Invisible Obstacles
A Library Gallery exhibition by May Ling Kopecky
Exhibition: Saturday, November 13–Friday, December 10 Library Gallery
Introduction to the exhibition by May Ling Kopecky: The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of fifteen, I hesitated to call it a disability. Symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, heat intolerance, double vision, migraines, and muscle weakness can’t be observed by others, and therefore often aren’t acknowledged. Many people told me I “looked fine” or was too young to be sick, which led to impostor syndrome and difficulties with speaking up for myself.
Invisible Obstacles explores my experiences with MS symptoms, as well as the MRI scans that act as “proof” of my chronic illness. Through this exhibition, I hope to prompt others to consider just how much can go unseen when looking at another person, as well as encourage people with invisible illnesses to advocate for themselves.
Reading List:
Disability visibility : first-person stories from the Twenty-first century, edited by Alice Wong
Disability and art history, edited by Ann Millett-Gallant and Elizabeth Howie
Points of contact : disability, art, and culture, edited by Susan Crutchfield and Marcy Epstein
Studying disability arts and culture : an introduction, by Petra Kuppers
Feminist, queer, crip, by Alison Kafer