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Memes have been used to raise awareness around disability rights on social media.

As memes, slang, and social media are slowly becoming more embedded into our lives, both 2014 and 2015 Scholars Lindsey Muszkiewicz and Grady Thompson are using social media to make a difference in the disability community at the University of SA���ʴ�ý.

Both Lindsey and Grady��are part of the Associated Students of the University of SA���ʴ�ý (ASUW), acting as interns on the Student Disability Commission (SDC). This Commission works on developing events and programs related to disability awareness.

One of the most significant campaign projects that the SDC took on last year was F*** Stairs. In this campaign, students who aren’t wheelchair users are challenged to not use any stairs around campus for a month. Every time a student couldn’t find a ramp entrance or accessible path, they were asked to write it down to document the lack of accessibility.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction to fight for eventually changing things so they are more inclusive of everyone,” Lindsey stated.

As a double major in comparative history of ideas (CHID) and disability studies, with a focus on disability representation in the media, Lindsey uses her education, her passion for disability activism, and her talent for comedy to create memes that are relatable and funny but illustrate the privilege that people without disabilities have. With youth becoming more attached to social media, it is becoming a better and further reaching tool for accessible social activism; Lindsey's work highlights the importance of raising awareness and gaining support through humor.

Grady draws attention to the fact that though their focus is disability empowerment by creating campaigns and events like F*** Stairs, most of their funding has to be put towards accommodations instead of the events themselves. Many clubs and events don’t have the funding for accommodations. This develops a barrier for many students. One example of this is ASL interpreters. Clubs often don’t have the money to pay for one, so it falls on the responsibility of the SDC to find the funds to provide access to events and clubs to students who don’t otherwise have it.

Recently, Grady, working with a team, was able to pass a bill to create an office of inclusive design that focuses on creating a more accessible campus for everyone. The budget isn’t perfect yet, but change is being made to create a path to inclusive design.

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