Not an Afterthought - Accessibility in the Arts
Part of our guest writer series, Matthew Oliver van Diepen is a large-hearted non-binary performer and amateur playwright creating queer art whenever possible. In this piece, Oliver ruminates over the idea of accessibility and dreams about what the world would be like if we let the slowest of us lead the race. If you’d like to learn more about Matthew Oliver, you can visit their patreon at patreon.com/olivertwirl.
This pandemic brought accessibility conversations into abled homes and work spaces. Appointments over the phone, working from home, the loneliness of being stuck and alone.
I found myself hopeful that this "new normal" would continue after everything opened again. But this province is reopening before it is safe again, and already I find myself behind and outside of performance communities again.
I am a multidisciplinary performance artist. Since leaving school to pursue full-time work in 2018 my focus has been exploring and celebrating my disability and my gender through drag as Oliver Twirl. I have had the honor to perform in 3 provinces and one territory, in underground pubs, and even on the Arts Commons stage. At my busiest point I had an average of at least 6 shows a month. But I live with chronic pain and that pace was quickly breaking my body down even more, and my neurodivergent brain was running on fumes with little to no time between shows to recharge and prepare for the next round of social expectations.
It took me months to miss the grind of performing because I was so relieved that I could finally listen to my body and respect its limits. I saw community care being talked about regularly, with wearing a mask being one of the simplest forms of community care we could use. I have been able to experience virtual and in-person rehearsal spaces that value the disabled way and it is so healing.
But even in this time of necessary accessibility, there is still work to be done. Captioning videos is deemed an extra, time consuming bonus that we should feel grateful it's even considered.
Businesses put capital on creating new outside eating spaces instead of making sure everyone can enter the original building. Producers and performers are moving away from virtual spaces and back to in-person experiences.
The joy I feel as a disabled performer who is finally able to participate fully in the online shows I am booked in is tempered by the "it's not the same" coming from those who don't understand how my disability cannot be removed from my being, and this difference is actually freeing.
Disability awaits us all in this inaccessible society. We cannot control when we become disabled. What we can do, though, is continue to create and maintain a culture of accessibility today and every day.
It starts with recognizing that accessibility is not an extra. It's not something special you add to your show or venue for added value. It’s a necessity. Accessibility is the foundation to creating a welcoming space. It's not enough to create a modified night that disabled people are lucky to have access to. It's the whole event.
We can create an accessible world. This pandemic proved that to us. The systems can be changed. The way we do things need not be the only way.
What if we let the slowest set the pace?
What if we listened to the silent voices?
What if we valued the different ways of doing things?
What would our society look like then?
If my experience tells me anything it's that we will have a smoother pace, a fuller song, and an awe-inspiring view.
I would love to see that view.
