Creating an Accessible and Inclusive Healing Space

Introduction

Over the last 20 years, my work as a Disabled researcher has seen me study a
range of different areas of Disabled people’s lives – from education and employment
to housing, transport, and socialisation. The basis of my work has been the revealing
of ableist and disablist barriers that prevent Disabled people from living fulfilling,
meaningful, and independent lives and exploring ways to make a more inclusive
society – one wherein Disabled people are able to thrive and flourish.

What Are Ableism and Disablism?

The concept of ableism refers to societal norms, practices, and structures that privilege individuals who are perceived to have an able body, a ‘normal’ expression of emotions, and an expected thinking pace, whilst marginalising people who do not conform to the norms of a typical body and mind – such as Disabled people (Wolbring, 2008). Ableist norms are pervasive within mainstream society, shaping public assumptions and expectations around disability. 

Disablism, a concept in British Disability Studies, refers to the prejudice and discrimination experienced by Disabled people. Society excludes Disabled people in everyday life by putting up many distinct types of barriers, including attitudinal, access, informational, and financial barriers. 

It has always been my belief that inclusive and flexible ways of thinking – which inherently run contrary to the attitudes of ableism and disablism – fundamentally align with our values as healers. After all, healing and wholeness mean inclusiveness. 

We reflect the abundant love of the source through the compassion, care, and respect we show towards our clients when we create a non-judgemental and welcoming healing space – and this very non-judgement lies at the heart of anti-ableist and inclusive practices. As an Energy Healing Practitioner myself, I am always thinking about what may or may not be accessible for my clients, and about our fellow healers, whose needs may be unmet. Here, I will share some of these thoughts.

Styles of Communication

When communicating online with one another and with our clients, we need to recognise variations in peoples’ preferred ways of communication. Some people may prefer having their cameras off; some may prefer to communicate by typing; and others, still, may just want to listen and to be in a healing presence. As there are variations in communication styles, there are differences in speech patterns, too. Some people may stammer, have unclear speech, be a non-native speaker, or have a local accent or dialect. 

It is, therefore, essential to listen intentionally, to give time and space to our clients and to each other, and to express ourselves in whichever way we feel comfortable. Instead of feeling embarrassed that we struggle to understand speech that may be different, let’s open up communications and become involved listeners; let’s feel comfortable to ask for repetitions and clarifications in order to make the speaker feel at ease, listened to, and understood.

When presenting or showing something on the screen, let’s not make assumptions that everyone is able to see; let’s describe what we are showing or reading out – for example, the title of books that we show on-screen. Accessible websites often include a brief description of images that they publish for readers who have visual impairments and whose screen readers are not able to decipher the picture. Let’s have similar approaches in our written communications.   

These small adjustments and out-of-box ways of thinking can often lead to larger TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, providing more inclusive spaces, in which we all feel accommodated for and thought of.

Conclusion

I hope that this short blog post will get us all thinking and open conversations that will contribute to a broader acceptance and embracing of difference – especially with consideration to the fact that all of us will, at some point, develop physical and sensory needs that may require adjustments in our ways of being, communicating, and existing together.

And let us remember that we are all connected at the most fundamental of levels.    

Dr Armineh Soorenian

Disability Researcher and Academic

References

Wolbring, G. (2008). The Politics of Ableism. Development, 51, 252–258.