Assignment 4: Plain Language Summary

Emma Heaton

For this project, I listened to a podcast called “On The Performative Nature of Disability.”
Rena Cohen, a theatre director, made the podcast. On the podcast, she spoke to Alfiya
Battalova, who studies disability arts. This summary was made for students in grades 2 to 5.

What is the podcast about?

The podcast is about how disability is sometimes like a performance or show. Sometimes
this is a bad thing and other times it’s a good thing. If you have a disability, you might feel
free when you think about it this way.

Is it bad when disability is like a performance?

Disability can be like a performance in some bad ways. Battalova says that disability can be
like a performance when a person without disability stares at a person with a disability. If you
have a disability, this might make you uncomfortable. In the past, there were “freak shows.”
In a freak show, the audience stared at people with disabilities because they thought the
people looked strange. Today, sometimes people still stare at other people who look
different. Disability can also be like a performance when someone hides their disability to
help people without disabilities feel comfortable.

Can disability be like a performance in good ways?

Yes, disability can be like a performance in some good ways. If you have a disability, you can
make art about your disability. This might make you feel good about yourself. Alfiya
Battalova talks about Carrie Sandahl, who is an artist with a disability She made a piece of
art with her body. The art piece is about her disability. For the piece, she wrote words about
her disability on her clothes. She felt powerful because she chose to tell her story this way.

What can I do if I meet someone with a disability?

If you meet someone with a disability, remember that they are not strange. Battalova and
Cohen say that there are many people with disabilities, and disability is a part of life. They
also say that people with disabilities don’t need to change anything about themselves. Don’t
be afraid to say the word “disability. People with disabilities need the word to describe who
they are.

If I have a disability, and people make me feel uncomfortable, what do I do?

Remember that you don’t have to say anything to someone who is staring. You do not have
to change the way you move, speak or do things. Battalova says if you have a disability, you
might feel like you have to “mask” or hide who you are. This is not true. Also, some people
may tell you that you are inspiring. This can feel good, but it can feel stressful too. Alfiya
Battalova says that people with disabilities don’t always have to be “inspiring.” Being
inspiring can feel like performing or putting on a show. You can do things that feel right to
you, even if they aren’t “inspiring” or if you worry that they look different.