ON THE QUESTION OF ALLIES—by Aprille Annette

There are many wonderful individuals and organizations working to include people with disabilities in the arts.  These allies are doing great work to move things forward.  However, there are also many people who think they are allies, but who are not.  I have identified three kinds of pseudo-allies:  the Missionaries, the Vultures, and the Do-gooders.  People who run programs defined as helping people with disabilities may be one, two or all three of these.  This is not exclusively non-disabled people -- I’ve seen disabled pseudo-allies also.  However, most pseudo-allies are non-disabled people who are getting a lot of mileage out of “helping” disabled people.

A Missionary gets points for helping us, but the problem is that they are often helping us their way.  They get points; we get used.  Remember: Nothing about us without us!

The Vulture exploits us, often making money off of our needs, our art or our lack of power.  When a Vulture makes money off our art, it is often more money than we make off of it.  The Vulture started multiplying at an incredibly fast rate after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Do-gooder is motivated by a conscious desire to help the less fortunate and a sub-conscious desire that is patronizing and condescending.

We need allies and are grateful for the true allies.  And, some of our best allies started out as pseudo-allies.  Invariably, talk of this type produces the question of “How can I tell if I’m a true ally or a pseudo-ally?”  Usually, it is a true ally asking this question, because the pseudo-ally often doesn’t even have a clue that this problem exists.

The answer is rooted in power dynamics.  Here’s one clue:  If someone appreciates your work and leaves you feeling powerful, they are probably an ally; if they leave you feeling grateful to them, they may be a pseudo-ally. 

Where is the power in an organization that presents artists with disabilities?  Is it all in the hands of non-disabled people?  Are there board members, staff, and advisors with disabilities within the power structure of an organization?

Below are more of the telling signs of a possible pseudo-ally:

--They use terms like “courage” and “inspirational.”

--They get lots of publicity, with their self in the photo.

--Non-disabled people make most of the artistic decisions, without consulting people with disabilities.

--They don’t encourage or develop people to move beyond their program.

--They don’t think about whether or not they are an ally or a missionary or vulture or do-gooder; they get defensive when the issue is brought up.

--They use terms like “these people;” they use the terms “us” and “them” more than the term “we.”

--They give extreme praise when it is not justified.

I felt compelled to write this paper to warn those who are trying to include people with disabilities and make accessible programs and facilities.  Be cautious about who you turn to for advice and coalitions.  Remember that “Nothing About Us Without Us” is a good general rule – if people with disabilities are in on the planning, it will likely be in the spirit intended.

copyright 2000 by Aprille Annette

Click Here to go back to PEP Home Page