#Cerebral Palsy Advocate

[mindorabydisha]

Rj Mitte has Cerebral Palsy? Understanding Cerebral Palsy: A Psychologist's perspective

- Disha Arunagiri

Counselling Psychologist

Yes, RJ Mitte has cerebral palsy

Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three. He wore casts for six months to straighten his feet and used crutches and leg braces for most of his childhood. Mitte has used his platform to advocate for representation of people with disabilities in the media and arts. He has also sought out acting roles that would educate people about his disability.

Understanding Cerebral Palsy: A Psychologist's perspective

This October 6th was considered as World Cerebral Palsy Day, we join hands globally to raise awareness about cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that affects movement, muscle tone, and posture. It is caused by damage that occurs to the immature brain as it develops, most often before birth. This condition affects individuals differently, with varying degrees of severity. Understanding cerebral palsy is crucial for fostering a more inclusive society where everyone can thrive.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (cp) is a group of disorders that impact a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. The term "cerebral" refers to the brain, and "palsy" refers to weakness or problems with using the muscles. It is the most common motor disability in childhood.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is often caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain. The damage can occur before, during, or shortly after birth. Some potential causes include:

1. Prenatal factors: Infections during pregnancy, maternal health issues, and genetic mutations.

2. Perinatal factors: Complications during labor and delivery, such as lack of oxygen to the brain.

3. Postnatal factors: Early childhood infections, brain injury, or events like strokes.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is classified based on the type of movement disorder involved. The main types include:

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy: The most common type, characterized by stiff muscles and awkward movements. It is further categorized based on which limbs are affected.

2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Involves uncontrolled movements, which can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky.

3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Characterized by problems with balance and coordination.

4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy: Some individuals exhibit symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary greatly among individuals. Common signs include:

- Delays in reaching motor skill milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, or walking.

- Abnormal muscle tone, either too stiff or too floppy.

- Poor coordination and balance.

- Involuntary movements or tremors.

- Difficulty with fine motor skills, like writing or buttoning a shirt.

Diagnosing cerebral palsy involves a combination of medical history, physical exams, and various tests such as MRI or CT scans. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing the condition effectively.

Treatment and Management

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, various treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment plans are tailored to individual needs and may include:

- Physical Therapy: To improve strength, flexibility, and mobility.

- Occupational Therapy: To assist with daily activities and enhance fine motor skills.

- Speech Therapy: To address communication challenges.

- Medications: To manage muscle spasticity and other symptoms.

- Surgery: In some cases, to correct physical abnormalities and improve function.

Despite these challenges, individuals with CP often lead fulfilling lives with the right support and resources.

As a psychologist, the focus is often on the mental and emotional well-being of individuals with CP, as well as their families. Understanding the psychological impact of CP is crucial in providing comprehensive support and fostering an inclusive society.

Psychological Impact on Individuals with CP

1. Emotional Well-being: Living with CP can sometimes lead to feelings of frustration, isolation, or anxiety, especially if there is a lack of understanding or support from society. It's important to acknowledge these emotions and provide spaces where individuals can express and manage their feelings.

2. Self-esteem and Identity: The visible nature of CP can affect self-esteem, particularly during formative years. Positive reinforcement, inclusive environments, and highlighting strengths and abilities are essential in building a strong sense of self.

3. Social Relationships: Forming and maintaining relationships can be challenging due to physical limitations or societal stigma. Encouraging social interactions and providing inclusive opportunities for engagement can help build meaningful connections.

Supporting Families of Individuals with CP

Families play a crucial role in the lives of individuals with CP. They often face their own set of challenges, including emotional stress, financial strain, and the need for continuous caregiving. Psychological support for families can include:

1. Counseling and Therapy: Professional guidance can help families navigate the emotional landscape of raising a child with CP, providing coping strategies and emotional support.

2. Support Groups: Connecting with other families in similar situations can provide a sense of community and shared understanding. These groups can be a source of practical advice and emotional solidarity.

3. Educational Resources:Providing families with information about CP, available therapies, and adaptive technologies can empower them to make informed decisions and advocate effectively for their loved ones.

Promoting Inclusion and Awareness

On World Cerebral Palsy Day, it’s vital to emphasize the importance of inclusion and awareness. Here are some steps we can take:

1. Education: Educate ourselves and others about CP to dispel myths and reduce stigma. Awareness campaigns and educational programs in schools and workplaces can promote understanding and acceptance.

2. Advocacy: Support policies and initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusion. Advocacy can lead to improved services, better accessibility, and greater recognition of the rights of individuals with CP.

3. Community Involvement: Encourage community activities that are inclusive of individuals with CP. Participation in sports, arts, and social events can provide a sense of belonging and achievement.

Cerebral palsy is just one aspect of a person’s identity. By understanding the psychological impact and providing comprehensive support, we can help individuals with CP lead empowered, fulfilling lives. On this World Cerebral Palsy Day, let’s commit to raising awareness, promoting inclusion, and supporting the mental and emotional well-being of those affected by CP. Together, we can build a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive.

I hope this helps everyone to educated about Cerebral Palsy. Thank you for reading.

Disha Arunagiri

Counselling Psychologist

Follow me on Instagram for more content

DM for free 30 minutes consultation

[trans-axolotl]

also in regards to that last article about varied ways of thinking about psychosis/altered states that don't just align with medical model or carceral psychiatry---I always love sharing about Bethel House and their practices of peer support for schizophrenia that are founded on something called tojisha kenkyu, but I don't see it mentioned as often as things like HVN and Soteria House.

ID: [A colorful digital drawing of a group of people having a meeting inside a house while it snows outside.]

"What really set the stage for tōjisha-kenkyū were two social movements started by those with disabilities. In the 1950s, a new disability movement was burgeoning in Japan, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that those with physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, began to advocate for themselves more actively as tōjisha. For those in this movement, their disability is visible. They know where their discomfort comes from, why they are discriminated against, and in what ways they need society to change. Their movement had a clear sense of purpose: make society accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. Around the same time, during the 1970s, a second movement was started by those with mental health issues, such as addiction (particularly alcohol misuse) and schizophrenia. Their disabilities are not always visible. People in this second movement may not have always known they had a disability and, even after they identify their problems, they may remain uncertain about the nature of their disability. Unlike those with physical and visible disabilities, this second group of tōjisha were not always sure how to advocate for themselves as members of society. They didn’t know what they wanted and needed from society. This knowing required new kinds of self-knowledge.

As the story goes, tōjisha-kenkyū emerged in the Japanese fishing town of Urakawa in southern Hokkaido in the early 2000s. It began in the 1980s when locals who had been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders created a peer-support group in a run-down church, which was renamed ‘Bethel House’. The establishment of Bethel House (or just Bethel) was also aided by the maverick psychiatrist Toshiaki Kawamura and an innovative social worker named Ikuyoshi Mukaiyachi. From the start, Bethel embodied the experimental spirit that followed the ‘antipsychiatry’ movement in Japan, which proposed ideas for how psychiatry might be done differently, without relying only on diagnostic manuals and experts. But finding new methods was incredibly difficult and, in the early days of Bethel, both staff and members often struggled with a recurring problem: how is it possible to get beyond traditional psychiatric treatments when someone is still being tormented by their disabling symptoms? Tōjisha-kenkyū was born directly out of a desperate search for answers.

In the early 2000s, one of Bethel’s members with schizophrenia was struggling to understand who he was and why he acted the way he did. This struggle had become urgent after he had set his own home on fire in a fit of anger. In the aftermath, he was overwhelmed and desperate. At his wits’ end about how to help, Mukaiyachi asked him if perhaps he wanted to kenkyū (to ‘study’ or ‘research’) himself so he could understand his problems and find a better way to cope with his illness. Apparently, the term ‘kenkyū’ had an immediate appeal, and others at Bethel began to adopt it, too – especially those with serious mental health problems who were constantly urged to think about (and apologise) for who they were and how they behaved. Instead of being passive ‘patients’ who felt they needed to keep their heads down and be ashamed for acting differently, they could now become active ‘researchers’ of their own ailments. Tōjisha-kenkyū allowed these people to deny labels such as ‘victim’, ‘patient’ or ‘minority’, and to reclaim their agency.

Tōjisha-kenkyū is based on a simple idea. Humans have long shared their troubles so that others can empathise and offer wisdom about how to solve problems. Yet the experience of mental illness is often accompanied by an absence of collective sharing and problem-solving. Mental health issues are treated like shameful secrets that must be hidden, remain unspoken, and dealt with in private. This creates confused and lonely people, who can only be ‘saved’ by the top-down knowledge of expert psychiatrists. Tōjisha-kenkyū simply encourages people to ‘study’ their own problems, and to investigate patterns and solutions in the writing and testimonies of fellow tōjisha.

Self-reflection is at the heart of this practice. Tōjisha-kenkyū incorporates various forms of reflection developed in clinical methods, such as social skills training and cognitive behavioural therapy, but the reflections of a tōjisha don’t begin and end at the individual. Instead, self-reflection is always shared, becoming a form of knowledge that can be communally reflected upon and improved. At Bethel House, members found it liberating that they could define themselves as ‘producers’ of a new form of knowledge, just like the doctors and scientists who diagnosed and studied them in hospital wards. The experiential knowledge of Bethel members now forms the basis of an open and shared public domain of collective knowledge about mental health, one distributed through books, newspaper articles, documentaries and social media.

Tōjisha-kenkyū quickly caught on, making Bethel House a site of pilgrimage for those seeking alternatives to traditional psychiatry. Eventually, a café was opened, public lectures and events were held, and even merchandise (including T-shirts depicting members’ hallucinations) was sold to help support the project. Bethel won further fame when their ‘Hallucination and Delusion Grand Prix’ was aired on national television in Japan. At these events, people in Urakawa are invited to listen and laugh alongside Bethel members who share stories of their hallucinations and delusions. Afterwards, the audience votes to decide who should win first prize for the most hilarious or moving account. One previous winner told a story about a failed journey into the mountains to ride a UFO and ‘save the world’ (it failed because other Bethel members convinced him he needed a licence to ride a UFO, which he didn’t have). Another winner told a story about living in a public restroom at a train station for four days to respect the orders of an auditory hallucination. Tōjisha-kenkyū received further interest, in and outside Japan, when the American anthropologist Karen Nakamura wrote A Disability of the Soul: An Ethnography of Schizophrenia and Mental Illness in Contemporary Japan (2013), a detailed and moving account of life at Bethel House. "

-Japan's Radical Alternative to Psychiatric Diagnosis by Satsuki Ayaya and Junko Kitanaka

[birdofmay]

What's the difference between nonverbal and nonspeaking?

I have posts about nonverbal autism, but none about the single topic "What's the difference between nonverbal and nonspeaking?" So this will be a handy linked blog entry for my pinned post.

All summed up: There is no real difference, it's a matter of preference. Please ask us what term we prefer and respect that choice. It's a sensitive topic because there has been a lot of discourse around it ☝🏼

Alright. First things first: Nonverbal is a medical term not exclusively for autism. In the medical field, "nonverbal" simply means that your speech is extremely impaired or fully absent. Yes, there are many meanings of "nonverbal", but this is what doctors mean. Did you know that there's nonverbal cerebral palsy too? (External link)

But let's focus on autism. Autistics who can't speak are said to have "nonverbal autism".

Discourse #1 - the mind is intact

There are many reasons why some autistics never learn to speak. One reason can be non-acquired apraxia (i.e. not due to a stroke, TBI, Alzheimer's, etc.), which leads to limited motor control. If it affects the mouth and throat only, individuals "know what they want to say", but their mouth doesn't cooperate. They either struggle to get words out clearly/don't get anything out at all, or their mouth seems to have "a mind of its own" - they say things they didn't want to say. If apraxia affects the whole body, this goes for actions too. Either they can't make their body do what they want to do (e.g. they want to point at a ball but their arm won't move) or their body does things they didn't want to do (e.g. they want to point at the ball but instead their finger points at the floor).

As you can imagine, this situation is really unfortunate when a therapist wants to test your intelligence. You can't get words out, so they ask you to show them what a triangle is. You know what a triangle is, but your body does its own thing. You point at the circle instead of the triangle, and your therapist concludes that you don't understand simple instructions. They assume intellectual disability. You're misunderstood all your life and everyone thinks that you can't learn to communicate, that you don't understand language. You're frustrated.

Luckily, at some point some people realised that these autistics CAN learn to communicate and in fact are very capable and understand language just fine. That was when apraxic autistics talked about this misunderstanding online. They talked about how they were mistreated and underestimated, that people should always "presume competence". They coined a new term for themselves: "Nonspeaking". In their opinion, "nonverbal" doesn't describe their experience and makes it sound like they can't learn to read or write. "My mind is intact, I can make intelligent choices about my life!" (External link)

Sounds good? Well, it may be surprising to know that most of us on Tumblr who can't speak either don't mind being called "nonverbal" or actively prefer nonverbal over nonspeaking. How can that be?

Discourse #2 - the mind isn't always intact

There are other reasons why some autistics never learn how to speak. Most of the time, in contrast to "nonspeaking self-advocates", we do struggle to understand language and our mind is not "intact". We have language disorders, brain damage, slow processing speed, often ID. The latter is why most of us aren't on any social media. My ability to communicate isn't average for us, it's an exception!

When the "say nonspeaking" wave reached Tumblr, I think at first most of us who are on social media liked that idea. We spread awareness about how terminology is a preference thing, that "nonspeaking" is about overcoming years of mistreatment and about empowerment. That some of us think that "nonverbal" sounds like we can't communicate and can't understand language, when that's not true. But, as I said, most autistics who never learned how to speak aren't online and therefore can't participate in this discourse. "Nonspeaking self-advocates", on the other hand, are on social media and love to participate. But they are a minority among those who can't speak.

The result? At some point it got a little ableist. The mindset "We are intelligent and understand language" turned into "You guys with ID and language disorders make us look bad" and THAT turned into speaking over and ignoring us. Or harassing even. "You have to call yourself nonspeaking, otherwise you're a bad person!" and so on. We responded "No, you say you're intelligent and your mind is intact. Good for you, but ours isn't. You erase our existence and we don't relate to your experience. We don't identify with your word." It was worse on other platforms, at some point the term "nonspeaking supremacist" was coined similar to "aspie supremacist".

Discourse #3 - free interpretation of a term that's NOT loosely defined??!

And last year, a really strange thing happened: Speaking autistics somehow mixed up the "To me personally, nonverbal sounds like I can't learn to communicate and don't understand language at all" and incorrectly informed others "So there's a difference between nonverbal and nonspeaking. Nonspeaking means that you can't speak and nonverbal means that you also can't communicate in other ways".

They took it as a fact and informed us that we "by definition" actually are nonspeaking because we can communicate via text. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I repeat: Most of us who can't speak aren't on social media. So this misinformation again spread everywhere because we weren't enough, we weren't loud enough. We can't ever be loud enough because, exactly: Most of us aren't on social media.

Now we weren't harassed by fellow nonverbal/nonspeaking autistics, nope, NOW suddenly speaking autistics from ALL over the world tried to inform us that we shouldn't call ourselves nonverbal - NOT aware that by now "nonspeaking" got a slightly ableist connotation in the process 😵

Here's an example of how wild things were last year...

And that's not enough: Suddenly everyone assumed that autistics who can't speak due to apraxia MUST call themselves nonspeaking because that's where the movement started. No, even apraxic autistics sometimes prefer "nonverbal", and they have every right to do so!

As things are now...

So, that's why most of us on Tumblr prefer nonverbal. Oh, and by the way:

Whenever someone isn't aware of this and makes a "To me, nonverbal means..." post, all I think is "Oh, not again, please not again", and I see this war flashback meme in my mind's eye 😅

Every "To me, nonverbal means..." post that ends with "And that's why I prefer nonspeaking" has the potential to get loud and start this harassment and misinformation all over.

Every new post that tries to define nonverbal and nonspeaking could start this all over again.

Because nonspeaking supremacists are very very loud. And speaking autistics are usually very very uninformed about us. And most nonverbal/nonspeaking autistics aren't on any social media.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Let's play a little game, shall we? ("Professional Advice for the Disabled" edition)

Context:

Back in September, 2012, I came upon an online pamphlet titled "Living With C.P." from The Ontario Foundation for Cerebral Palsy.

And in the middle of the pamphlet was a paragraph that was just two (moderately long) sentences.

The Game:

It's a one-question multiple choice quiz. I'll give you the first sentence, and you pick the sentence that you think comes next. Because it's a long sentence, and I'm not sure it'll fit in Tumblr's poll fields, I'll write each choice out in full, marked "1," "2," "3," "4," and "5," and paraphrase in the poll itself. Okay?

The First Sentence:

It can be frustrating for adults to deal with a health care system that appears to have little knowledge or interest regarding the changing needs of aging with a disability.

What Comes Next?

A healthy, well-balanced, diet, combined with as much exercise as you can manage, and a regular sleep routine, is beneficial to your mental and physical well-being.

A trusted friend or family member, who knows you and your symptoms, can help explain your situation to your healthcare provider.

Maintaining a strong social network, especially among your fellow patients, can help reduce stress, and combat feelings of loneliness.

A positive attitude makes a big difference, and developing relaxation techniques and coping skills can have a beneficial effect on mental and physical health.

A diary of your daily routine, especially keeping track of your changing abilities, can be a useful tool for you and your healthcare provider.

Let's see if we can match with with Service Professionals (I'll reveal the actual answer at the end of the week, once the poll closes).

If you vote, please reblog, to get this outside my private corner.

[christinesjourney8]

The tiktok ban law is on Trump and Congress

Many people will not remember, It is Donald Trump, who set the tiktok ban into motion. The law was passed by a bipartisan Congress. It was not Joe Biden's doing. The White House had put out a statement saying it would not enforce the ban on the 19th; given that Trump will be taking office on the 20th. This was nothing more than a political stunt on Trump's part, " claiming that he will have saved tiktok." I am currently participating in lights out meta. I'm not logged into any of my meta accounts. Nor will I be posting from January 19- 26. ( with the exception of a post I had previously scheduled to share on inauguration day. Donald trump is nothing more than a con man. Sadly, I know many people will believe he saved tiktok. It was his supreme court judges that unanimously decided to uphold the law to ban tiktok in the US. I fear most social media platforms will become nothing more than a propaganda machine for trump. I see it already with Facebook and Instagram. I have used Instagram to advocate for social and political issues that are important to me..

This includes advocating for people with disabilities and chronic conditions like myself. ( I have cerebral palsy ) I also raise awareness for those of us who have been impacted by suicide loss. As I was in 2012 with the death of my father. In most recent years, I have been outspoken about the reality that covid isn't over and the virus is no way gone.

It is only a matter of time before the bird flu is our next widespread pandemic, and trump is ill-equipped to handle another pandemic. To be perfectly, clear, I think biden rushed for things to go back normal for the sake of the economy.. Joe Biden was not a perfect president by any means. But make no mistake, the tiktok ban is not his doing. And trump is no savior

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

8. What sort of disability representation would you consider ideal for you?

11. What is one question, idea, or talking point about [your] disability that you are so tired of?

8. if speak for self n not for entire community! stuff that not shy away from realistic violent ableism n things that make audience uncomfy. want see accurate nonverval high support needs I/DD representation, not shy away from hard stuff but not tell it from entire life tragedy disability tragedy perspective, nor inspiration porn happy all time or secret little genius, or perfect lil saint angel (sometimes we real assholes). show HSN I/DD ppl happy & be okay with disability even when face with inaccessibility. see us date n in love! have sex! learn! be good at stuff!

n also want see HSN I/DD character just exist! outside disability stories.

EDIT oh n!! HSN people who can’t like. do “impressive things” but we still around bc take care community take care of vulnerable people still important !!

n also, just like wheelchair user character be played be wheelchair using actor, autistic character be play by autistic actor… want see nonverbal character be play by nonverbal person, high support needs character play by high support needs actor… which especially HSN I/DD actor, can be quite unrealistic (inaccessibility of acting & set + often our support needs n disability make acting impossible), so really hope when people celebrate “x character play by x actor,” like “(HSN) autistic character play by (LrSN) autistic actor,” we not just celebrate autism part but we also at least talk about how support needs difference power dynamic. because even if there no alternative, have someone autistic but not HSN play HSN autistic character, for example, not automatic make feel less mocked.

so many times see people celebrate some film disabled character play by disabled person!!! n it wheelchair user play by wheelchair user, which absolutely great!! but in same film nonverbal AAC user NOT played by AAC user not to even mention nonverbal person n no one bat eye n. just feel betrayed n ignored by all

11. oof many… why nonverbal about all the time experience n why shouldn’t say go nonverbal or nonverbal episode or sometimes nonverbal… how some people prefer nonverbal over nonspeaking n how they not always mean different thing… how disabled ppl will identify in way you not like even if you also disabled, like severity labels (also how not everything is fucking autism)… how having more support needs than nondisabled not make you medium or high support needs, how struggle more than non autistic not make you level 2 or 3… all ways autistic community awful to people with intellectual disability n also down syndrome cerebral palsy etc many I/DD… how no you can’t “reclaim” r word if you not ID how be bullied not same as systemic oppression… can go on n on

especially tired of these because… it not like they not important but. there so many other important things like how people without functional communication still not getting AAC, how so many I/DD people not get age appropriate developmental milestone appropriate cognitive intellectual appropriate education, JRC still shocking people, how special education often god awful but also next 4 years US lose many protection that keep it in place n lose what little had in first place… n instead of talk about those advocate for those advocate for direct changes, am stuck here talk about these terminology issue over n over n over again.

ask game

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alex Bollinger at LGBTQ Nation:

A disabled transgender college student who was bullied by conservatives on social media because of his disability and trans identity has had his accounts on Instagram and Facebook banned because they allegedly broke the rules on “Community Standards on child sexual exploitation, abuse, and nudity.” The student is an adult and was not being abused. Micah Leroy is a student at the University of Minnesota who has cerebral palsy (CP). He has been out as transgender since he was 14 and has documented his transition on Instagram and gained a following. Cognitive issues are possible with CP, but many people with CP don’t have problems with cognition. Leroy has said that he is making his own medical decisions, which he has a legal right to do since he’s an adult. Last month, he posted a shirtless picture of himself after getting top surgery, which is something a lot of transmasculine people do after top surgery to show off their new chests. This led several major anti-transgender influencers, including Oli London and Riley Gaines, to express their outrage that a disabled person was able to get gender-affirming care. Misgendering Leroy, London said that “doctors cut off the breasts of [a] disabled woman with cerebral palsy to turn her TRANS.” Gaines claimed that Leroy is “non-verbal,” even though he can communicate with written language and with the help of a speech-generating device, as well as with his own voice if people who know him well and understand his voice can help translate. Then Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) called his surgery “criminal,” sharing London’s post. “What doctor did this? What hospital allowed this? Who paid for this?” she wrote on X, even though an adult getting surgery he wants is not illegal or even unusual. Conservatives rallied against Leroy and reported his account, according to Advocate. Leroy’s Instagram and Facebook accounts are offline, and he is just getting a message about how he violated the rules on “child sexual exploitation, abuse and nudity.”

Right-wing anti-trans bullies such as Oli London, Riley Gaines, and MTG led a hate campaign against disabled trans student Micah Leroy. Their campaign led to Leroy’s Instagram and Facebook accounts getting banned.

See Also:

The Advocate: A disabled college student was bullied for posting about his transition. Meta removed his account

[stele3]

I have this one client who is disabled and needs caretakers. Recently a new nurse has started working with him, a guy named T*. Today we were getting to know each other better and he mentioned being from northern Ethiopia.

It took me a couple of seconds to connect and then like the autistic idiot that I am, I blurted out, “Oh shit! Did your family survive??”

Thankfully he was mostly surprised that I’d even heard of Tigray (which I discovered I had been pronouncing wrong: it’s tig-RAI, not TIE-gray) or the genocide carried out there by the Ethiopian government. He then related that he was one of about a dozen people in the States who raised awareness of what was happening, showing me a picture of him and other advocates standing with U.S. senators in DC. He also said that he could never go home again because of his advocacy work: the Ethiopian government has his name and those of every other person who went to the U.S. government to get them to stop the genocide.

Basically I met a goddamned hero today. He probably saved millions of lives and there he was sitting across from me, helping to keep my client with cerebral palsy from involuntarily rolling off my massage table.

(*name withheld for safety reasons. He wasn’t worried about the Ethiopian government coming to nab him but I’m not about to take that chance, especially not after what happened to Hardeep Singh Nijjar.)

[hazelira]

you said you're in college, what's your major?

Yup, my major is Developmental Services Work (the easier name would be Disability Support Work). I work with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. I want to become the advocate I never had growing up.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities can include conditions such as Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), cerebral palsy, Fragile X syndrome, and other genetic or neurological differences that impact how a person learns, communicates, and navigates the world. These individuals often experience barriers in problem-solving, emotional regulation, speech, or physical coordination, but they also have unique strengths and potential.

Everyone deserves to feel valued and included. People with IDDs often face barriers, not just from their disabilities but from how society perceives and treats them. For example, when you see someone who looks or acts differently—maybe they're flapping their hands, shouting unexpectedly, or have distinct facial features—it’s essential to resist the urge to judge or wonder why they’re that way. These actions or appearances are often beyond their control, a natural expression of who they are, influenced by their disability.

Instead of questioning or mocking, consider how society can adapt to include them better. Ask yourself: How can I help them feel valued and supported in this moment?

It’s heartbreaking when some people, especially kids, mock individuals with disabilities, failing to see their humanity. What's even more surprising is that disabilities are often invisible. Many people who claim they could "never imagine having a disability" may have one themselves—they just don’t recognize it yet. Mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression, are disabilities, too. Disabilities can be mental, physical, emotional, sensory, verbal, or nonverbal, and they might not always be visible to others.

As someone who sees through body language and expressions, I’ve come to believe that almost everyone I meet has some form of disability. It’s just that society doesn’t always label or acknowledge it. Recognizing this can make us more compassionate and accepting toward others.

When we shift our perspective, we realize that individuals with disabilities are not defined by their challenges. They are complete, unique people with strengths, joys, and personalities. The next time you see someone who acts or looks different, think of how to offer kindness, not judgment. Let’s work toward creating a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, feels included, respected, and valued.

[systemserendipity]

"This is unacceptable."

Kaelynn Partlow, autism advocate

[thebuckleyhans]

what did lesbianrobin say that was ableist?

I'm going to assume this is a genuine question and answer as such

Christopher Diaz has cerebral palsy.

The way many people in the fandom, but especially the Buddie portion of the fandom, treat his character is infantalizing. Which is a very real problem people with disabilities like cerebral palsy have to deal with on a daily basis.

Many people treat Christopher like he's an extention of Eddie (or Buck) rather than a character of his own.

We've had several instances of Christopher acting out to have independence. Both in general and specifically independence from Eddie. (Ditching an after school club and lying to Eddie sneaking and playing games with friends when grounded, running away to Buck, calling his grandparents and leaving ect).

To say that Christopher needs to come back (for Eddie's sake is implied) or he'll get beat 'whooped' is inherently ableist. Its ignoring the ability of this character to be able and capable of making his own decisions.

They wouldn't be saying the same thing if they saw Christopher as a character with his own motivations and feelings and trauma. They don't care about Christopher Diaz, they only care about Eddie

Its also advocating for child abuse but thats an internet argument for another day.

lesbianrobin has said a lot of awful things but this one is pretty distasteful.

[willgrahams-dog]

it scares me how quickly so many supposed leftists have turned away from palestine, and how similar their language is to the people they say they're fighting.

how is calling for the violent death of palestinian children because you say they're terrorists any different from attempting to justify the murder of a black boy who was acting "suspicious"? how does ignoring and ridiculing the suffering of palestinian women make you a feminist, and why does the argument that they "deserve it" sound so familiar? how can you claim to advocate for disability rights and then pass over a child who starved to death just because he had cerebral palsy and he was "at risk anyway"?

this is a genocide happening in real time, and the world will not forgive you for ignoring it. we CAN'T ignore it.

being part of an oppressed group does not excuse you from oppressing another. saying that all people supporting palestine are antisemitic is wrong and insulting. we're not calling for the death of all jews, we're calling for the safety of all palestinians. the fact that you think jewish and palestinian lives cannot exist together says more about you than it does the people you're fighting against.

why does someone who lives on the other side of the world have more right to the land than someone who has lived there their entire life? that's colonist rhetoric, and it's the same ideals that were used in the manifest destiny when the u.s. expanded west and attempted to eradicate hundreds of indigenous cultures. that's bad!! forcing 2 million people- individual lives, each with dreams and hopes and a family and secrets and favourite school subjects- into a "safe zone" they can't evacuate from and then carpet bombing them is bad! it's fucking unfathomable to me how people have gotten so stuck on the false dichotomy of freedom for israelis or freedom for palestinians that they're excusing a genocide. they asked for your help and when you demanded proof, they gave it to you. you said it wasn't enough and they gave you more, the fucking israeli army gave you more. and you're still sitting here reblogging iof thirst traps and calling yourself a leftist.

palestine is a feminist issue. palestine is a disability issue. free palestine 🇵🇸 🍉

KEEP TALKING ABOUT PALESTINE.

[honey-crypt]

☺️I’m back☺️

This is for the Harvey x Cerebral Palsy reader 💕😣

Its called Left Hemiplegia, and preferably I’d like it to be spastic because that’s what I deal with , thank you so much🙏🙏🥺 literally a angel when I saw you do a lot of disability awareness stuff I literally squealed giggled and kicked my feet)

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

a/n: i’m so happy that you’re happy!!! i pride myself on disability awareness, advocacy, and activism haha. anywho, enjoy :3

warning: ableism

★ harvey with a farmer who has spastic left hemiplegia ★

★ harvey has been your biggest advocate and supporter when it comes to living with your disability

★ he gets you connected with the specialists, battles the insurance companies, and helps you get the assistive technology needed to run your farm

★ you have your hard days and it frustrates you deeply, especially since you have a farm to run, but harvey always reassures you that you’re doing your best

★ you often use a walker and getting around the farm can be a pain in the ass but harvey helps you get the layout modified to your needs, such as a ramp for the farmhouse and stable paths

★ harvey does physical therapy with you, not as a doctor but as a partner, encouraging you and looking out for you while you do your exercises

★ he does the exercises with you and combined with aerobics, he gets stronger

★ gets you cute stickers for your walker, such as stickers themed around your favorite shows and favorite color

★ you would think harvey would be too timid to confront ableists but for you?? he becomes an attack dog

★ he doesn’t yell at ableists but rather, he makes them look stupid as fuck

★ “mayor lewis, you shouldn’t undermine (y/n) when your last physical was subpar and they can lift a goat”

★ you can lift a goat on your right side; after all, you depend most on that side of your body

★ loves to hug you, he’s very touchy behind closed doors and he needs a hand or something on you at all times

★ always researches ahead of time if a place is accessible before he takes you there for a date

★ more than happy to work on the farm after marriage, he loves to feed the animals the most

★ harvey loves you and you love harvey, he would go to the ends of the earth for you if you asked

[oatmealaddiction]

Personal rant time: Right now the United States is seeing a huge erosion in small childcare centers, particularly family run centers which are unable to contend with the lack of teachers and care providers, as well as enormous demands from government licensing. It's going to lead to an uptick in corporate centers because many states do not acknowledge preschool as an imperative. This is terrible for working class families, especially those who don't work during the day and who rely on family centers. Parents will either have to quit, or use under the table childcare that's not been properly vetted. This is again because of the belief that raising children is a mother's job, and a push back against women entering the workforce. The work is continuously undervalued, and there is no appreciation for people who work with young children. Early Childhood Education is across the board, one of the lowest paying degrees a person can get. This had lead to the staffing crisis, it's lead to centers being shut down, and parents waking up to find out they're going to have to quit their jobs because there's no centers near them with any room. And while this is what a lot of conservatives want, the problem is we've hit a point where families with two working parents is a necessity for most people. Mother's can't just quit and rely on their husbands income. It is not possible.

Inside centers too, the demands put on teachers (a largely female workforce) is really unreasonable. Our hours often go over what are agreed upon, we're often pressured to work sick, and you'd be shocked to hear how many teachers have wet themselves on the job because using the bathroom meant leaving children unattended and there was no one available to get them a break. We're also micromanaged to hell and back because nobody seems to understand we're professionals who were trained in child care. Everything we do falls under immense scrutiny, and there's not a lot of protection for us. A lot of teachers also feel pressured to stay in their jobs because leaving could mean the center shuts down due to lack of staff.

Strict regulations also make it awful on the children. I once had a teacher who worked with largely autistic children, children with down's syndrome, or children with cerebral palsy, and she said that when she started, licensing regulations essentially stipulated the children be strapped in a car seat in an empty room with no toys. She had to fight tooth and nail to get children blocks and outside time and a classroom pet, only to retire and have all of the materials she'd worked to get be removed the second she was gone. I work at a center right now that says any book with a tear in it should be considered unusable and it's making it difficult to find books to read for my class, let alone toys that meet all the strict regulations. Which in the case of family centers, being unable to meet all of these demands often means being closed and families losing their childcare. (It should be noted corporate day cares are not held to the same standards as small private day cares. I worked at a corporate center where children were being served expired food.) And the biggest victims in all of this are the children. Like, what does it say about us that childcare centers are closing in mass and children are being pushed out of the public sphere that much more? That we're so concerned about the safety of children we've taken away their books and toys and pushed them back into their homes. The ability to have safe childcare is going to be restricted to the upper class and even they are going to be fighting tooth and nail over what little resources are left. Meanwhile, working class families could be forced to use a dangerous under the table center or have to uproot their entire family to make ends meet. It is legitimately a crisis. Childcare is a necessity, it is something we cannot neglect. Support universal preschool, volunteer at small centers if you can, and advocate for regulation that protects workers and children vs. regulation that continues to restrict childcare.

[obstinatecondolement]

Everyone knows the line "One of us, one of us" from Freaks, but I don't see a lot of people including the "We accept you, one of us" part, which to me is like... the whole point. The "freaks" accepted Cleopatra, but that horrified her because she didn't want to be one of them. Something to reflect on in the context of solidarity among different groups of disabled people today!

I have never been properly involved in real activist circles, to be clear, but in my capacity as an internet slacktivist, I feel like ten years ago there was a much stronger sense in online disability discourse of solidarity being key and that you throw your sibling under the bus for respectability politics at your own peril. And it seemed like discussions about different disabilities were less siloed from each other? I'm not saying that everyone lived in harmony and no one was ever a dickhead in lateral ableist ways, but at least in my limited sphere, if you were interested in disability activism then you weren't just concerned with Your disability, or Type of disability.

Like, even in the area of intellectual and developmental disability alone, it wasn't as unusual for an autistic person to casually group themselves with people with Down's Syndrome or cerebral palsy under the umbrella of us all being I/DD instead of this hyperindividualist thing we've got now where e.g. autism is seen as so unique that it's Appropriative to talk about overlapping experiences if you're not autistic, or at best that maybe you are secretly autistic too but haven't figured it out/been diagnosed yet.

We used to talk about overlapping experiences all the time! I remember the late Mel Baggs talking about the concept of "cousins" where someone with a different disability to you would have similar experiences/ways of thinking/etc. Now it feels like even autistic people aren't supposed to relate to each other depending on our support needs, lol.

Idk, I just feel like we're so much more like each other than we are different and we should listen to and advocate for each other. Almost everyone will be disabled at some point in their life, and I feel like if we don't build solidarity with each other then we're fucked.

Gooble gobble, one of us.

[cripvideoproductions]

Join Margot Cole from Crip Video Productions as she shares her invaluable insights on Cerebral Palsy with future educators in Professor Carol Carielli's class on early childhood education and development. This presentation is a must-watch for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of disability advocacy and accessible teaching strategies.

Margot, a passionate advocate and storyteller, draws from her own experiences and the mission of Crip Video Productions to create films that increase understanding of disabilities through engaging storytelling depicting disabled people living vibrantly in the film’s narratives. Her talk is informative, providing practical tips for new educators on how to create a fully accessible classroom environment for all students.

During  this enlightening presentation, other impactful resources are discussed such as videos created by Dylan Rothbein, including those about the historic capitol crawl in 1990. https://youtu.be/7srPFCa2QU0?si=5N_vVTGlfkZQV1CY  These videos offer a glimpse into the pivotal moments of the disability rights movement and serve as a powerful educational resource, along with information about Teatro Paraguas https://www.teatroparaguasnm.org .

‍ What You'll Learn:

•  Understanding Cerebral Palsy and its impact on learning.

•  Effective teaching methods for students with disabilities.

•  The importance of disability advocacy in education.

Further Viewing:

"A Stroke of Endurance" - A film by Margot Cole

“Drama Sighted” A Film by Margot Cole

•  Dylan Rothbein's videos on the capitol crawl, a significant event that led to the Americans with Disabilities Act 

For more information on Crip Video Productions and their work, visit their official website http://www.cripvideoproductions.com/. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more content on disability awareness and advocacy.

This video is posted with Carol Carrielli’s full permission.