The arts of inclusivity
Cultural venues across the country look to raise awareness about accessibility for, and the wider requirements of, people with disabilities, Cheng Yuezhu reports.
The video led her to share her everyday experiences of working, shopping and taking different modes of transport, to show the public the ordinary life of a wheelchair user.
Since then, she has been engaged more actively in cultural activities that allow her to feel a renewed sense of freedom and enlightenment toward the idea of disability confidence.
"When I appreciate the artworks or stage productions, I can get to feel an unbounded creativity that is rarely experienced in everyday life. They allow me to feel tolerance and equality, but the prerequisite of these experiences is that the venues are equipped with barrier-free facilities," she says.
Zhao has also been participating in art-related projects, such as inclusive dance workshops, where she's been able to engage in bodily expression and gain personal confidence.
"These experiences rid me of the sense of shame. For a long time, what I perceived from other people was that disability is something to be hidden away, and I could not say with confidence that I'm proud of being someone with a disability," she says.
"But now, I think the crux of promoting disability confidence is through the awareness of the public. Our society should build such an environment where disability is fully accepted, rather than a defect to be remedied."
