About s.e. smith
s.e. smith is a recalcitrant, grumpy person with disabilities who enjoys riling people up, talking about language, tearing apart poor science reporting, and chasing cats around the house with squeaky mice in hand. Ou personal website can be found at this ain't livin'.
Website: http://www.meloukhia.net
Contact: meloukhia @ disabledfeminists.com
Posts by s.e. smith
By s.e. smith on 17 November, 2010
When I tell people I write for a feminist site focusing on a disability issues, one of the most common responses I get is confusion. ‘What does disability,’ people ask me, ‘have to do with feminism?’ I’ve written before, very topically, about why disability is a feminist issue, and I’d hope that a lot of [...]
Posted in 101, class issues, feminism, gender | Tagged disparities, gendering, health access
By s.e. smith on 16 November, 2010
Statement of Purpose I plan to publish an anthology of poetry and prose by people on the autism spectrum, aged 35 and over. I welcome all pieces of writing about your feelings about being autistic, your experiences, your sense of yourself, your view of the world, your work history, your relationship with your family, or [...]
Posted in signal boost | Tagged anthologies, autism, call for submissions
By s.e. smith on 16 November, 2010
Disability Studies in Nederland and VU University Amsterdam have the pleasure of inviting you to the International Disability Studies Conference to be held around World Disability Day: Conference: ‘Diversity in Quality of Life’ Date: December 2-4, 2010 Location: VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands On the occasion of the first anniversary of Disability Studies in Nederland and the [...]
Posted in events, signal boost | Tagged Amsterdam, conferences, The Netherlands
By s.e. smith on 15 November, 2010
Every time there’s some political event where a bunch of people gather, some of those people are going to be using scooters (and wheelchairs! and canes! and walkers! etc.). And, invariably, people who disagree with the politics of that event are going to zero in on the scooter users, targeting them as objects of hatred [...]
Posted in othering, politics, social attitudes | Tagged ableism, political rhetoric, scooters, United States
By s.e. smith on 14 November, 2010
Body hair has come up on Dear Imprudence before, so I thought this recent Ask Amy column might be relevant to the interests of some readers, in addition to being an example of an advice column that does not actually suck! A reader wrote in to ask: Dear Amy: I am a girl in my [...]
Posted in Dear Imprudence, feminism | Tagged Amy Dickinson, Ask Amy, body hair, sports, women's sports
By s.e. smith on 13 November, 2010
I think it’s pretty well known around here that I have a huge crush on Shoshannah Stern, who appeared in Deaf West‘s production of Children of a Lesser God last year as Sarah, the role made famous by fellow Deaf actress Marlee Matlin (on whom I also have a huge crush). Sadly, the run of [...]
Posted in art, creative work | Tagged actresses, Children of a Lesser God, Deaf, Deaf theatre, theatre
By s.e. smith on 12 November, 2010
This post originally appeared on this ain’t livin’. A 1988 amendment to the Fair Housing Act in the United States specifically banned housing discrimination on the basis of ability status. Under the law in the United States, landlords, mortgage lenders, and management companies legally cannot discriminate against people with disabilities when it comes to renting [...]
Posted in accessibility, policy | Tagged accessible housing, housing, United States
By s.e. smith on 11 November, 2010
Depending on where in the world you are, your nation may be celebrating Veterans Day, Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day today (or yesterday, for those living IN THE FUTURE); I happen to be in the United States at the moment, where we are observing Veterans Day. There’s a thing I notice, in narratives about veterans. [...]
Posted in identity, invisibility, military | Tagged military service, United States, Veterans Administration, women veterans
By s.e. smith on 10 November, 2010
The Wall Street Journal has apparently been so sad that it’s been missing out on all the potential in disability reporting that it decided to go right for a bingo, do not pass go, do not collect $200. And I would like us all to issue a round of applause to Ben Rooney, because he [...]
Posted in media and pop culture, representations | Tagged blindness, disability tropes, journalism
Signal Boost: United States: Submit Suggestions for a Social Security Administration Self-Evaluation
By s.e. smith on 9 November, 2010
As published on Disability Rights Center, an Arkansas disability rights organisation: 11/5/2010: SSA is seeking input on improving its policies and practices to provide meaningful access to their programs and activities as required under Section 504. SUMMARY: We are initiating a self evaluation of our policies and practices supporting section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of [...]
Posted in signal boost | Tagged request for comment, Social Security Administration, SSA, United States