tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post3266296374378758679..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: More on Our Failure to Educate People about Disabilitywilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-29379768643656363892014-07-20T15:32:42.613-07:002014-07-20T15:32:42.613-07:00The weird thing is that schools tend to have two c...The weird thing is that schools tend to have two contradictory messages about disability. They SAY mostly the right, progressive things about disability, and on occasion try to teach them directly to all of their students. But the schools' actual behavior and practices with disabled students is what erases their explicit, progressive message. And as we all know, kids learn from what their elders DO, not from what they SAY.<br /><br />Also, I think there is a small exception for certain kinds of disabled students ... who are more readily accepted and understood, at least on the surface ... if they fit certain criteria. If their disabilities are definitely only physical. If they are "good students". If they are articulate and personable. If, other than their wheelchairs or crutches, they are "attractive" and not off-putting in any way. These students are easy for everyone to accept, at least superficially. It's the "Special Ed" kids who look weird, act weird, sound weird, and aren't immediately appealing that get treated the most horribly.apulranghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16133974049950425863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-16937194206285295682014-07-14T17:32:34.161-07:002014-07-14T17:32:34.161-07:00The "anti-bullying" crowd is only intere...The "anti-bullying" crowd is only interested in bullying for things that are "in." Are you gay and/or transgender? Do you express your gender differently? Congratulations! The anti-bullying crowd is here to support you. Go watch your supportive video and know the world loves you.<br /><br />Are you fat? Oh, my god, this is criminal. Even the First Lady says you've got to be "fixed." Bullying you? We're not bullying you. We're *helping* you! Don't you understand that your peers are only doing what the school says, to watch what you eat and make sure you don't consume The Wrong Things! You have to lose weight, and we'll bu- er, *push* you harder until you do so.<br /><br />Disabled? Of course we mainstream! We let those *special* kids in to our classrooms every day! Oh, sure, some of the teachers complain that these *special* kids need more time that's taken away from the, you know, *normal* kids. But that's what's required to do the right thing, yes? Gym class? Oh, no, *special* kids don't have to do that. After all, you can't play ballgames in a wheelchair, right? What if you fall over? The liability! We'd be sued for millions! <br /><br />I hope I don't have to point out I'm being sarcastic. And for a bonus, that post reminds me of this, from a few years ago:<br /><br />http://pipecleanerdreams.blogspot.com/2006/12/why-didnt-doctors-tell-me-she-was.html<br /><br />Moosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10397412122635951126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-71949385192312251722014-07-14T13:09:20.839-07:002014-07-14T13:09:20.839-07:00Bigotry is so prevalent in our society.
I am sur...Bigotry is so prevalent in our society. <br /><br />I am sure we all know a few hate mongers - even if they are just acquaintances. But the bigotry we experience as disabled is not hate based, like racism and homophobia. It is fear based. People have a mortal fear of ending up like 'one of them' (a.k.a. us disabled) and that is why they feel sorry for us. It's poor projection and in my experience those who express that sentiment are usually the very same people I inherently would feel sorry for because to me they live a sad and pitiful life. But I don't. How could I? I have not walked the proverbial mile in their shoes so I have no way of knowing.<br /><br />I have no idea how to change these closed minds. I think you are right, Bill, it takes many of us to blaze the trail for those who come after us. We are the ones who need to expand awareness so Sim can grow up in a world where strangers no longer come up to him and tell him how they feel sorry for him because he's the image of their fear.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16430116502664667865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-82872471391165850362014-07-14T08:44:58.500-07:002014-07-14T08:44:58.500-07:00Where is the anti-bullying crowd? Discrimination i...Where is the anti-bullying crowd? Discrimination is bullying!Sara Buscherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07323922471965299451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-21750707146958349582014-07-14T08:43:50.207-07:002014-07-14T08:43:50.207-07:00Where is the anti-bullying crowd? Assuming differe...Where is the anti-bullying crowd? Assuming difference equals something lesser or unacceptable is discrimination, just like treating gays as outsiders.Sara Buscherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07323922471965299451noreply@blogger.com