I’m not wearing blue today either. youneedacat: I hate orange, so this is the one orange piece of clothing in my entire wardrobe. I only own it because it’s what was there in my size at a thrift store when I really needed summer clothing. But I’m willing to wear it so as not to be wearing blue today. (And yes, for readers, this is me taking a break from the “don’t write about serious issues” thing because it’s a specific day that won’t come again for a year.) I’m autistic, and if you slanted my life a certain way it would make for a pretty standard sob story for an “autism awareness day” post. Due to autism (and a related movement disorder which gradually makes hard skills even harder, starting in adolescence) I can’t speak or take care of myself. I require anything from help starting and continuing, to total assistance, with everything from eating to bathing. I would not survive very long if you just plonked me into an environment where I had to do all these things for myself. I get pretty extensive services just to live in my own apartment, and a lot of people seem to think it would be better if I lived in an institution. I’ve had to fight that off several times. People who meet me frequently believe there’s nobody inside me at all, and act accordingly. But unfortunately for those who would make me a poster child for autism awareness, I don’t think the same way they do. Comparing autism to cancer, diabetes, or AIDS is sickening, having known a lot of people who died from those things. I don’t believe in creating awareness through pity and fear. I actually don’t believe in awareness as a goal in itself, for that matter. And I’m nobody’s inspirational little angel. The only way for things to get better for autistic people, is for things to get better for disabled people in general. And the way for things to get better for disabled people in general, is to create a society where every one of us is worth exactly the same as every one of you. No more talking about how we’re better off dead (or never having been born), or burdens on our families and on the taxpayers. No more putting us into “special” environments that nobody else has to go in. No more funneling money into institutional care so that we cannot live in our own homes as adults — our own homes, meaning not those of our families unless we want to live with our families. No more withholding medical care because supposedly we don’t have enough quality of life. No more ensuring at every level of society that we are shut out from opportunities and shut into horrible situations. But that takes a little more than awareness, doesn’t it? It takes restructuring things at every level. It takes understanding that everyone in a society gets extreme levels of support, and the only difference between disabled and nondisabled people’s support is that nondisabled people’s support is taken for granted while disabled people’s support is seen as special and optional. Until people see all support for disabled people as necessary and indispensable on the same level that support for nondisabled people is, things will not change for us. No matter how many people wear blue and support organizations that work on our behalf without being run by us. Most of the activities during these awareness months, they actually work against these goals for disabled people. They work directly against them. Here are some organizations, mostly in the USA, that are working for disabled people in various ways. I don’t necessarily support everything they do, but they’re doing a hell of a lot more for us than the organizations most people promote on days like this. Some of them are autism-specific and some of them are not, but they all create real change on various levels: Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered Autism Network International Not Dead Yet (old website) Autistic Self-Advocacy Network Autism Women’s Network People First ADAPT National Empowerment Center MindFreedom International Disability Social History Project Some things disabled people actuallyneed: Universally available services, so that we can live where we want, throughout our lives, regardless of income or other considerations. Preferably to such an extent that they are considered just as essential as having roads that work and lighting in public areas at night. Because only then will they not be threatened by people thinking they can cut costs by throwing us off a cliff. Access in as many areas of life as possible. That means things most people think of, like ramps and Braille, but it also means things that most people do not think of, including many things related to autism. When crimes are committed against us, we need to be treated like we’re actually of value. That includes when the crimes are committed by the police themselves, which often happens to disabled people of color especially. And this is an issue we share with other groups of people that society doesn’t value — it becomes much worse when we’re a member of several of those groups. People in all parts of our lives need to value us. That’s actually at the heart of everything. Because if people actually valued us on a large scale, none of these other things would ever be problems. And yes, even many people who think they value us, don’t. Because people who value us don’t use pity to raise money “for” us, don’t make excuses for people who kill us, don’t treat us like we’re a huge expense to society while other people aren’t, don’t have to elevate us to the status of angels in order to see something good about us. I could go on for the length of a book on this. Many people have. But the bottom line is if we had any real value to people in general, none of these things would be happening. This is something I’ve just written off the top of my head, and a lot of things are missing. But what we don’t need? Most of the stuff that goes on for Autism Awareness Day/Month. That stuff brings us back in the opposite direction.

I’m not wearing blue today either.

youneedacat:

I hate orange, so this is the one orange piece of clothing in my entire wardrobe. I only own it because it’s what was there in my size at a thrift store when I really needed summer clothing. But I’m willing to wear it so as not to be wearing blue today. (And yes, for readers, this is me taking a break from the “don’t write about serious issues” thing because it’s a specific day that won’t come again for a year.)

I’m autistic, and if you slanted my life a certain way it would make for a pretty standard sob story for an “autism awareness day” post. Due to autism (and a related movement disorder which gradually makes hard skills even harder, starting in adolescence) I can’t speak or take care of myself. I require anything from help starting and continuing, to total assistance, with everything from eating to bathing. I would not survive very long if you just plonked me into an environment where I had to do all these things for myself. I get pretty extensive services just to live in my own apartment, and a lot of people seem to think it would be better if I lived in an institution. I’ve had to fight that off several times. People who meet me frequently believe there’s nobody inside me at all, and act accordingly.

But unfortunately for those who would make me a poster child for autism awareness, I don’t think the same way they do. Comparing autism to cancer, diabetes, or AIDS is sickening, having known a lot of people who died from those things. I don’t believe in creating awareness through pity and fear. I actually don’t believe in awareness as a goal in itself, for that matter. And I’m nobody’s inspirational little angel.

The only way for things to get better for autistic people, is for things to get better for disabled people in general. And the way for things to get better for disabled people in general, is to create a society where every one of us is worth exactly the same as every one of you. No more talking about how we’re better off dead (or never having been born), or burdens on our families and on the taxpayers. No more putting us into “special” environments that nobody else has to go in. No more funneling money into institutional care so that we cannot live in our own homes as adults — our own homes, meaning not those of our families unless we want to live with our families. No more withholding medical care because supposedly we don’t have enough quality of life. No more ensuring at every level of society that we are shut out from opportunities and shut into horrible situations.

But that takes a little more than awareness, doesn’t it? It takes restructuring things at every level. It takes understanding that everyone in a society gets extreme levels of support, and the only difference between disabled and nondisabled people’s support is that nondisabled people’s support is taken for granted while disabled people’s support is seen as special and optional. Until people see all support for disabled people as necessary and indispensable on the same level that support for nondisabled people is, things will not change for us. No matter how many people wear blue and support organizations that work on our behalf without being run by us.

Most of the activities during these awareness months, they actually work against these goals for disabled people. They work directly against them.

Here are some organizations, mostly in the USA, that are working for disabled people in various ways. I don’t necessarily support everything they do, but they’re doing a hell of a lot more for us than the organizations most people promote on days like this. Some of them are autism-specific and some of them are not, but they all create real change on various levels:

Some things disabled people actuallyneed:
  • Universally available services, so that we can live where we want, throughout our lives, regardless of income or other considerations. Preferably to such an extent that they are considered just as essential as having roads that work and lighting in public areas at night. Because only then will they not be threatened by people thinking they can cut costs by throwing us off a cliff.
  • Access in as many areas of life as possible. That means things most people think of, like ramps and Braille, but it also means things that most people do not think of, including many things related to autism.
  • When crimes are committed against us, we need to be treated like we’re actually of value. That includes when the crimes are committed by the police themselves, which often happens to disabled people of color especially. And this is an issue we share with other groups of people that society doesn’t value — it becomes much worse when we’re a member of several of those groups.
  • People in all parts of our lives need to value us. That’s actually at the heart of everything. Because if people actually valued us on a large scale, none of these other things would ever be problems. And yes, even many people who think they value us, don’t. Because people who value us don’t use pity to raise money “for” us, don’t make excuses for people who kill us, don’t treat us like we’re a huge expense to society while other people aren’t, don’t have to elevate us to the status of angels in order to see something good about us. I could go on for the length of a book on this. Many people have. But the bottom line is if we had any real value to people in general, none of these things would be happening.
This is something I’ve just written off the top of my head, and a lot of things are missing. But what we don’t need? Most of the stuff that goes on for Autism Awareness Day/Month. That stuff brings us back in the opposite direction.
positivelydisabled: itsnotsupposedtobeasy: No excuses. Repeat after me itsnotsupposedtobeasy: I am a douchebag for making that comment. I am a douchebag for making that comment. Disabled people are not here to inspire me. Great picture so I edited out the inspiration porn in the description.  Image description: Wet person in swimsuit and swim cap with the Brazilia flag and the letters “BRA” walks on tiles next to a pool. Ze has a prosthetic right leg.

positivelydisabled:

itsnotsupposedtobeasy:

No excuses.

Repeat after me itsnotsupposedtobeasy: I am a douchebag for making that comment. I am a douchebag for making that comment. Disabled people are not here to inspire me.

Great picture so I edited out the inspiration porn in the description. 

Image description: Wet person in swimsuit and swim cap with the Brazilia flag and the letters “BRA” walks on tiles next to a pool. Ze has a prosthetic right leg.

"You don't need this junk. You need a cat.": Another murder. Please no.

There’s pre-natal diagnostics. Abortions. Mercy killings. And all the other atrocities that happen without much protest. And people (without disabilities) say they’re not out to kill us?

 youneedacat:

I need to be writing my submission for the LHP right now. Now that I got myself off to a good start on a topic I can actually get into. Rather than trying to recombine old tumblr posts creatively.

But I have to say this.

I am devastated over the woman in Sunnyvale who murdered her autistic…

8 and people with disabilities

fhionnuisce:

People with disabilities are fighting a lot of battles.  We’ve got a 70% unemployment rate and a 1 in 3 sexual abuse rate and that’s what gets reported.  When we’re not even seen as sexual, or when our worth to society is so in the toilet that 70% unemployed just is, that sexual abuse and neglect and so many other things just are, how can we really start thinking about our marriage rights?

So much love <3. I’m hir (and here), too.

Video shared by fhionnuisce.

Very useful indeed. I myself use ze/hir/hirs/hirself.

miltonicsmile:

useful.

Non-binary gender pronouns.

Image description: Four differently colored squares with text in them.

Pink square:

Subject: They

Object: Them

Possessive adjective: Their

Possessive pronoun: Theirs

Reflexive: Themself

Purple square:

Subject: Ze/Zie

Object: Hir

Possessive adjective: Hir

Possessive pronoun: Hirs

Reflexive: Hirself

Blue square:

Subject: Ey

Object: Em

Possessive adjective: Eir

Possessive pronoun: Eirs

Reflexive: Emself

Green square:

Subject: Xe

Object: Xem

Possessive adjective: Xyr

Possessive pronoun: Xyrs

Reflexive: Xemself

(Source: alexthefab)

What it means when Artie walks

I haven’t seen much of Glee, perhaps because the first time I did, Artie walked. *sighs*

crownofweeds:

Usually when I talk about Glee and disability, I have nice things to say.

This is not one of those times.

Read More

Transgender People are Completely Banned From Boarding Airplanes in Canada

stfuhypocrisy:

The shit hit the fan in the trans blogosphere last night, when it came to light that there is a disturbing new section in the Identity Screening Regulations used in airports throughout Canada. Simply put, Transgender People are Completely Banned From Boarding Airplanes in Canada.

The offending section of the regulations reads:

5.2 (1) An air carrier shall not transport a passenger if …
(c) the passenger does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents;

Although this obviously discriminatory smear of regulation did not come to significant public attention until very recently, it apparently came into effect on July 27th, 2011.

It is important to note that these regulations are not actually a piece of legislation, which would have had to pass through readings and votes in the House and Senate (which is probably why it went unnoticed until now). Rather, the Identity Screening Regulations are a set of rules implemented unilaterally by the Ministry of Transportation, as part of Canada’s so-called Passenger Protect, which is essentially the Canadian Federal Government’s equivalent to the U.S.’s “no-fly” list.

Minister of Transportation Denis Lebel is, of course, a federal Conservative MP appointed to the cabinet position by Stephen Harper.

So what does this mean? Well, in order to change the ‘sex’ designation on a Canadian Passport, the federal government requires proof that surgery has taken place, or will take place within one year. So for non-operative transgender persons, for gender nonconforming (genderqueer) persons, and for the vast majority of pre-operative transsexual persons, it is literally impossible to obtain proper travel documentation marked with the sex designation which “matches” the gender identity in which they live.

In the eyes of the honourable Minister of Transportation, that makes trans people unfit to fly in Canada.

It is interesting to note that this regulatory adjustment occurred immediately following the federal election in 2011. In the previous parliament, Bill C-389, a bill to amend the Human Rights Code to explicitly enshrine protections against discrimination for transgender people, had successfully passed in the House of Commons, only to die on the Senate floor when Harper declared a Federal Election (thereby dissolving parliament).

Is the timing of this disturbing and blatantly discriminatory regulatory adjustment merely a coincidence? That is up to you to decide. However, the negative impact on trans people is crystal clear, and we need to take action now.

(Source: man-i-gotta-pee14)

To call things by their right name

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Shakespeare might have had good intentions, but, to quote another writer there’s also

“the importance of being earnest.”

Being respectful to others is another thing I find important. Using the right first name is one of those things (I’ll probably talk about the right pronoun somewhere down the line). If your name is Anne Marie, would you accept being called Anne, or Marie? If you would, that’s fine. But what if you wouldn’t? What does it do to a person to be called by another, incorrect, name?

As for me, I changed my name a couple of years ago in an effort to have a name that was more true to who I am (I identify as intergender - somewhere between or beyond the more common male and female). But at that time, I was not yet ready to take the full step and delete the main forename (ie, given/first name) I had been known as my entire life.

Now, however, I am ready, though I’m aware the rest of the world might not be.  I’ve sent off an application for a name change, and I hope to have their (hopefully approving) decision before long. While I know I’ll be opening up a huge can of worms with this name change, I’m just trying to be true to myself and earnest with who I am. Just because I don’t fit into society’s carefully labeled boxes, that doesn’t make me less worth or unworthy of respect.

I’m a non-religious, intergender (correct pronoun to use would be ze and hir), Social-Democratic, politician, writer person with disabilities, proud of and loving myself. If, by living my life without shame, I can help someone else be proud of and love themselves, it’s worth it.

  • January 26, 2012, 8:54am

          1 note