tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post9116551140020466996..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: Discrimination Reported and Quickly Forgottenwilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-74129466991420370992010-06-06T15:02:00.118-07:002010-06-06T15:02:00.118-07:00Katya, It is easy and common to fear disability--i...Katya, It is easy and common to fear disability--it is unknown for most. Most people have no experience or knowledge of disability nor do they know a person who is disabled. Add in schools do virtually nothing to frame disability as a civil rights issue and the result is a larger number of ignorant people. Ignorance breeds fear and social isolation. So who wants to invest in people with a disability via ramps, elevators, support systems etc.? No one and worse yet it is expensive to be disabled. <br /><br />As you have discovered this is a topic people don't want to talk about--why is the environment inaccessible 20 years after the law required access? This makes people feel uncomfortable so they avoid any such discussion. People will cluck about the lack of access and discrimination being wrong but do nothing. I have thought about this topic for 30+ years and remain utterly mystified at times. <br />I wish you well in your work. SCI units are intense places or were long ago when I was in and out of hospitals and rehab. In the beginning paralysis to borrow a line from Murderball is "a real mind fuck". Thanks for your thoughtful comment.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-3018543111495104022010-06-03T16:11:17.649-07:002010-06-03T16:11:17.649-07:00I am able-bodied and I know that, unfortunately, m...I am able-bodied and I know that, unfortunately, most ABs do not care about anything related to a disability until they are AB-no-more. The interesting question is, why? Why do ABs not care? <br /><br />They are afraid, very afraid, of becoming disabled but at the same time, not interested enough to explore the issues at hand. There are such simple things, for example, as disability insurance, that even though do not solve the core problem of discrimination would at least make life easier for a lot of people with a new disability. But most people do not have disability insurance and when I suggest they should get it, I get looks of irritation and frustration. Medical insurance, life insurance, retirement plans – yes, disability insurance – no! “I do not have a history of disability in my family” (what?!) or “I would much rather die!” (really?!). Most do not want to hear about anything that has the word "disability" in it. <br /><br />To me, an important question still remains, why does society in general not care about shedding its prejudices and discrimination against people with disabilities? I wonder, if in small part, it is because most of AB do not personally know anyone with a visible disability? <br />I am a physiatrist and I work on a SCI unit and I know a lot of PWDs but I only have one friend with a disability. One. And all of my AB friends are fairly ignorant about disability issues, and I know they do discriminate against PWD. Numerous times, I tried to have conversations about disability, society, discrimination, the ADA, the need for more equality, I try to use the information I get from my patients and your blog (and other like-minded blogs) but, evidently, I am not eloquent enough or smart enough to get the point across. The point being - not every PWD is depressed, unhappy, suicidal, dying to walk again, that PWD can be productive members of society, husbands, wives, children, etc, etc. <br /><br />I fail at trying to explain any of those points. Is it because, as an AB person, I do not carry enough weight in those conversations? I think my friends just do not believe me. How do I really know what it is like to be disabled? I do not. Maybe, if I were paralyzed, I’d be the first one to go to China to get my stem-cell treatment for the “cure.” And maybe I, myself, have an ableist (or is it disablist?) attitude? I do not know. And, who would tell me if I had???<br /><br />Anyway, I love your blog and thanks for reading my ramblings... :)Katyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15641517223664341142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-21808330420525934652010-05-30T06:44:17.939-07:002010-05-30T06:44:17.939-07:00I too want to raise up more activists... I work on...I too want to raise up more activists... I work on parents of kids with disabilities among others. My theory is that it's a balancing act: I think you have to balance challenging people with respecting their usual causes and activities, balance outrage with a sense that something could be done about it (something truly challenging, but not impossible...) and balancing work and action with cameraderie and fun... Some would say the balancing is too much trouble but the mix is what is engaging for people it seems.Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14802459265546733391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-72629344609575965462010-05-25T12:55:51.988-07:002010-05-25T12:55:51.988-07:00I'm sorry--your name may not be Courtney--my m...I'm sorry--your name may not be Courtney--my mind automatically filled in because of other Courtneys in my memory.FridaWriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03321658097813377806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-74392269851038372132010-05-25T12:54:35.325-07:002010-05-25T12:54:35.325-07:00Courtney, you might see if you can befriend one of...Courtney, you might see if you can befriend one of the student journalists for the campus paper and get her or him to write a sizeable news article--they are often looking for material to write about. If you have some volunteers, they can distribute flyers to the students in the allied professions, pre-med majors, OT and PT and speech therapy, education majors. <br /><br />Maybe some alliances with women's studies, ethnic studies, or GLBT groups if they have a larger diversity group for all of these organizations?FridaWriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03321658097813377806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-27123762050218139352010-05-25T10:07:58.415-07:002010-05-25T10:07:58.415-07:00Court, Good luck with the advocacy group. It is de...Court, Good luck with the advocacy group. It is desperately needed as in m estimation there is deep resentment growing on college campuses directed at students with a disability. Recruiting people without a disability is not easy--but the boyfriends and girlfriend of members is a good place to start. Public events can be helpful--especially speakers and anything that can be deemed fun. Perhaps an adaptive sports person could get involved. <br />If people are talking and some are pissed off you are doing something very right.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-36887408050427543842010-05-25T09:27:31.302-07:002010-05-25T09:27:31.302-07:00Lovely music indeed. I guess the question is how, ...Lovely music indeed. I guess the question is how, where, when do we recruit non-disabled people? I'm starting a disability awareness & advocacy group on my college campus in the fall.<br /><br />Obviously it will be open to the able minded and bodied, but I don't know how to draw them in and engage them. A few moths ago I learned a good number of students a professors read Holden's blog and people re talking. This is good, but I want people to be pissed off about the treatment of disabled people all in our community and around the globe. AND doing something about it! <br /><br />I have a lot of people that want to get involved with my group but so far only one non-disabled student I know thinks it might be worth her time. I get told that it would be great to join a group like the one I'm forming, only if they had time. How do I compete with all the fun and easy non-controversial student orgs when students have little free time as it is?Courthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01415333124217381665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-62673746983960205612010-05-25T09:01:52.274-07:002010-05-25T09:01:52.274-07:00Court, I suppose I am preaching the choir here. Bu...Court, I suppose I am preaching the choir here. But if the metaphor is apt at least I am making some nice music. Sadly, after reading your post I agree too many don't give a damn until they too are disabled. Disability is a human rights issue plain and simple. When this is an agreed upon belief progress will have been made. Until then I will keep up the good fight and like you lose sleep over social inequities.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-17418774176489939122010-05-25T08:49:28.970-07:002010-05-25T08:49:28.970-07:00I can't agree more. My response to your post w...I can't agree more. My response to your post was so long I decided make a blog post out of it instead. But in one word: YES.Courthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01415333124217381665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-91456404243666402572010-05-24T19:03:23.872-07:002010-05-24T19:03:23.872-07:00Emily, You made my day! It is good to know my word...Emily, You made my day! It is good to know my words resonated. I am relieved to know bright and dedicated young people such as yourself are ready to take the on the effort for true equality. You are correct the history of disability is not well known and that is a shame and indictment on the educational system. Building a library takes time--be patient and selective in your purchases. Think of it as a long term investment. And yes logs are free! In disability studies and activism there are outstanding blogs available. I assume you have read the Not Dead Yet blog. Steve and Diane are great people, front line warriors.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-17823565453001871122010-05-24T15:48:52.103-07:002010-05-24T15:48:52.103-07:00Well, I hope you can take some solace in the fact ...Well, I hope you can take some solace in the fact that I was very affected by the disability rights perspective at the conference. It was reassuring to meet people like you, and to know that my own ideas aren't as far off track as some would have me believe. <br /><br />I wish there could be some sort of conference for people like you and Diane and Stephen to share your wealth of knowledge and activism with people of my generation. It's such an important history, and it seems like there are so few resources that share it. I buy my Harriet McBryde Johnson books and have read "Make Them Go Away" cover to cover, etc., but building my own library is expensive and isolated... At least there are blogs. ;-)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12183788294866166602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-32641684984479548032010-05-24T15:11:26.973-07:002010-05-24T15:11:26.973-07:00Me too. I am an activist at heart but I don't...Me too. I am an activist at heart but I don't know where to begin, how to be effective.FridaWriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03321658097813377806noreply@blogger.com