Saturday, May 21, 2016

Disability Pride





This week I went to a disability pride seminar. We were taught the history of disability rights and it was very interesting seeing how many worked to fight for people with disabilities of all kinds. One issue that was discussed was the idea of having disability being part of one's identity. In my case, as far as disability identity goes, there's multiple communities for me, it's not just one simple place of identification having a rare fat disorder, Aspergers and being hard of hearing as well as other challenges. Disabled people can find support among each other and to be frank, it's like the ACON community too on here, where we come together to share our experiences in being there for one another.

One issue discussed was Ableism [the system of discrimination against people with disabilities] and Internalized Ableism, where a person with a disability looks at their own disability creating barriers and confirms negative stereotypes. Disability pride encompasses celebrating one's own uniqueness. We drew posters of ourselves in the middle and our different identities, and aspects of ourselves. I drew in some of my disability "identities" but they were only a few among many which included being a wife and artist. It was a very interesting exercise.

Disability Pride is about the disabled empowering themselves and recognizing what they can do and what they can contribute, and rejects "shame" and the need to "blend in" and conform. There are people out there who still believe disabled people should be hidden away or do what they can to hide their disabilities. They want us silent about our stories and ashamed of being who we are. That is wrong, and it holds way too many people back who could contribute so much to our society. I have brought up the issue of lost talent and contributions in our draconian work world in general but it applies here too.

Disability Pride is also saying one can be part of the community and deserves to be and being able to have access to that community and included in the world.

To be honest the concept of disability pride is new to me though obviously in size acceptance there is a hint of these concepts, in being okay with who you are, accepting yourself and acknowledging who you are outside the judgments and negative conclusions of society. One of my good friends now deceased was in an ADAPT group but I only knew about some of her activism. Disabled people of all kind need a voice. In the group, I discussed how in the 1970s, it seemed there was more of a push to integrate disabled people into mainstream society. In some ways things have improved, where one can see even disabled actors on our TV shows and more but in other ways, things have regressed where people even with minor health problems and challenges who have the ability to work in their case being blocked out of the regular workaday world.

I am getting more involved in the disability rights movement and also in local disabled activities in my community.

7 comments:

  1. I'm glad you found a disability pride group and a seminar. Hope you will meet more people and find more resources. I agree that ableism and internalized ableism had been problematic. Hope you will find groups of people who will fight against and educate people on these two issues. Hope there are disability pride events and groups in every states and regions throughout the United States in the future.

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    1. Thanks running gal. yes both those things are problematic. I am glad to meet people fighting against those things. Disabled people need inclusion and deserve better of all kinds. I hope there is more achieved for disabled people.

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  2. I think the first lesson people need to learn is no one is exempt. I used to ride motorcycles and I would tell people there are two kinds of riders. Those that have wrecked and those that are going to wreck. The odds of being disabled are not THAT high but being healthy today is no guaranty it will last forever. I also used to joke about that I will never be able to retire. That my post divorce finances were such that I was doomed to work forever. I said that up to the day I got toted off in an ambulance and never worked again.

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    1. I agree it can happen to anyone and people who had decades of health can become disabled. I did not lose my hearing until 2001, so that was something NEWER too and UNEXPECTED. With motorcycles yes they have a dangerous element and one can wreck, but even being in our cars, there is some risk or walking down the street. Yes many say they will never retire and then won't be able to work. It comes young for some people too. So sorry you went through that Q and a sudden devastating illness can take a further toll then one that came on in a series of years.

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  3. I don't want to say it makes me feel like less of man, because I am not that insecure. But it has ground me down to where I feel less than human. If I could go back I would rather work even though I had some of the worst construction jobs imaginable.

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    1. I understand. Sometimes I am embarrassed to have been disabled so long. It will be 20 years next year. Someone once said to me, if you were really disabled, you'd be dead already not understand some chronic illnesses don't kill right away they just grind you down. I was as housebound from temperatures in 1999 [no then it was a bit worse before the present COPD medicines] as I am today. It can grind you down and make you feel less than human but I suspect it would be worse for a man. I have the whole housewife thing as an escape valve of sorts I guess even though I had no children a woman at home without working is not an unknown. This is some of the hardest factors in it all.

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  4. Medical science is getting too good. They are loosing sight of the quality of life. Mine sucks and knowing my illness is from dealing with the stress of living with crazy people makes it no better

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