Invisibile Disabilities

Overview:

This series was the culmination of a semester-long visual exploration of accessiblity and disability awareness. It was inspired by my past work with individuals with a myriad of congenital and acquired disabilities. This serious presents a manifesto about accessiblity/disability in New York City with an emphasis on “invisible” disabilities (disabilities that cannot be identified simply by looking at someone). The text of the manifesto is printed on the pages of a found anatomy textbook and is interspersed with text from the Americans with Disabilities Act (designated by horizontal orientation relative to page). The text color, blue, was chosen due to its use on the universal handicapped signs in the United States. In some cases, it is deliberately difficult to read, alluding to the often overlooked challenges that some individuals with invisible disabilities (such as visual, speech, language, cognitive, and attention disorders) encounter on a daily basis.

The series aims encourage viewers to expand their views of what, beyond what is outwardly visible, may constitute a disability. It then encourages viewers to consider this expanded perspective in discussions and advocacy for true accessibility for all.