Every month, we plan to showcase a list of themed content recommendations from the first wave of our Ambassador team. This month’s theme is “disability rights”

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Organization: Social Venture Dot

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Dot has studied assistive technology engineering techniques for Blind individuals. Starting with the Dot braille smartwatch, Dot researches technology that makes information accessible for all. Dot’s vision is to innovate until those who are visually or aurally impaired can be closer, more connected, to the world--until everyone, with or without disabilities, can enjoy a rich life. Dot aims to use technology to expand barrier-free design to education, public transportation, museums, art galleries, and other public resources to create a disability-friendly environment so that all disabled people can live more conveniently. 

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Organization: Human Rights Center for Disabled People

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The Human Rights Center for Disabled People is an organization that resolves discrimination from the perspective of the disabled. It is an organization that makes into reality the rights and responsibilities people have to be treated equally regardless of reasons such as physical appearance. I chose this organization in the hopes that people would pay attention to not only obtaining human rights, equal treatment, and a society without discrimination for the non-disabled, but for the disabled as well. 

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Nodl Disabled Independence Center

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Nodl supports the self-reliance of disabled people and advocates for disability rights. It also works to change laws, institutions and socio-cultural environments. It intends to change communities’ discriminatory structures and environments by sponsoring the independence of those with severe disability, as well as education, labor, migration, housing, and deinstitutionalization of disabled individuals. 

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I learned of this organization while working in human rights theatre. Most of us will see Nodl demonstrating in the subway. As it is a demonstration that calls for equal mobility rights, it may be disruptive for pedestrians. I chose this organization in the hopes that despite the momentary inconvenience we may face, we can understand and support their demands rather than resenting them. 

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Innocent Witness (2019)

Director: Lee Han

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Innocent Witness is a movie about the relationship between an autistic student who witnesses a murder and the lawyer who takes on the case, and how he is able to solve the mystery as he grows to understand her better over time. This warm movie lets us reflect on disability rights through the bravery of the disabled protagonist making her way through this rough world. Through the movie, I was able to throw away my biases against autistic children—Innocent Witness masterfully depicts the perspective of autistic children, noting how and how not to communicate with them.

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Movie: CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION
Directors: James Lebrecht, Nicole Newnham

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Crip Camp, a camp program for the disabled, becomes a turning point for many. People who meet through the camp unite to fight bravely for disability rights. Starting from the boisterous story of Crip Camp, this movie illustrates how the camp led to the disability rights movement. 

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Movie: Forrest Gump (1994)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

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Forrest Gump has a learning disability and a disabled leg, but grows up with the love of his mother. After discovering that he has a talent for running, he is able to go against prejudices and achieve a successful football career, but after his mother’s death and separation from his first love faces a turning point in his life. “Life is a box of chocolates,” he says in the movie. “You never know what you're gonna get.” I’m recommending this movie because it is your choice whether to pursue or let go of the sweet chocolate box. 

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Movie: Two Lights: Relumino (2017)

Director: Hur Jin-ho

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Soo-Young, who is Blind, and In-Soo, who suffers from retinal degradation, meet first at a photography club. In-Soo falls for the confident Soo-Young and Soo-Young also finds herself falling for him. In this process, we can feel the different attitudes that non-disabled people have towards disabled people. We see it in the grandmother who grabs Soo-Young's hand trying to help, saying “you’re pretty, but I feel bad for you.” I wanted to show that every person who is disabled in this movie lives fruitful lives. 

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Video: ‘Disability: It’s ok to not overcome it’ feat. YouTuber Kim Ji-Woo - North Seoul Healthcare Center for the Disabled

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This is a video that tries to change the one-dimensional image that comes to mind when one thinks of the term ‘disabled.’ Through the first part of the video, it may be surprising to hear that the image that we think of may be ‘discrimination.’ Her opinions on the things that we think of as granted, or even things we’ve never thought of provide an opportunity for those watching to change their minds. This video also was a good opportunity to think about ways to make ‘considerations’ for the disabled not become exclusionary. 

Book: A child who is neither strange nor ill

Author: Kim Ye-Won

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Set in a fourth-grade classroom, this book details the changing story of a child with a developmental disability and peers who do not understand the disability. This book is based on the experiences of Kim Ye-Won, who cannot see through one eye. It raises questions about why encounters between disabled and non-disabled people are rare, and about the structural issues in our society. I think that this book is significant in that it can change someone’s values. 

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Book: The Good Discriminator

Author: Kim Ji-Hye

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This book talks about the various forms of discriminations in our society. It shows how discrimination is created and how it becomes invisible in society and leads us to rethink equality. 

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This book not only deals with discrimination against disabled people, but about discrimination against all minorities in society. Nevertheless, I chose this book because it made me reflect on how I thought about disabled people, and whether I was discriminating without realizing. I also thought this book could actually change actions.

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