By Chally on 1 December, 2010
Also see: An open letter to abled people who use disabled parking spaces by Annaham, which this is jumping off from. Since I drafted this, s.e. also wrote Dear Imprudence: Who Appointed You the Parking Police?! Dear abled people who like to glare at people who use disabled parking spaces, Hi there. It’s great that [...]
Posted in 101, accessibility, i'm right here, invisibility, othering, shaming | Tagged ableism, accessibility, accessible parking, problematic attitudes, what the pancake
By s.e. smith on 26 November, 2010
Usually I relish picking apart a crappy article in the news for this feature, but today, I want to take a moment to rant about a phenomenon so widespread in the media that I don’t feel fair singling out one poor journalist for my ire. I’m cruel, but not unreasonably so. Also, I had a [...]
Posted in 101, language, media and pop culture | Tagged journalism, stop doing this
By Anna on 19 November, 2010
1. Ableism has a dictionary definition; 2. Ableism can be deliberate; 3. Ableism has an academic definition; 4. Ableism can be accidental – this doesn’t make it okay; 5. Ableism kills.
Posted in 101, Ableist Word Profile, deaths, disability activism, identity, normality, othering, policy, politics, relationships, representations, social attitudes | Tagged ableism, definitions
By s.e. smith on 19 November, 2010
Affirmative action has to be among one of the most contentious, controversial, and misunderstood social policies. I encounter all kinds of bizarre attitudes when it comes to talking about affirmative action, not least of which is people who insist on calling it ‘reverse discrimination’ in some sort of backhanded attempt at suggesting it’s just as [...]
Posted in 101, policy, social attitudes, work | Tagged affirmative action, education, preferential hiring
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 Annaham on 8 November, 2010
One of the more bizarre stereotypes (if one can call it that) about people with fibromyalgia is that we obsess over “every little ache and pain,” to the detriment of ourselves and much to the apparent annoyance of the “normal” people around us. Here’s the thing: If I were to obsess over my pain in [...]
Posted in 101, blaming, normality, othering, social attitudes | Tagged abled privilege, chronic illness, chronic pain conditions, disabled people are scary, fibromyalgia, myths and misconceptions, normal is only one option, pain management, positive thinking, rethinking social norms, social attitudes, this all sounds awfully familiar
By s.e. smith on 12 October, 2010
There’s a common idea I encounter among nondisabled people when it comes to discussing accessibility and making spaces accessible to all users. That idea is that as long as there’s a ramp, a space is accessible. That accessibility is solely about ramps, and nothing else, so once you’ve got a ramp in place, you’re covered. [...]
Posted in 101, accessibility, bodies, how to be accessible | Tagged accommodations
By s.e. smith on 5 October, 2010
The Daily Gazette out of Colchester wants to apprise us of some ‘inspiring’ stories. No really. ‘Entrepreneurs’ inspiring tales are recognised.’ Says so right in the headline, so that’s one bingo square gone. Two people are profiled in this article, which includes ‘overcoming adversity’ in the first line (bingo square number two gone), and it’s [...]
Posted in 101, media and pop culture, representations, social attitudes, work | Tagged bingo, disability stereotypes, England, journalism, unemployment, workplace accommodations
By s.e. smith on 3 October, 2010
In a recent Carolyn Hax column, a reader wrote in with the following: Dear Carolyn: A friend of mine is getting married to a woman who has multiple sclerosis. His family is very upset by this fact (along with a few other issues they have with his bride-to-be). Should something like having a chronic illness [...]
Posted in 101, Dear Imprudence, social attitudes | Tagged ableism, Carolyn Hax, family dynamics, interfering busybodies, love and relationships, multiple sclerosis, weddings
By s.e. smith on 29 September, 2010
Back in July, the following letter/response ran in Dear Abby: Dear Abby: I am the parent of a child with special needs. To an outsider he looks different; adults and children stare at him when we’re out. My son is not aware of their impolite behavior, but I am — and it really irks me. [...]
Posted in 101, bad advice, Dear Imprudence, i'm right here | Tagged Abigail Van Buren, Dear Abby
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