Paper short abstract:

This paper suggests the affirmative model of disability to analyse experiences of visually impaired Moscow artists whose works open up ways to overcome social stereotypes and set forth a new, non-tragic view of the world of individuals with visual impairments.

Paper long abstract:

Disability studies have suggested several models for explaining disability: a medical model underlying biological distinctions between able-bodied and disabled people; a social model shifting the locus of responsibility from the impaired individuals to the restrictions of social and physical environment; and, recently, the affirmative model of disability which focuses on positive social identities. The later one developed in the heart of Disability Arts Movement and theorized by several UK scholars (J. Swain, S. French, C. Cameron) suggests a non-tragic view of disability, when an individual sees his/her impairment as an integral part of his identity and experience.

Inspired by the affirmative model I decided to look at how Moscow citizens with visual impairments involved on professional and amateur levels in different kinds of arts (playing instruments, singing, taking part in a drama group, painting with playdough) talk about their lives. I was eager to know what meanings arts have in their lives, as well as to what extent being successful in arts helps them develop their potential, overcome social barriers, as well as contribute to setting up a new affirmative (positive) model of people with disabilities in Russian society.

The data (2015) I'd like to present include analysis of ten in-depth interviews with visually impaired people doing arts in Moscow region, which reflect their views on existing relationships between the worlds of "able-to-see" people and those having visual impairments. My conclusions pertain to the potential of visually impaired Russian artists' works to change the current (predominantly, medical) model of disability in Russia.