Thank you.

I guess, being disabled via neuro-atypicality and not being physically disabled, I still have a lot to learn about ableism directed at PWD who have physical disabilities. I’ve wondered in the past whether the sort of attitude your acquaintance had is not anti-ableist in a way–seeing wheelchairs not as a terrible thing, but a useful tool. But I can definitely see how non-wheelchair users treating wheelchairs as some kind of cool toy rather than necessary assistive technology is just flaunting privilege. The privilege associated with being a non-wheelchair user is certainly significant. Displaying TAB privilege can come in a number of forms, and I’m only just beginning to become aware of all of them.
Sarah´s last blog ..The Power of Self-Identification

There are issues of race, class, gender and even differing abilities to contend with. This task would not be so difficult today, had I made a conscious decision to acknowledge my various privileges in the past. I allowed my privilege to dictate what I learned and studied, thereby reinforcing the very hierarchies that I claimed to struggle against.

This. So much this. On some level, as we navigate womanist/feminist issues and theory, we make decision on what it is we look at. We choose what learn. We choose what become educated in. More of us should take it upon ourselves to learn about things outside of our own privileged windows before a baseball smashes through them and forces something into our laps.

Thank you again.

 begin quote  I have isolated myself because I viewed my body as the great betrayer, refusing to see the ways in which I could and can still participate.  quote ends 

That isolation is not all your doing—or choice! Our disablist society encourages isolation, whether at home or in institution or separate classrooms. Out of sight, out of mind.
Jesse the K´s last blog ..Meta about Meta for the Wheeee!

To her it seemed a cool toy, while to me it is a reflection of all the things I cannot do.

Thank you so much for writing this–I definitely needed to hear it. My disability has always been a part of me, and it’s easy for me to forget that other PWD experience their disabilities differently.

I would’ve thought of your scooter as a cool/beautiful/awesome piece of technology or vehicle. (I think I said as much to you when you wrote about getting one–I’m sorry). Since I have always been disabled, assistive technology for me is about helping people do more things. Thanks for reminding me that it can be a painful reminder of stuff someone used to be able to do.

I have a physical disability which has caused me to more aware of the ways in which society is structured to benefit those that are able bodied, but it has not helped me to understand the ways in which those that are neurologically atypical face discrimination.

I definitely relate to this–although in my case it’s sort of reversed. I’m neurologically atypical, and I know more about some kinds of neuroatypicality than others. (The only one I’m an “expert” on is mine–not my diagnosis, just my brain!–and I still learn new things about it all the time). I don’t know much about chronic pain conditions–I’ve learned everything from cool people who’ve written about their experiences, yourself included.

My favorite thing about the disabiity community is how diverse everyone in it is–it’s wonderful and overwhelming at the same time. (Or maybe overwhelmingly wonderful? ). The feeling that you have “101-level” knowledge will fade with time, I think…at least, in the way I think you mean. For me, disability advocacy is definitely a case of “the more you learn, the less you realize you know.”
Tera´s last blog ..*Squeak!* It’s open thread time!