Let's Raise the Roof - A Social Model of Disability

Summary

Sam's first day at a new job is filled with challenges due to his height. He faces difficulties boarding the bus, finding a seat, and navigating the office with low ceilings. His colleagues' attempts to help, including translating Braille documents and planning a fundraiser for knee protection, miss the simpler solution of adjusting the workspace. The video highlights the importance of accessibility and the need for empathy in understanding individual needs.

Takeaways

• 🚌 Sam starts his new job and has a challenging commute involving a bus ride.
• 😓 Sam faces accessibility issues on the bus, including no available seats and an awkward entry.
• 🤔 Sam requests a wheelchair user to move, highlighting a lack of awareness about priority seating.
• 🏢 Upon arrival at the office, Sam encounters more accessibility problems, such as finding a suitable chair.
• 📚 Sam's induction materials are in Braille, which he cannot read, causing confusion.
• 🤝 Colleagues offer to help translate the Braille, but it will take a week, showing a lack of preparedness.
• 🍽️ During lunch, Sam's colleagues are curious about his height and consider it a problem rather than a characteristic.
• 💼 The office plans a fundraiser for Sam's benefit, focusing on protecting his knees rather than addressing the environment.
• 🤷‍♂️ Sam suggests a more practical solution—raising the roof—but it's overlooked in favor of the fundraiser.
• 🦁 The script ends with a lion's roar, possibly symbolizing Sam's roar for better accessibility and understanding.

Q & A

What is the main challenge Sam faces when getting on the bus?

Sam has difficulty getting on the bus because he has to bend down awkwardly to get through the door.

Why does Sam ask the wheelchair user to move from the priority standing area?

Sam asks the wheelchair user to move because the area has been specially adjusted for non-wheelchair users.

What is Sam's reaction to his induction pack being written in Braille?

Sam is confused when he finds that his induction pack is written in Braille and turns to his colleagues for help.

How do Sam's colleagues propose to help him with the Braille induction pack?

Sam's colleagues offer to translate the Braille induction pack for him, but it will take at least a week.

What kind of questions do Sam's colleagues ask him during lunch?

Sam's colleagues ask him questions about what it's like to be too tall and if he has considered seeing a doctor to fix it.

What is the purpose of the 'Save Sam's Knees™' fundraiser?

The 'Save Sam's Knees™' fundraiser is planned to raise money for a hardened helmet and lower leg guards so that Sam can walk on his knees more easily.

What is Sam's response to the fundraiser idea?

Sam suggests an alternative solution by asking, 'Couldn't you just have raised the roof?'

What is the significance of the lion roaring sound effect at the end of the script?

The lion roaring sound effect at the end symbolizes Sam's frustration or the absurdity of the situation.

What does Sam's experience at the office highlight about accessibility issues?

Sam's experience highlights the lack of consideration for tall individuals in terms of office design and accessibility.

How does the script address the theme of inclusivity in the workplace?

The script addresses the theme of inclusivity by showing the challenges Sam faces and the efforts of his colleagues to accommodate him, albeit in a misguided way.