Thread by @MSS3RosaFerreum

@caitskirby Part of the issue is there are two disabled communities that have vastly different needs (but they do overlap creating confusion).

The one I represent professionally has work-preclusive impairments; the other community is trying to not be discriminated against in the workplace.

@caitskirby The one trying to get into the workplace without being discriminated against pushes for "differently-abled," "handicapable," and so on as "disabled" implies they can't do the work that they want to have the opportunity to do (and they can actually do with little accommodation).

@caitskirby Those with work-preclusive disabilities are actively harmed by this can-do rhetoric because politicians and the public-at-large haven't figured out that there are 2 very different though slightly overlapping disabled populations.

What's the harm experienced?

@caitskirby The can-do rhetoric of the handicapable makes politicians and the general public believe that work-preclusive disabilities aren't actually work-preclusive which causes the law and policy of the Social Security Administration to change such that it more difficult to get benefits.

@caitskirby The handicapable no more separates the disabled into 2 populations in their rhetoric than the politicians or the general public do, but there are 2 populations and they have very different needs that need to be served separately.

@caitskirby The hangup over being called "disabled" only comes from the handicapable side as the handicapable view being called "disabled" as an impediment toward equality.

I hope that helps.

@caitskirby @threader_app, please compile.

@caitskirby @threadreaderapp, please unroll.