Happy New Year everyone!!!
It’s time to get to work. Here’s a thread on how to support disabled people in 2019. Leggo!
It’s time to get to work. Here’s a thread on how to support disabled people in 2019. Leggo!
1. Follow DIVERSE disabled voices. Despite what the media has you thinking, the disability community isn’t comprised just of cishet white males and a smattering of others. I suggest @RebeccaCokley @SFdirewolf @ANTI__ABLEISM @anthoknees @dominickevans @VilissaThompson to start.
2. Become more up to date on bills and policies that affect disabled people. Things like straw bans, changes to incarceration, police procedures, #ShutDown, and social policies disproportionately affect disabled people.
3. Be aware of your surroundings, if you go into a building through a set of steps and don’t see any mention of a ramp, how does a disabled person navigate that? Are there ASL translators at the events you go to? Are there quiet spaces for autistics?
4. Don’t expect every disabled person to give you access to their body or story.
With healthcare on everyone’s mind there’s the sense that if one presents as disabled, you have a right to their entire health story or to touch, gawk or worse. You don’t. No still means no.
With healthcare on everyone’s mind there’s the sense that if one presents as disabled, you have a right to their entire health story or to touch, gawk or worse. You don’t. No still means no.
5. If you decide to invite a disabled person somewhere, make sure they can access that space. It’s best to work with them but at least ask about what they can and cannot navigate.
Also, keep inviting us. We may cancel because of accessibility but we still want to be included.
Also, keep inviting us. We may cancel because of accessibility but we still want to be included.
6. Respect disabled adulthood. Some of the most prevalent stories around disabled people involve disabled kids, which is fine, but disabled adults matter too. We strive for our own independence and place in society, so coming at us like we’re still kids isn’t helpful.
7. Respect disabled sexuality in all its forms. we’re not all straight and cisgendered. Disabled people reflect society at large, those voices are needed as well.
Also statements of gender or sexual fluidity met with comments about “taking what we can get” is ridiculous.
Also statements of gender or sexual fluidity met with comments about “taking what we can get” is ridiculous.
8. Recognize how the media manipulated you around disability.
For every story about a service worker helping a disabled customer outside of an accessible environment, a law has been broken.
The Americans with Disabilities Act is first and foremost a law, not a bedtime story.
For every story about a service worker helping a disabled customer outside of an accessible environment, a law has been broken.
The Americans with Disabilities Act is first and foremost a law, not a bedtime story.
Ok, that’s it for now. Get to work. ✊🏾♿️🖤
Can’t believe I almost forgot this! PAY DISABLED PEOPLE FOR THEIR WORK.
I am so sick of hearing people say “it’s just so they have something to do with their lives.” When called out for paying disabled people a sub minimum wage.
I am so sick of hearing people say “it’s just so they have something to do with their lives.” When called out for paying disabled people a sub minimum wage.
