I have never met Penny Richards but admire her posts at Disability Studies, Temple University blog. When I got into the blogging world the Temple University blog was one of the first I read. I still read it regularly years later. I particularly like the historical entries--figures in disability history I never heard of. The Temple blog does not comment enough on contemporary issues. However when someone such as Richards does write I take note. And I just read the below. I absolutely love it! Commenting on the transplant controversy that has so many people upset Richards wrote:
"So let me get this straight...
If parents walk into a children's hospital and ask for a highly unconventional series of surgeries to remove healthy tissue and organs, limiting their daughter's growth... a series of surgeries that would never be performed on a nondisabled child... the answer is, fine, because she's developmentally disabled?
BUT, if parents walk into a children's hospital and ask for a very standard surgery to treat an organ that isn't functioning properly, a surgery that will improve their daughter's health and very probably prevent an early death... a surgery that is routinely performed on nondisabled children... the answer is no way, because she's developmentally disabled?
Got it."
Not many outside the world of disability get it. The transplant team did not get it. Growth attenuation doctors in Seattle did not get it. Secondary schools do not get it. Businesses do not get it. Universities do not get it. But some of us do get it. And let me tell you those of us who get are not liked. We are considered uppity. I have been told repeatedly that I do not have a chip on my shoulder but a boulder. Good. When I am considered equal to those that walk rather than use a wheelchair said boulder will vanish. How dare I expect to be treated equally! How dare I expect to travel without a never ending hassle. How dare I expect the lift on a bus to work. How dare I expect to be employed. And now I can add how dare I receive a transplant.
