Liz Carr
Everything I know about leading, I got from Spiderman
Disabled people are good at leading. It's natural for us.
We sometimes don't choose to lead, we are seen as leaders just because we are disabled.
If we are disabled people, and people see us do things - we become role models, if we like it or not.
If a child looks at you - have you ever laughed along, because you don't want that child to think that disabled people are scary?
If someone opens the door for you, do you smile because you don't want people to think that all disabled people are ungrateful and moany? . Because we do things, and we are disabled - that often makes us spokespeople, role models and inspirations to others.
Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a spider can
There is a bit in Spiderman where it says, “with great power comes great responsibility”.
If everything we do is seen and judged by the people - does that mean that we have to always educate people? Is that our role?
As disabled artists do we have to produce work that shows all disabled people in a good light?
I struggle with this.
As a disabled comedian, writer and broadcaster, I have chosen to educate people and made a living out of it. I tell jokes, write pieces and comment on different sides of disability, hopefully showing non-disabled people what it can be like.
Does that mean that as a performer I have to think about what I say very carefully?
I did a comedy performance about six years ago and it made me think hard...
Words are powerful
When I tell jokes - some people laugh and other people don't like what I say. I can say things that some people don't agree with - that's my type of comedy.
I had done 15 minutes of comedy and at the end I asked the audience to celebrate the fact that everyone was different. I asked them all to "spazz up". I wanted people to make sounds and move their bodies in any way they wanted, copying how some people with cerebral palsy move - movements sometimes called 'spastic' - and rudely called 'spazzing'.
After the show I was greeted by a number of people from the disability arts world who were upset and who told me I should not tell mainstream audiences to ‘spazz up’.
They felt that I was saying anyone could use a word that many people find upsetting.
I’m not the first comedian to be accused of using language badly - Ricky Gervais was in trouble for using the word 'mong’ last week, Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr too are often in the news for it.
The difference is that I am a disabled person. Does this mean I have to behave differently?
As the co-presenter of the BBC’s Ouch! podcast, I’ve been talking about what I think and feel with people for the past 5 years.
I'm often very strong in what I think and honest about my feelings. Because I am on Ouch I know that people get to hear my thoughts - this gives me power.
When newspapers or television programmes want someone to comment on disability in the news, they often contact the Ouch! office and ask for one of us to give our views.
When I give my views, do people think that all disabled people think the same as me? If I let the world know I’m a fan of Take That will they think that all wheelchair users have such bad taste in music?
Yes, I am asked to represent disability but really the only person I can represent is myself?
When I have a chance to speak my views - do I simply speak mine, or do I represent all disabled people? Is it different if I am speaking to disabled people or to all people?
Falling down
In the small world of disability, quite a lot of people know who I am. Maybe this means that I have to really try all the time to be honest, to be me.
Recently I was talking on Ouch about my work.
I had been working for a year full time in a TV production company. It had been really hard work. At the Xmas party, no-one sat by me. In the summer, my team played rounders at the local park - and asked me to mind their bags.
I talked about this on Ouch - even though it was really hard.
The response from people listening was very strong. I got lots of support, lots of understanding. People thought that if this kind of thing happened to me - someone who is strong minded and clear - then it can happen to anyone. I wasn't a 'celebrity' anymore. I was just me - just like everyone listening.
I know that people will make up their own minds about me. Some people may see me as a role model, some people may see me as rude and offensive.
I can’t control how people will feel about me and my work.
Maybe I can do most when I just let myself be me. When I don't stop myself saying things because I think some people will be hurt or offended. When I don't try and be a role model. When I don't try and speak on behalf of everyone else.
Maybe what they meant on Spiderman was, “with great power comes great responsibility - to be true to yourself”?
