Last year I interviewed a (quite notorious) lawyer, who made an interesting point upon introduction; ableism - the discrimination against a disabled person, directly or indirectly - should be taken as a statement of fact. Because, after all, why are we contesting the factual basis for a lived experience? Why do we continually dismiss complaints with ‘you’re so sensitive’, or ‘be grateful - they’re just being helpful!’?
I liked that statement - something of a great opening bid, unprompted for an interview - enough to keep count of the amount of ableism in one week in August last year. You can read the piece here:
Disability Pride Month is one of my favourite times of year. Disability is my specialism and has been ever since leaving education - despite the many times I have been told how unsuitable that is, for you’re a woman, there’s so many cliques, why bother when you should be having a family, girl. This year has been entirely different, given what has gone on with the Welfare Reform Bill. I stood on Parliament Square, just to watch - and to witness. I still do not know how to put to words the internal conflict, the sadness, my hope and my rage.
Ableism defines parts of my life regardless - and I wanted a way to catalogue this behaviour further. I am disabled at every minute of every day; it does define me, even when I am asleep. Not because I ‘let it’, but because I live in a body that is just… that. This state of play should not need a justification or legitimation in the twenty first century. A person is still disabled regardless of whatever level of support they have.
Allies - the time is now to have the conversation about your ableism, internal and external. It’s a learning process - so here is a non-exhaustive list of Ableist Archetypes, and what to avoid to be an ally to disabled people. Support a disabled writer this Disability Pride Month - purchase a yearly subscription on the paywall to continue your anti-ableism journey! We have snacks and good books!
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