Thread by @social_parasite

At group yesterday a physically disabled person referred to themselves as a crip and crippled.

A lot of people recoiled in horror at those words and the MH 'specialist' said that would need unpacking another time.

Their reaction is so problematic. 1/

Us disabled folk are continuously abused, ignored and patronised by those around us.

And when we finally own who we are as crips, disabled whatever words *we* choose we are policed. /2

I have this in research, I have to go to a lot of effort to explain why I, an autistic person, want and need to use identity first language.

This person had it at a MH group, it was implied that she was somehow wrong referring to her bodymind in that way.

Non-disabled people aren't happy enough with their privilege, they need to have able-bodied supremacy. They have this want to watch us crash and burn. /3

I almost stood up and clapped when this person referred to themselves as a crip. It was so wonderful and liberating and all the professionals and other people saw it as harmful and dangerous. /4

Crip is not a dirty word. Disabled is not a dirty word.

They are OUR words and we will not be beholden to the discomfort of non-disabled people. Especially when they do not care for our discomfort and actually go out of their way to make ours live less livable. /5

When the 'professional' suggested that the words this woman used for herself needed unpacking. It was so invalidating and patronising and more than anything highlighted that MH professionals often know nothing about disabled experiences. /6

We make up such a large part of the MH community, due to our different bodyminds and to the continued oppression of our people. Yet the practitioners who are supposed to help us are rude and ignorant. /7

I made a point that this person, who is also a graduate, was probably referring to critical disability theory. That was completely ignored - even when we use academic sources and understanding we are still dismissed /8

The biggest irony is that apart from the 'professionals' we are the only two people in the room with a degree. So we have 'lived experience' and an understanding of critical knowledge. /9

Even if we didn't, believe us. Sit with us in OUR own language. Society wants us to deal with all the troubles which come from inaccessibility, stigma and ignorance but they don't want to have to confront it in any way. /10

I've got four weeks left of this group. Myself or this other person is about ready to explode about the lack of disability awareness and acceptance from the professionals of the group (one of which is deaf by the way!).

And she is far more intensely vocal than am I. /11

It's good we stick up for ourselves. I'm just so damn tired of having to advocate for my and the disabled communities basic human rights.

And professionals should know better. /12

We get backed into a corner and then are scorned or further stigmatised due to our 'aggressive outbursts' without a thought about the fact that we are disabled and stigmatised all the time. I don't leave group and suddenly get treated better or have no issues /13

This shit is life long and its insidious. This ableism is systemic, it runs through every part of life and the worst culprits? Professionals. /14

I basically wrote this thread to say go fuck yourself to that professional. Then once you're done doing that read some dis-crit and apply that to your work. Can't do that? Then get the fuck out of MH services.

@threadreaderapp unroll please