Leverage
Published July 30, 2009 @ 10:51AM PT
There is a concept in the systems field called "leverage." Leverage is the part of a system where a small change has the largest potential to impact the whole. As a simple example, if a person treats the symptoms of an infection with pain killers, the state of the infection doesn't really change much; there is little change in the whole system. However, if a person treats an infection with antibiotics, not only does the state of the infection change dramatically, but the symptoms of the infection go away as well; there is large change in the whole system. The leverage in that example is in the infection, not in the symptoms of the infection. Leverage points are rarely in the place that seems most obvious.
Part of the purpose of this change.org site is to create change. Change in individual perspectives and paradigm. Change toward less assumptions, toward more respect, toward a better understanding. Change on a public, universal level in policy that supports respect, opportunity, equality, and quality of life. Discussion, action, the social-sharing-medium of the Internet.
But I do wonder sometimes--where, really, is the leverage? If we want public attitudes toward autism to shift away from medical-deficit models and toward social-strength models, if we want public perception of autism issues to be as human rights issues, then where is the greatest point of impact? The media? The government? Each other?
How much leverage is there in blog posts? In the discussion that comes from blog posts?
How much leverage in emailing a legislator, or a public figure?
How much leverage is there in one single person perceiving old things in new ways, and telling all their friends? And starting a blog of their own?
How much leverage in the things that exist outside of this blog, outside of the blogosphere, outside of the Internet?
How many impact points exist beyond our interactions here, ways to get involved, ways to speak out, ways to demonstrate? In passing out autistic-positive flyers at events that would disparage us, in being visible, in demanding to be regarded? In attending town hall meetings, in getting involved in local policy making, in not letting policy makers get away with ignoring us, autistic people, in policy decisions about us, that directly affect us? In getting involved in research that is good for us rather than bad for us, in working with cross-disability self-advocacy groups and building on the ground work that came before us, in thinking critically about what comes through the media? In simply standing up to an abuser and refusing to take it, in any way, even just once?
How many leverage points are there?
Social systems are huge and slow, they have a lot of inertia, and take a long time to change. But if we find the right leverage points and push, what can we accomplish? How much have we accomplished already?
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Comments (4)
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Author
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Dora is committed to improving quality of life for individuals on the autistic spectrum--including herself! She is Co-director of the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education and a member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's Board of Directors.
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I'm hoping that all this blogging will reach critical mass at some point, and transform into whatever's next. In the meantime there is a huge amount of consciousness-raising going on, that I think has to happen first. I know I'm going through huge shifts in consciousness as I read and write, so I suspect a lot of other people are, too.
It's frustrating, though, how long everything takes.
Posted by Anemone Cerridwen on 07/30/2009 @ 12:31PM PT
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Well, I've been meaning to post something here about the National Audit Office report re autistic adults in the UK which Dora rightly acclaimed. In many ways its authors showed very good recognition of the real world issues. I referred one of the senior civil servants involved in that report to this blog part way through their consultation period and she responded with keen enthusiasm for its relevance.
So I'm not sure where the leverage is in that, but it sounds potent to me. Generally over here, identifying key people involved in formulating legislation has been a strategic aim of much activism, and seems to have had some real impact over the years.
Posted by dinah murray on 07/30/2009 @ 02:40PM PT
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A friend of mine who's studied history in depth has told me something interesting: Major changes don't often happen incrementally, they happen suddenly. Meaning, it feels like you're working, and working, and working, and nothing is moving anywhere, nothing is changing, and then suddenly when you're least expecting it things shift in a major way.
Posted by Amanda Baggs on 07/30/2009 @ 09:46PM PT
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Sure, you get paradigm shifts. But what causes those shifts? A new generation who has been listening to new ideas and doesn't feel threatened by them, finally moving into a position to take over and do things their way.
I always wonder what they need to know.
Posted by Anemone Cerridwen on 07/31/2009 @ 07:39AM PT
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