On Monday October 2024, I learned a lot from attending this very interesting and inspiring talk at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
Below is the event text, as well as my own photos and notes.
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John Kelly – Music, Disability, Diversity and The Need for Positive Social Change!
Join us for a session where we will unpick how our understanding of Disability and Diversity, in particular the Social Model of Disability, continues to create and shape more inclusive cultures in Europe. John will explore this through his journey as a Disabled Person and Artist.
Bio John Kelly
“I have been singing since I was 8, brought up with Irish music loving parents, and vinyl and cassettes all over the house, music has been my life. Musically, I am self-taught. I started a band in my teens (Another Dead Rabbit) writing and gigging whenever and wherever I could. I took on the guitar, bass and keyboards and I’m pleased to say I’m still dodgy on them all”.
John Kelly is a warm, funny, passionate musician with over 30 years’ live experience. He is a lover and a (non-violent) fighter for equality, inclusion and human rights.
His songwriting sits alongside that of his heroes and peers; containing all the compassion & conviction of some of the most successful singer/songwriters in Folk, Punk and Irish Folk Music (like Woody Guthrie, Billy Bragg and Ian Dury & The Blockheads).
John has wowed crowds at gigs from pubs and clubs to sold-out stadiums. His biggest audience was his performance at The London Paralympic Opening Ceremony in 2012 performing live to a capacity 80,000 stadium and a global audience of over 3.8 billion.
2024 will see John and his band gigging across the country at venues, festivals, events and maybe the odd protest (or two!). He also looks forward to performing once again in The Hague in October 24.
The need for positive social change
The core message of John’s talk revolved around the need for positive social change.
Understanding Disability
From his lived experience, John shared some really interesting insights.
Nothing About Us Without Us
This is a term that I’d actually heard somewhere just recently – I can’t remember where, but so good to this time grasp it more clearly. What a powerful phrase: Nothing About Us Without Us
This refers to the fact that often decisions are made about disabled people without their involvement. I believe this happens in a much broader sense too – way too many important decisions are made within systems and society that often have a significant negative impact on those who had no voice in it.
What is Disability?
This is a question I’ve asked myself a lot lately in the context of neurodiversity. As John said – there are probably many other disabled people here in the audience, we just can’t see that immediately.
Human Rights to living independently and being included in the community
Accessibility
This goes way beyond simply having easy wheelchair access. It’s also about the accessibility of information, and from a communication perspective, I love this point.
An excellent example is this visual communication of his music, and the gig goers access pack.
This also demonstrates that often, the accessibility designed for those with disabilities can actually benefit so many more people.
Zestee 