AIDS and Disability: Tenuous Impracticality or Strategic Alliance?

By Myroslava Tataryn
May 26, 2007

This paper, presented at the Third Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Disability Studies, builds on the ideas previously presented by the author three years earlier in "Bridging the Gap" (PDF, 59 KB).  In addition to calling for cooperation between AIDS and disability activists, the paper examines real-life successes and challenges faced by projects implementing such alliances.

Three years ago, at a meeting of this same association, I presented a paper entitled: “A case for Inclusion: PWAs and PWDs.”  With that paper, I attempted to outline the main arguments for an intentional cooperation between the disability movement and AIDS activists.  Although many have yet to be convinced that this alliance is favorable, today I hope to explore some of the tensions that prevent this sort of alliance as well as the strengths and challenges of such attempts that have taken place on the ground.  This paper is informed by research over the last 3 years as well as first-hand experience implementing targeted AIDS education to disabled youth is South Africa.  Through DPI (Disabled Peoples International) and the Canadian International Development Agency’s youth internship program I had the opportunity to work on an HIV/AIDS education initiative in Cape Town, South Africa in 2005-2006.  Involvement with this project also took me to the International AIDS Conference in Toronto last August.  I will draw examples from these experiences during this discussion.

The last five years have seen a significant growth in the acknowledgement of the issues that arise at the intersection between HIV/AIDS and disability movements.  The World Bank’s Global Survey on HIV/AIDS conducted by Nora Groce of Yale University in 2004 was a landmark work and continues to be referenced by practically everyone speaking on the topic.  For the sake of those in the room who are not familiar with Dr. Groce’s work, it is important to note that the Global Survey confirmed that people with disabilities are at an equal or greater risk of all known risk factors leading to HIV infection.  It is the first and, to date, the only study on the topic that has an international scope.  The Survey highlights the systemic discrimination faced by people with disabilities in regards to education, health care, economic and social power and how this leads to increased risk of sexual abuse and sexual manipulation and corresponding increase of HIV infection.  The publication of this study has helped to advance the work of disability activists calling for increased awareness of AIDS and sexual health needs amongst people with disabilities.  However, there is still a prevailing silence regarding disability issues in mainstream AIDS discourse.  At the 2006 International AIDS Conference there was not one official speaker, workshop or session dedicated to the particular concerns of people with disabilities. Out of more than 3 000 posters there were, approximately, a dozen dedicated to disability issues.

The inclusion of disability discourse within the AIDS movement is important not only for people with existing disabilities but also for PLWAs who may acquire a disability.  The AIDS movement’s fight for the normalization of PLWA negates the effort of the disability movement to cultivate an acceptance of different bodies.  AIDS activists may fight for the acceptance of PLWA on the grounds that we cannot see AIDS and that PLWA can still work and can “contribute fully to society.”  These efforts feed into a “normalcy paradigm” that hurts people with disabilities who have or are trying to come to terms with their disability.

I am not arguing for an amalgamation of the two movements but rather an alliance, mutual recognition and attempt to recognize each other’s efforts and, then, not undermine them.  Both movements have a lot to learn from each other.  Also, it is important to recognize, respect and support the many people that fall into both categories and, as a result, have fallen through the cracks.

Currently, rather than having access to double supports, people with disabilities who are infected or affected with HIV/AIDS along with people living with HIV/AIDS and experiencing disability for the first time, they are alienated from both camps.