Access is defined as “permission, liberty, or the ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing” and “the method or possibility of getting near to a place or person.”
Physical access of course is a legal obligation, but what about relational access? Sacramental access? Not just access from a place of pity or even compassion, but access as co-equal participants both with unique, vital, and valuable gifts to offer.
Most often barriers to relational access are not the disability but the perception of the disability by the surrounding community.
Enter the least dangerous assumption. Coined by Anne Donnellan in 1984, it posits
“…in the absence of conclusive data, educational decisions ought to be based on assumptions which, if incorrect, will have the least dangerous effect on the likelihood that students will be able to function independently as adults.”
Basically, what will do the least harm?
The word conclusive is tricky. Most people will assume that if a “professional” or “expert” administers an IQ test that will literally inform the opportunities a person has — or doesn’t have — for their entire lives, that the test is bullet proof.
Unfortunately for nonspeakers with apraxia, a motor-cognitive dissonance (brain body disconnect), IQ tests are inconclusive because they all depend on the presupposition that the connection between the brain and the body is not impaired. All IQ tests require working fine motor skills which is an area of significant impairment in those with apraxia.
So, what do we do?
We presume competence. It’s a fancy way of saying, presume all people can and want to learn regardless of what their bodies do on the outside.
Talk to all people at an age appropriate level. Biological age. For example, if a 10 year old nonspeaking autistic with an impulsive body walks through the doors of your church, or spins through the doors, or jumps through, think about a typical 10 year old boy in your parish, and speak the same way to the nonspeaker. It takes a little practice at first, but it will become second nature. With this simple reframing on the part of the majority of the parish, two way relational access is established. And, it’s free!
If an adult man with down’s syndrome comes to church, greet him and treat him like other adult men in your parish. Invite him to things. Talk to him. Eat with him. Get to know him. Be candid. Let your guard down. Yes, presumption of competence works for people with Down’s Syndrome too. And Fragile X. And Cerebral Palsy. And any other disability on the planet.
All the questions and arguments coming into your mind right now are fine. “What if I can’t understand them?” “What if they don’t understand me?” But here’s the thing…
Just try it for a while.
That’s it. Presume competence for a while and see how it goes. I bet you’ll be surprised.
To Be Continued…
https://annedonnellan.com/
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/intellectual-disability/what-is-intellectual-disability
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/access
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/access