Since 2019, the collective Les Dévalideuses has been working to bringthe disabled-feminist struggles to life. Last September, activistsorganized a blocking action at the Invalides metro station which causedquite a stir. A look back at this action, the organization of whichmakes it possible to highlight the issues of accessibility of thestruggles. ---- Since 2019, the collective Les Dévalideuses has beenworking to bring the disabled-feminist struggles to life. LastSeptember, activists organized a blocking action at the Invalides metrostation which caused quite a stir. A look back at this action, theorganization of which makes it possible to highlight the issues ofaccessibility of the struggles.On September 17, the Dévalideuses organized an action to block theInvalides metro station in Paris, to denounce the inaccessibility of theParis metro, and more broadly of society as a whole. This action waspart of a Dévalideuses seminar weekend, the first and for the momentonly moment where the members of this collective, which has existed formore than 5 years, were able to meet face-to-face. This is anopportunity to question the impact of the inaccessibility of society, aswell as of activist circles, on anti-validist struggles.Activist courses strewn with obstaclesAbleism refers to the structural oppression suffered by people who arenot "valid", that is to say who do not correspond to the standards ofphysical, sensory, psychological or emotional capacities imposed bysociety. For more than 50 years, anti-validist activists have beenmobilizing to denounce the discrimination and segregation theyexperience and assert their rights. However, these struggles remainlittle known to the general public.Validism is also very linked to other relations of domination,capitalism, patriarchy and racism in particular. However, while theproportion of disabled people in the population is estimated at 10%, fewof them are involved in unions and other counter-powers.This is because we must first become aware of all the obstaclesencountered by disabled activists, in order to be able to organize andcarry out actions in a society that is particularly inaccessible tothem. How can we meet or participate in events when transport, placeslikely to host meetings and public spaces in general are not suitablefor people with reduced mobility?[1]How to communicate with tools thatare not accessible to deaf or blind people, for example? How can youorganize yourself in the face of exploitation when you work in ESAT(work support establishments and services) and you have the rightneither to join a union nor to strike?[2]Finally, we must be aware ofthe increased risks for disabled people who are mobilizing: serioushealth risks from Covid in spaces where health protocols are abandonedor poorly followed, risk of being deprived of care or the presence oftheir caregiver in the event of police custody...Rethinking organizational methodsAnti-validist activists often choose non-mixing, as is the case for theDévalideuses. For all the reasons that lead feminist or anti-racistactivists to do so, but also because essential work to adapt the tools,functioning and methods of action is necessary to take into account theaccessibility needs of their members, which can be very diverse.Les Dévalideuses currently has around fifteen active members, and manymembership requests left on hold. However, the desire to expand andsolidify is very present. But with each new membership the questionarises of the needs of the new member, and the work to be done to makethe collective accessible to them, which can sometimes lead tosignificant changes in tools or internal operating methods. The scale ofthe work that must be done reflects the inaccessibility of society andordinary activist circles.Since the 1970s, anti-validist activists have often found themselvesforced into actions carried out by a small number, which must take on aspectacular character to succeed: hunger strikes, blockades andoccupations... (for example the 504 sit-ins in 1977 in the UnitedStates[3], or the train and plane blockades led by Handi-Social inToulouse in 2018[4]).Recipe for successful anti-validist actionThe Dévalideuses action at the Invalides metro station requiredsignificant preparation work, over 6 months in advance. We had to find away so that as many people as possible could come, find accommodation,and participate in the action while minimizing the risks. It was alsonecessary to ensure the media reach of the action since it was difficultto count on mass participation as well as the possibility of prolongingthe blockade.And from this point of view, this action was a success, and an inspiringexample. While it was a first for the collective, but also individuallyfor the vast majority of participants, everything had been carefullyprepared in advance: identification and transmission of information onaccessibility, distribution of roles, health protocol, communication ,press contacts, etc. And the press was indeed there, which allowedsignificant media visibility.To this visibility was added that on social networks, a privileged spacefor activism for many people who have difficulty accessing public space.And the benefits for the collective are very promising: the Dévalideuseshave received hundreds of messages of support, encouragement and thanks,and almost as many people have volunteered to participate in otheractions of this type. A new challenge for this collective which hassince been working hard on a change of scale.The enthusiasm that this action received, particularly among peopleaffected by disabilities, reveals that there is a strong desire and needto defend their rights and fight against the oppression they suffer.It's up to us, in all our struggles, to work to ensure that they findtheir place there!Julie (UCL Fougères)To validate[1]See for example "Demonstrations and disability, the long obstaclecourse", Reporterre, March 28, 2023[2]In France, 120,000 people work in ESAT but are considered"beneficiaries" and not employees. The right to unionize and strike wasonly granted to them recently, in November 2023, in the "fullemployment" law, which attacks the rights of disabled workers in manyother ways. We will come back to this in a future issue![3]150 people occupied the office of the Ministry of Health in SanFrancisco for 28 days, to demand the application of article 504 of theRehabilitation Act providing for the obligation of accessibility ofspaces open to the public.[4]Around fifteen disabled people carried out several actions, blockingthe departure of a train and a plane for a few hours, as well as anAirbus convoy for 24 hours, to denounce the inaccessibility of transportand demand the withdrawal of the ELAN law. They were subsequentlyprosecuted and convicted during a "trial of shame", in shamefulconditions revealing the inaccessibility of justice.https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Militantisme-handi-Les-Devalideuses-a-l-assaut-du-validisme_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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