Reasonable Adjustments
Reasonable Adjustments is the term used to describe the adjustments put in place to compensate or support someone with disability, or enable them to function. The idea is to provide equity. Equity is excellent. For me though, the term, ‘reasonable adjustments’, not quite so much…
Adjustments is ok- adjustments are necessary at times. But I have always struggled with the first part, ‘reasonable’. Because to me, that suggests that someone else gets to decide what may or may not be ‘acceptable’, ’necessary’ and/or ‘legitimate’. It, to me, gives someone else license to question whether I really need adjustments. And that’s not right. It’s taken me quite some time to make peace with the fact that my needs are my needs and that they are valid. Honestly? I’m still working on truly believing it- it’s a constant work in progress. The idea of adjustments being ‘reasonable’ seems contradictory to that. Because everyone has needs. And everyone’s needs are legitimate and valid.
Another concept associated with reasonable adjustments I also struggle with is ‘unjustifiable hardship’. That is, making or allowing an adjustment which would place unfair burden on the other party. I know there is a place for this. The part I struggle with is the possibility for this little clause to be exploited by people who are ableist or who decide it’s just ‘too hard’. To me, it feels like this little clause could give those kinds of people license to question existing adjustment arrangements, in terms of how ‘necessary’ and ‘legitimate’ they are, or refuse new adjustments. Again, your needs are your needs, and they are legitimate and valid.
But, let’s back up to look again at adjustments, or adaptations. Adjustments and adaptations can be tiny. Tiny little tweaks that mean the world to individuals who need them. Adjustments can mean the difference between ability and inability. Adaptations may mean can versus can’t- as I’ve often said, can with tools and/or a team. Adjustments and adaptations can be key enablers of access and inclusion, a couple of things everyone deserves. Take for example, this clip, which discusses the measures taken in the development and production of an Australian play to ensure greater accessibility of the production or this clip which gives a glimpse into the adaptations that allow an Animal professor to teach in the movie Wicked. More on accessibility here.