ANTWERP LIFE. William Boeva: “Many similarities between racism debate and discussion about people with disabilities”
Stand-up comedian William Boeva’s lengthy letter on Facebook, in which he denounces how people with disabilities are portrayed on television, has caused quite a stir. Boeva notices this from the many reactions he received, both positive and negative. “I am mainly concerned with making sure that the action is followed by the word and that inclusion is finally made real work.” He says that in Antwerp Live.
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William Boeva received a lot of positive reactions to his Facebook letter, especially from like-minded people with disabilities. However, there were also negative reactions, mainly from people who do not have a disability themselves.
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Boeva sees a debate similar to the racism debate. “Our society is tailor-made for white people and they are going to tell people with a different skin color what to prevent and what is racism and what not. That’s how it feels when people without disabilities start saying what people with a disability should feel,” says Boeva. “Maybe those people should just sit down and listen to people with disabilities.”
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In the wake of the indictment, it praised Boeva specific programs like At the end of the road on VRT and Out of office aimed at VTM, but he wants to nuance that. “I think a program like Down the Road can easily exist, it is a good first acquaintance (with Down syndrome, ed.). But we are now in the season and the concept has not always changed.”
“My main aim was to open the debate. Inclusion must go beyond simply putting people with disabilities in a program.” Boeva also simply have to be able to function as a presenter of a news studio, for example, without their limitations. “Many steps have already been taken in the field of inclusion, but then it is about gender, skin color and sexual orientation. It would be nice if people with disabilities could hook up to their wagon.”