Thread by @ShannonDingle

I could name names of others who have treated me shitty over the years when I’ve asked for representation, but most of the rest are works in progress. I think they’ll get there.

But y’all? I’m so damn tired of waiting.

I’m not saying all of this because I’m bored.

I’m saying this because I’m watching a pandemic spread because too many abled people don’t give a single fuck about how their actions harm disabled people.

Maybe it would be different if they had ever heard from disabled people.

Oh, also @Sarcasticluther and @mochamomma give a damn about disabled representation.

I cried through communion at Why Christian, after Nadia asked me to serve in that way, because I realized I had never seen a visibly disabled person in that role.

I know I’m all over the place in this thread. It’s raw, but maybe it needs to be.

Disabled people will die from COVID19 at higher rates than abled people in their same age group, but how dare we ask to be heard, right?

Abled people love to talk about how everyone belongs, while they don’t even notice the lack of ramps or elevator for some of us to get there.

So maybe it won’t be so hard on y’all when disabled people die. You don’t even treat us like we exist now or before all this.

For many of us who are disabled/chronically ill, our worry isn’t just if we’ll get COVID-19 but if we’ll get care if/when we do.

nyti.ms/3bgjlpN

I usually don’t have time to spend pointing out that Jesus gave a damn about disabled people but y’all don’t seem to.

I work in secular settings more and more, because they see disabled people as fully human more than church folks do.

(Don’t tell me “not all churches.” Don’t.)

Also, a quick note on healing:

Jesus healed to restore people to community, not because disability is a bad thing™️ worthy of shame.

I wish Christians were willing to seek healing for their ableism, because I and other disabled people aren’t the broken ones when you exclude us.

I think I’m done. But no promises.

A few disabled people to follow, because you sure won’t be hearing many of us speak at conferences
@SFdirewolf
@SeeMiaRoll
@Imani_Barbarin
@taylorsschumann
@StephTaitWrites
@autistichoya
@Tanya_Marlow
@AliaJoyH
@maysoonzayid
@emily_ladau
@BlackDisability
and I’ll offer more later