By Anna on 21 September, 2010
I spent most of my weekend pretty much glued to Twitter following ADAPT’s latest action in Washington, DC and wondering where the media was, especially after a huge group of wheelchair users blockaded one of the White House gates and 16 people were arrested. I actually thought that the White House security arresting a group of people with disabilities would surely be the sort of thing that the media would pick up on.
Foolish me!
Posted in activism, autonomy, disability activism, events, i'm right here, invisibility, justice, make the world a better place, news, policy, politics, resistance, social attitudes
By Annaham on 19 September, 2010
In my last post, I talked about the painful physical process of the near-fatal allergic reactions that I’ve been having since the age of 14. In this post, I want to address the aspect of these “attacks” that is, in some ways, crappier than the actual attacks: peoples’ reactions. Often when I mention that I [...]
Posted in bodies, i'm right here, identity, introspective, normality, othering, social attitudes | Tagged ableism, ablesplaining, allergies, anaphylaxis, communication, disability, disabled teens, disclosure, growth, myths and misconceptions, personal, personal stories, problematic attitudes, social attitudes, things people say, this is not helpful, unexpected obstacles, we are not to be believed, why is this hard
By Ouyang Dan on 18 September, 2010
Here’s some nostalgia for ya, gentle readers! My dad, who was completely AB for the record, lived alone in the home I now own, and for a good portion of my life had many of his needs taken care of by members of his immediate family. My Grammy did most of his laundry, unless my [...]
Posted in bad advice, Dear Imprudence, disability activism, intersectionality, relationships, shaming, social attitudes | Tagged ableism, caregivers, Dear Imprudence, Dear Prudence, disability, Emily Yoffe, intersectionality, it's not fair!, problematic attitudes, sex, social lives, social treatment
By s.e. smith on 15 September, 2010
On last week’s Dear Amy, a reader wrote in for some relationship advice. The reader’s girlfriend is becoming more distant, and the reader wants to know what to do: Dear Amy: I have been in a relationship with a woman for two years. I love her. She says she loves me. She says she wants [...]
Posted in blaming, Dear Imprudence, mental health, social attitudes | Tagged Amy Dickinson, Ask Amy, bipolar disorder
By Anna on 15 September, 2010
Today’s Recommended Reading focuses on how to make event-sites more accessible to people with disabilities, and experiences people with disabilities have had with accessibility at events and in their communities.
Posted in accessibility, events, how to be accessible, make the world a better place, recommended reading, social attitudes
By Sasha Feather on 14 September, 2010
At My Local Convention, the Access team made a big push toward improving microphone usage this year. This is separate from things we normally do such as marking off chairs for lip readers. Below are revised documents that I wrote to the concom, arguing for an investment in this cause.
Posted in accessibility, Accessible Tech, how to be accessible, make the world a better place, normality, social attitudes, technology
By s.e. smith on 11 September, 2010
Conversations about body image come up often in feminist communities, and unfortunately, many of those conversations are predicated on the dual ideas that all people should love their bodies and that lovable bodies are healthy ones. This can be seen in the language used by campaigns designed to get people thinking about body image; I [...]
Posted in 101, bodies, feminism, identity, invisibility, social attitudes | Tagged body image
By s.e. smith on 8 September, 2010
Last week, Hurricane Earl appeared to be bearing down on the Eastern Seaboard on the United States, and there were a number of stories about communities preparing for evacuation, or weathering out the storm. Watching the news unfold, I noted a pretty glaring absence in the coverage: Any discussion, at all, of people with disabilities. [...]
Posted in accessibility, class issues, policy, poverty, social attitudes | Tagged disaster planning
By Anna on 7 September, 2010
Not being from the US, I had this idea in my head that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be awesome. I mean, come on! It’s been 20 years now! Ramps to every building, disability friendly policies, accessible washrooms in every hotel lobby! I get all starry-eyed just thinking about it.
People with disabilities who have actually been in the US are probably either rolling their eyes or giggling at my naivety.
Posted in accessibility, Accessible Tech, anna rants, blaming, disability activism, i'm right here, identity, invisibility, media and pop culture, news, normality, othering, policy, politics, representations, shaming, social attitudes, work
By Anna on 6 September, 2010
On the surface this probably looks like a good thing, but digging a bit deeper: For many people, this is one of the few times they’ll see images of people with disabilities on their t.v. screen (and from a noted authority and beloved celebrity), and the entire thing is one drawn out pity parade.
Posted in activism, autonomy, bodies, disability activism, events, history, i'm right here, identity, invisibility, media and pop culture, news, politics, social attitudes, television
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