cornbread con frijoles

Advice regarding ableism

quelola:

Everything that applies to call outs when discussing race, gender, sexuality, privilege, apply alllllll of that to call outs regarding ableism as well. Are they the same? Hell no. That’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is all those tips and tools that we apply to ___ who want to be allies to ___ applies just the same when trying to be allies to the disabled community.

If a person with a disability tells you they are feeling oppressed, take their word for it. They don’t owe it to you or anyone else to justify the ways in which they feel they are being marginalized.

If they are letting you know ways you can accommodate their needs (don’t wear perfume around me, can we move some chairs out of the room, I need a little bit more social distancing space between myself and the person next to me), they are doing you a favor, so thank them.

Understand that it ain’t about you. It ain’t personal. Don’t say like you feel like an asshole now for being called out, or that it makes you feel like they are downplaying your experiences, it ain’t really about you. Your feelings are valid, but because you are in oppressed group A does not mean you are not capable of oppressing group B.

There is no hierarchy, structure, or levels of disability. Saying there is leaves room to invalidate those with disabilities that are already socially and medically dismissed or ignored. Ablelism is the concept that every body, person, human, experience, is valuable and is differently, it ain’t about which disability is relevant and which isn’t.

Don’t try to dismiss or down play what they are telling you. (“It’s just perfume you’ll be fine”, “It’s just a sidewalk with no curb cut, you’ll be fine” “it’s just your rights you’ll, be fine”, “It’s just your experience, you’ll be fine”. No. No no and no.

If you are a person with a disability, and you don’t necessarily feel like something is stopping you or holding you back, congratulations. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply to other folx or that others can’t find it problematic.

This sorta sounds familiar to many of you right? Feel free to add more.

Because I’m done with conversations like this and all the bullshit opinions related to it.

hey look, disability ally resources from a queer brown girl. get it <3