Blogging Against Disablism Day is coming!

[alias_sqbr]

Just found out about Blogging Against Disablism Day on May 1 which I will try and be involved in, it's funny how it seems like a much more important issue now that I'm disabled(*).

And so I've said SOMETHING on the subject in the event I forget on the day, two links:
Lazyweb Book request: Disability activism from Hoyden About Town which I mean to poke at when next I go on a "reading non fiction" bender.

Elder and Disabled Porn Targeted By Massachusetts Lawmaker - Proposal Goes Too Far Attemptt to extend over the top "prosecute people for taking pictures of themselves" child porn laws to the disabled and elderly in Massachusetts. Not that I had any intentions of becoming a porn star in Massachusetts, but still, it illustrates the creepy infantalisation that happens.

(*)I'm still getting used to describing myself that way, but afaict I am by pretty much every legal definition even if not the cultural one of "Deaf, blind, or in a wheelchair".

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/peasant_/]

I personally find accepting the definition useful for reasons I can't quite articulate.

I can understand that. You are still at a fairly early stage of coming to terms with having this thing. By defining yourself as 'disabled' you can cut through a lot of the feelings about being culpable in some way - the worst prejudice that we have to put up with, both from ourselves and other people - and get straight down to adjusting to life as someone who is less able than the bulk of the population. That could be a very useful shortcut for you.

I am sure that a part of why I don't want to think of myself as disabled is also prejudice against disability, and especially prejudice against the benefits system associated with disability (when someone says 'disabled' I think of disability benefit first). I might think about posting about some of the issues surrounding that for disability awareness.

Or I might not - I am not always sure if talking about these things in a general public open post way is appropriate. Also I think I am actually away that week :D

[alias_sqbr]

Yes that's a big part of it.

I lived to a greater or lesser extent off government benefits until my mid twenties so have no strong negative associations there. (I'm not getting any now since distantcam earns too much, which is fair enough)

*nods* You have to write (or not write) what suits you.