How Artists With Disabilities Have Dealt With The Pandemic

FEI LU: Recently, the New York Foundation for the Arts announced a $1,000 emergency grant for disabled artists based in New York City. The grant is meant to support artists spanning multiple disciplines who’ve been financially impacted by the pandemic.

I invited Christopher Nunez the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Movement Research to speak about the challenges artists with disabilities face professionally and throughout COVID-19.

LU 1: What are some of the biggest challenges for disabled artists during the pandemic?

CHRISTOPHER NÚÑEZ 1: Inclusion, inclusion, inclusion.

There are so many layers to inclusion at the same time. And especially now that the best way to communicate to each other is through technology.

Because disabled people sometimes don't have the access to technology. And when they do, they realize that either the software, the hardware, the websites, the different platforms that we're using, or not accessible for assistive technologies.

But then, beyond the technological aspect of it, I think it's also the content, the content, the in terms of the practices as well, like intimacy and inclusion, how to make someone that is visually impaired, for example, someone that is blind, how to make them feel included in something that is incredibly visual like these that we're doing right now.

So best practices, like describing yourself to blind people is never included in any Zoom meeting that I have attended.

We never think about how to make people with disabilities feel included.

LU 2: Do you feel like a one time fund of $1,000 is really going to help disabled artists in the city?

NÚÑEZ 2: So that is taking a step in the right direction, right? Because disabled people face different challenges than non disabled people. Again, transportation, food, care, we need assistance, sometimes for care. We need mental health benefits as well.

And alternative practices, healing practices as well. And so I think it's a very good step and I

I think it's a very good initiative. Because disabled people need to be in a different category, definitely based on the experience and the different things that we face and challenge every day.

LU 3: What are some other methods, financial support or not that disabled artists can utilize right now

NÚÑEZ 3: Well, building community definitely, which we always do.We stay in touch with each other, we call each other, we support each other, we are always asking questions. Are you feeling okay? Are you okay? and building community is definitely necessary right now. And because we have always been in isolation in a way, because spaces are not accessible, or because we just don't feel welcome. Or because we don't have access to all of the opportunities out there.

LU 3: That was Christopher Nunez. He is a visually impaired choreographer, and the director for diversity and inclusion at movement research. Thank you so much for speaking with us today.

NÚÑEZ 4: Thank you so much. And thank you for opening the space to talk about disability in the arts and in these specific moments in history.