Page 11 - Community Living Magazine 34-3

opinion
Talking online closes the distance

While lockdown has kept people apart, being able to talk online has, paradoxically, brought
many people and places nearer – and those with learning disabilities have been early adopters
of the software, says Simon Duffy

hese Covid times have been full of One of the first Citizen Network TV Not only have I been able to meet new
sadness and constraint; however, broadcasts was by Stay Up Late Scotland, people but also we have also been able to
Tthere have also been unexpected which hosts a live one-hour alternative work together rapidly and efficiently. For
revelations and opportunities. music session every month. This includes instance, we have just launched the
One of the things I have really enjoyed amazing music and videos by people with Movement for Neighbourhood Democracy,
is seeing so many people with learning learning difficulties. It is hosted by Keith a network working to organise power in
difficulties get to grips with Zoom and Etherington from In Control Scotland and communities. All the meetings to set this
appear in webinars and online meetings. Michael McEwan, an independent network up were held online. Had we not
It seems to me that they are often the journalist and broadcaster with learning been working digitally, I’m sure the whole
first people to understand how to use difficulties from Glasgow. process would have taken much longer.
these platforms, bringing extra joy, In future, it will be much harder to
laughter and challenge, and quickly So far becomes so near justify inaccessible meetings, long journeys
understanding we need to share the Online meetings have been liberating for and everything having to be in London.
space to give everyone attention. my own work in a number of other ways.
One of the best of these events has Work that would have involved long
been Action Mondays, a one-hour meeting journeys and many meetings has now It seems that people with
at 5pm every Monday hosted by No Labels been converted into online webinars and learning disabilities are often
No Walls (https://nolabelsnowalls.net). At events that many more people can the first to understand how to
these meetings, contributors from across participate in and enjoy.
the world talk about everything from art Through Citizen Network, we’ve shared use platforms such as Zoom
and music to universal basic income and learning from Greece, Lithuania, Italy and
ecological sustainability. Finland with people from many other
The audience is incredibly diverse and countries. Although we are under A long time coming
people with learning difficulties are not lockdown, we can still be connected with For my friends in the chronic illness
merely welcome – they often act as hosts. many different people and there is a power community, the rise of online activity has
We also recently launched Citizen and joy in this. We are not alone and we been a bittersweet boon. They also wonder
Network TV as a platform for people who have so much in common with others. why something that has been possible for
want to create their own video content or I have also benefited from being able to years is only now being used regularly.
live broadcasts. This project emerged out do things I would not have otherwise As a post on Disability Wales says:
of the successful CitizenFest movement, been able to do. Often, I am invited to “Suddenly the world has woken up to the
which is creating a global network of London to attend meetings with powerful fact that studying, working and socialising
festivals to celebrate diversity and equality. people and organisations based there but from home via the internet is possible.
Last year’s festival was totally digital I can rarely afford the time or money to “The technologies for remote access and
and included many contributions by travel from Sheffield. participation are being harnessed in a wave
people with learning difficulties. We But now a meeting in London is not a of innovation and energy. Yet, pre Covid 19,
learned that not only could people meeting in London – it’s online instead. when we asked for these things, they were
produce engaging content but also, if we Suddenly, I can meet people I know by too difficult; or we were being awkward.”
worked together, we could expand our name or reputation but who I would This reminds us that inclusion depends
audience by sharing our connections. never normally get a chance to talk with. on a willingness to include. You still need
to be invited to attend. Events still need to
Remote access be open – neither private nor too costly.
technology is now I am sure things will evolve. I am sure
commonplace; some people who invited me never
before, people with expected me to turn up, and will now
disabilities who carefully avoid inviting me. (I am told I’m
asked for it were
seen as awkward like Marmite, not to everyone’s taste.)
And I’m sure some people will manage to
Deror avi/Wikimedia Commons learning difficulties or other disabilities
engineer things so that people with
cannot attend their future meetings.
I miss the hugs, the shared coffee or
pint and opportunities to travel to
interesting places. I am also sure we will
want a lot more real-world contact. n
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 34 No 3 | Spring 2021 11