SUPPORTED AND SUPPORTERS : THE QUADRIPLEGIC ARTISTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Abstract

We, people without disabilities, walk along the streets, take the public transport, go in and out of buildings with case. We have never noticed how high the kerbs are, how long the flight of steps are, how narrow the doors are until we find ourselves with certain physical disabilities. We rush about in our daily lives without being really "conscious" of our interaction with others. It is only when we interact with people who have to use wheelchairs that we 'realise how much people stare, how bothersome they find those who are physically less than perfect, how they stigmatize the latter etc. We can be independent people, so can people with disabilities. It is just that we have different ways of defining and acquiring independence. People with disabilities need the help and support of others, so do people without disabilities. People without disabilities can help and support others, so can people with disabilities. People with disabilities need not always be on the receiving end. The above are some of the issues people with physical disabilities encounter as a member of our society. And these are the issues examined in this Academic Exercise, with specific reference to quadriplegic artists.