Embedding accessibility in activist communities makes for a stronger climate movement.
The last few months have seen a shift for me. I’ve started to think seriously about talking and writing publicly about how it is to be disabled in the environmental sciences and climate movement. It’s hard to do, because the violence within the movement is real and has been very damaging to me. So I’m starting by making this post for why I thought there was a need for a project like Joy and Mischief.
I primarily started J+M because I wanted to build an activist community where I felt safe. Since the first workshop in March, it has been so great to see so many people like me come and participate. Psychosocially and physically disabled people (who I am) have become regulars, and I’ve loved building a group around collective, gentle and creative action.
At the same time, I’ve encountered and networked with the broader activist scene. It’s been disappointing, but not at all surprising. When I describe J+M, we’re generally thought of as:
A kid’s activity
A cute little side option
Something your grandma does
Now, kids and grandma’s rule: But with the rate of burnout and stress within the climate movement, maybe it’s worth considering the initiatives of people where stress and burnout can be a risk to our freedom and our lives.
As the climate warms, there will be more and more people who need an option to maintain their activity within social movements, but also need to radically slow down. J+M is one model where empowerment and accessibility are embedded within the workshop. Managing stress isn’t seen as an afterthought, it’s a central part of what goes on during a J+M session.
Creating and maintaining community infrastructure for people to get activate gently is a way to both reach more people, and mitigate burnout in the movement. Disabled people don’t have to be an afterthought, token or a tick box, we can bring a lot of care and creativity to a future that belongs to all of us. Respecting that we do things differently because we have to is the first step.
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