Thread by @Imani_Barbarin

Ableds, how are you holding up with the ableism?

Well I’m stressed, but writing makes me feel better, so here’s a new thread on ableism in communications especially in the branding of #COVID19 and stories I’ve seen popping up utilizing Inspiration Porn.

Come come...

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First off, disabled people, you do not have to read this. Major trigger warnings for Ableism, inspiration and disabled death.

Abled people, buckle up, you need to read this, but please still heed the above warnings.

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So firstly, let’s start with a basic understanding of what inspiration porn is: essentially it is a communications asset (article, meme, post, etc) that paints any action towards a disabled person, or by that person themself as uplifting or inspiring, simply because the

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Beneficiary of that action is disabled. (Quite frankly the same can be said for any marginalized person “overcoming” or benefiting from a privileged “savior” but for the sake of this thread in the current crisis, I will mainly be talking about its uses re: #COVID19.)

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As disabled people, we see this used against our community quite often. Especially when calling for systemic change.

One of the most powerful aspects to inspiration porn is need for systemic change met with popular stories about inspirational individual actions.

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A prime example of this is a thread of stories I constantly find myself rolling my eyes at: wheelchairs that can climb steps.

As disabled people call for changes to be made to make infrastructure accessible, those with means are investing $40,000+ on a wheelchair only one

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Person can use rather than spending it on ramps and policies anyone can use.

Now, let’s apply this to the #coronavirus :

Zion Williamson is a 19 year old athlete who has pledged to help Smoothie King Employees during this time.

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google.com/amp/s/www.cbss…

The question becomes: why isn’t there federally mandated paid sick leave to help these workers and what is Smoothie King or franchise owners doing to help?

None of those questions will be asked for long because too many are distracted with extolling Williams.

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Now, before people get pissy, I am not denouncing people that are stepping up to the plate to do what they can, I am simply pointing out how some media will distract you from asking hard questions of leadership.

Let’s look at another example:

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This is a story from the BBC that talks about an organization sending care packages to seniors in the UK and individuals doing acts of kindness for their neighbors.

The UK has been especially lax in its response to #coronavirus but stories like

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bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-51…

This make people believe that everything will be alright because even when government fails you “there will always be someone to help.”

Disabled people are constantly told that accessibility from businesses and institutions shouldn’t be required because there

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Will always be someone to help.

Now I want to pivot to something dark I see coming from far away that disabled people constantly have to battle to save our lives:

TW: the battle over so-called “mercy killings”

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Disabled people, chronically ill and elderly constantly have our deaths written off as merciful and kind because the prevailing consensus among the nondisabled public is that our lives are “less than” or “not worth living” or “taking up resources.”

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news.yahoo.com/italians-over-…

I’m sad to say that if conditions don’t improve surrounding the #coronavirus, you will see a lot of stories like what was reported in the wake of Hurricane Katrina:

Deaths written off as merciful and even strategic. Watch out for this, especially

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npr.org/templates/stor…

From governments that have failed to act swiftly to contain the virus or mitigate damage.

Finally I want to leave you with this article:

This article is about Trump donating his Q4 salary to fighting the coronavirus. But, pay close attention.

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www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cnbc.c…

Despite the article being published in March, If you look closely,the check was written out in January—when he was still downplaying the threat of the virus to the American people.

Inspiration porn is a distraction from you asking the bigger questions and demanding change.

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And it applies to everything from wheelchairs that climb stairs to a president blatantly lying to people and covering up with faux benevolence.

I hope this helps you discern the messages being disseminated in the coming months.

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