phenomenon that may be addressed not only through support programs but also through creative projects. As Meekosha (2006) argues, an approach based on revealing the issues of the target community through a cultural context has a potentially higher prospect of engaging public attention than standard volunteering. As a result of the organization of the exhibition that covers a large area and includes various sections, the participants involved can appreciate how versatile work can be for people whose life is associated with physical impairments. In addition, the general public can appreciate how challenging projects of this magnitude are due to several conventions and barriers. Juncker and Balling (2016) argue that the cultural education of the population regarding the issues related to the reflection of social issues has a valuable educational function and enhances public knowledge about specific issues. Therefore, the proposed grant is an incentive for interaction between people with disabilities and ordinary citizens to exchange experiences.
An emphasis on engaging people with disabilities as exhibitors corresponds to the diversity model that is a sociological concept and relevant in the framework of this project. Ahmed (2009) mentions this theory as an approach that is one of the main techniques in the study of social interaction among people and notes that differences form the basis of human relationships. In other words, differences between the culture of people with disabilities with that of ordinary citizens are erased, thereby demonstrating equal opportunities. This perspective, in turn, makes it possible to influence the consciousness of citizens and helps emphasize that, regardless of social status and degree of mobility, everyone has the right to self-expression. The use of a large exhibition area, in this case, is a benefit and contributes to attracting public attention to these issues. Therefore, the importance of the collaborative grant lies not only in involving a specific audience but also in disseminating the products of its culture.
Finally, one of the main advantages of the considered collaborative grant is drawing attention to the problems of the disabled population not through volunteer or charity projects but the cultural environment. The models that Clare (2001) provides in addition to the supercrip one reflect a community of people with physical impairments either through the perspectives of challenges and sacrifices or in the context of treatment characteristics. The presented project addresses opportunities rather than weaknesses and is intended to inspire rather than stimulate sympathy. The accompanying work is significant since the detailed organization of all formal procedures, including the design of the exhibition with the necessary facilities, allows helping the target audience to concentrate on interaction but not on overcoming difficulties. As a result, the assessment of these aspects confirms the value of the project primarily for the participants themselves. The gaps considered may be addressed by introducing the theory of diversity and involving not only people with disabilities but also other social minorities. This measure will draw public attention to the problems of certain categories of the population and provide an opportunity to increase people’s literacy on specific issues.
Conclusion
Drawing attention to the problems of the disability community through a cultural perspective is one of the main strengths of the collaborative grant. The involved concepts and theories of social interaction make it possible to assess the significance of the work carried out and conclude potential improvements and gaps in this work. Addressing the relevant issues of the target community in the context of the exhibition and its detailed organization promotes the interests of people with disabilities in the framework of the supercrip model. From a practical standpoint, establishing contacts between participants and guests is a useful implication of this project and opens up opportunities for expanding social interaction.
Reference List
Ahmed, S. (2009) ‘Embodying diversity: problems and paradoxes for Black feminists’, Race Ethnicity and Education, 12(1), pp. 41-52.
Clare, E. (2001) ‘Stolen bodies, reclaimed bodies: disability and queerness’, Public Culture, 13(3), pp. 359-365.
Hall, S. (1997) Why does difference matter? London: Sage Publications.
Juncker, B. and Balling, G. (2016) ‘The value of art and culture in everyday life: towards an expressive cultural democracy’, The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 46(5), pp. 231-242.
Meekosha, H. (2006) ‘What the hell are you? An intercategorical analysis of race, ethnicity, gender and disability in the Australian body politic’, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 8(2-3), pp. 161-176.