#ableism trigger warning

[hussyknee]

Tw: dog mauling an intellectually disabled Palestinian, murder, death.

.

.

Posting this while hyperventilating because you need to start treating any and all Zionists like the Nazis they are. Idk what else you need to understand that every single person defending decades of this is a fucking Nazi. I can't transcribe the screenshot. Logging off and going to spend the rest of the day curled around my intellectually disabled baby brother. I don't give a single fuck if you're triggered in your safe little house, scared of a future that can't come close to a fraction of what you've inflicted on the rest of the world. REBLOG THIS.

Remember that this is being done with the full auspices, funding, protection and endorsement of the Biden Administration. This is happening directly because of Biden as much as his rabid Hitler dog. Your so-called salvation against fascism. The blood will stain the hands of another two hundred years of your descendants and damn them all to the deepest reaches of hell, the way your parents and grandparents have done to you.

[crewtawn]

Now that Matpat is retiring I can happily say that I hated him. He held transphobic views, consistantly misgendered cannonically trans characters, donated to anti-autistic charities, and villanized/stygmatized mental illnesses.

You were all too busy sucking his dick to realize it, but he doubled down on the things he said, never apologized for half of the abhorent things he said, and his fans consistantly harrassed people who disagreed with his theories or called him out.

Anyway, MATPAT RETIRING! SO LONG BOZO!

MOST OF THIS SHIT ISNT EVEN OUT OF CONTEXT IN THESE VIDEOS; like op says in the description, probably because people were harrassing them. AND IN CONTEXT ITS STILL BAD.

BUT ITS OK, RIGHT? ITS OK IF UTS JUST A THEORY! RIGHT GUYS!?!?! ITS JUST A GAME THEORY!!!!

[ab121500]

FO4 Companions React to a Blind!Sole

Sole being blind Pre-war (TW for Ableism) 

I've never written one of these before, but my most recent  Sole is blind so I thought I'd put my idea of how I think the companions would react. 

Cait: Doesn't believe that Sole is blind at first. They're too good of a shot, too aware of what's going on to be blind. But she notices that Sole does struggle with things those with sight wouldn't even bat an eye at. They often face the wrong way when being told to read something, they also are terrible at keeping watch. She at first is mad that she has to "pick up the slack" but she quickly gets over it after Sole treats her with kindness and understanding. Doesn't take long for her to stand up for Sole in every situation.

Codsworth: Sole's blindness was something that he got used to not long after being purchased. As a Mr. Handy, he has software that allows him to assist those who are disabled. It never affected how Sole treated him, nor his perception of them. In the post war setting, with the world being so different from what Sole remembers, he tries to assist in even more ways than he used to. Going with Sole to Concord for example, or at least wanting to when they denied his request. He doesn't treat Sole any differently from before, and tries not to handle them with kid gloves knowing how much they hate that.

Curie: Sees Sole as a curiosity. At first she often tries to run little tests to figure out the severity of their blindness and the extent of their capabilities. She's a doctor, she wants to know the extent of their blindness and what she can do to potentially assist. That being said, after being called out she knocks it off and switches her focus on listening to Sole and what they want. She wants to be helpful, unaware of how condescending she can be at times.

Deacon: Thinks Sole is extremely interesting from the moment he sees them the first time. Their ability to get around without much trouble and handle the wasteland without sight is fascinating. He appreciates that Sole can't see him following them around, and when Sole comes around to get the courser chip decoded he still vouches for them. Still, due to the nature of the Railroad and the fact they use road signs and need to keep an eye out he worries Sole won't be a good agent. He doesn't want to risk any synth getting caught or hurt because Sole didn't notice the danger. Overall he respects Sole, but thinks Sole is best on Railroad jobs with him or Glory by their side. He does get annoyed that their PipBoy has voice to text on, as it gives them away when sneaking but he can look past that.

Danse: The fact that a citizen came in guns blazing to save him and his squad got his respect, but once he noticed their blindness he instantly feels like Sole is a liability. People being blind wasn't the most uncommon thing in the brotherhood, but those who were blind often weren't allowed on the field anymore. More often than not they were asked to more or less retire to not put their teammates at risk. He tries to tactfully get Sole to leave, but he knows he needs the extra firepower to get the transmitter. He appreciates the help but is wary about sponsoring them even if they proved their capabilities. After becoming his newest charge, he acts like they are the same as any recruit. That being said, it takes him a long time to not handle Sole like a helpless child. He knows Sole can handle themselves, but he can't help but treat them a little differently. It takes being pulled aside and called out before he realizes he's even doing that, and he apologizes and tries his hardest to knock it off.

Dogmeat: Confused at first but he's a good smart boy. Happy to be Sole's eyes instead.

Hancock: At first, he thought Sole was just a cold, badass bitch. No reaction to a man being stabbed in front of them, AND no reaction to him being a ghoul? But the realization hit him quickly after, and he didn't know how to feel. Sole was clearly street smart enough to not be taken advantage of, but that didn't mean people didn't suck. Honestly, if anyone belonged in the town full of misfits who look out for each other, it was Sole. He treats them like they treat him, like a person that is just like everyone else. He is guilty of subtly moving things out of Sole's way or tapping them so they face the right direction, but it's never really noticeable. It's similar to moving something out of someone's way when they are distracted or tapping someone's shoulder to get their attention.  

Maccready: He assumed that he was being hired to be a bodyguard. After all, being blind in the wastes was not easy and they'd need protection. Didn't take long for him to realize Sole is a damn good shot and is able to take care of themself. He deduces that Sole hired him not as a bodyguard, but as a companion, someone who was company on the road so they had someone to talk to. And if he just so happened to notice if someone was trying to rip Sole off he'd be able to call them out. He doesn't treat Sole any differently, before or after his quest. Before, they're his employer he's not saying shit and after they're his friend and he's not going to risk that relationship. 

Nick: He knew something was up the moment Sole didn't even slightly react to his appearance. Didn't panic seeing him, nor asked what his deal was. The fact they were able to get him out without being able to see, using a terminal and all got his respect. But he was still nervous that a blind person was using a gun, or he was until by some miracle Sole landed at least 6 head-shots in a row. Once being free, the interview to try and find Shaun was difficult. No physical characteristics to go on, the guess that it was Kellogg was honestly just lucky. Regardless, Sole treated Nick like a person from the moment they met, and he'd be lying that it wasn't nice to just be seen as normal. It's only fair he returns the favor.

Piper: Sole was already extremely interesting to Piper, but add on the fact they can't see and she's instantly more interested. What's life in the Commonwealth like if you can't see it? What was life like before the bombs? How do you use your weapon so effectively? She overcompensates for Sole's lack of sight by being reckless, especially when they first travel together. She probably forgets often that Sole is blind, often being like "Hey did you see that Blue?" And then remembering and apologizing. She does get better with time, and definitely publishes papers calling out people/businesses who try to take advantage of Sole. Any papers in the Publick that Sole is in she reads out loud to them.

Preston: He's just relieved that someone came to help them in the Museum. He couldn’t give a shit that Sole is blind, he cares that they're willing to help. The only hiccup is getting the fusion core in the basement since Sturges can't get it and Sole can't get it either. They offer to try and are lucky enough to get it first try and grab the fusion core. After meeting back at Sanctuary he opts to not mention it as it's none of his business. By the time he feels comfortable enough around Sole to ask about it, they're friends and he doesn't want them to be uncomfortable so he never brings it up. He's the type to gently point Sole in the right direction if they're looking the wrong way in conversions or moving stuff out of the way if they might trip on them. He also makes sure that Sanctuary and the Castle are as consistent as possible so that Sole has an easier time navigating them.

Strong: does not appreciate the puny human not being able to see. How can they help him find the milk of human kindness if they can't even see it? He sees Soul as a weakling and refuses to travel with them.

X6: Doesn't care that Sole is Father's parent, Sole is a liability and cannot handle themself as well as a person with sight can. He doesn't like being paired with Sole.

Old Longfellow: Honestly he kind of envies them. They never have to see the horrors of the fog like he has. But he's aware that one day he might lose his sight too. Besides, the thickness of the fog even having sight isn't much of an advantage. He helps Sole the same way he helps all travelers to Acadia, with the added bonus that Sole can defend themselves. 

Gage: Helps sole at first because he can't tell they can't see, instantly turns on them after they become overboss due to blindness being a weakness.

[tokintormin]

AU, tw ableism

synopsis (edited bc it had a huge plothole)

An AU where Vox is a fallen angel by choice. In that AU Heaven has an overpopulation problem as well and they deal with it by making winners they deem unworthy turn into sinners (and by killing some angels in extreme cases). They exterminate sinners in this AU as well.

Vox was an angel (I can't decide if he's a winner or heavensborn) who had the gift of sensing changes in human condition. He has much more power than that but he opted to dedicating his life to an angel who needed substantial support.

He was looked down on by higher ups because they believed he had the potential for more and merely wasting his power in their eyes but Vox didn't want to abandon his friend. Eventually he heard the news that angels made a decision to pick his friend as the next purging target . He asked to be the one who falls instead, and that's how he ended up in Hell.

He got attached to Velvette because she resembled his heaven friend, but he keeps his identity a secret from both of the Vees. In this AU Valentino met him roughly at the same time as Velvette.

His wings look watery and his halo resembles a hammerhead shark that swims in circles

[burgershapedidiot]

Hey therians of Tumblr! I've not made one of these posts before, but if you have clinical lycanthropy/zoanthropy or just want to support our neurodivergent friends, please block this person!

They commented this (under my comment) under a tiktok post that was saying that you shouldn't demonize these disorders and that they shouldn't be ridiculed for what they can't control.

1. That's not the only thing people say to them. 2. Why are you throwing your fellow people with a disability under the bus?

Idk if I'm overreacting but this was definitely not nice to see from a big creator. Let's not exclude members of our community that have been around since the AHWW days!

[littleirontablet]

Bruh I had my dietitian appointment that I’ve been waiting 6 months for just to get told to go back to the gp bc it’s “not a food issue”

YEAH NO SHIT LADY

Literally everything I eat makes me feel sick / throw up and or other really fun bodily functions that I don’t want to even think about

I had to fill out so many forms of invasive and incredibly personal information about my body and the reactions it had, for this lady to NOT EVEN LOOK AT THEM

She saw I filled out the food diary (everything I ate made me sick / ill / uncomfortable) but told me that I will still getting the nutrients I need despite it making me so sick so I should continue doing that

The only reason that food log was filled out our properly was because I was told to, otherwise it wouldn’t be

She said that because I have nice skin (I have hEDS my skin will always look a certain way because of this condition) and the fact that I’m not malnourished (and am not underweight) that there’s nothing wrong with me

So great. I’m back to the start, triggered (she told me my weight even after I asked her not to) and told me she sees sicker people then me and therefore it’s not a food issue and I’m fine.

So yay. I’m completely fucked.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions I would love to hear them because I’m desperate at this point.

[beatingtheouijaboardallegations]

yeah I’m sure “All of this vast group of people have these specific expereiences including magic powers” is statement that will make us feel like you support us

ID: an excerpt cut from a Facebook post which starts at: Communicate (S2C). What these parents learn when they can finally have conversations with their kids is mind blowing! The kids all taught themselves how to read at 4 years old , know way more than anyone gave them credit for, and……they can hear thoughts! They communicate with each other telepathically, see angels, heaven and relatives they never met…..I’m not kidding! And this is not one kid…..they say it’s ALL the non-speakers!

[allowed-to-take-up-space]

Something I've been thinking about a lot is the way my father would critique and stereotype every single person he saw, yet still insist he wasn't judgmental.

We are in the car, my dad driving, me in the passenger seat. I am a child, maybe 11 years old. My father points at the girl standing on the corner, waiting for the light to change. "Yikes. Good thing she's out walking. Looks like she needs it. Bet she's hoping she'll fit into the outfit she's wearing someday."

"Dad, that's not a nice thing to say about someone."

"It's fine. She can't hear me. I would never say something like that to someone's face. You know, MY dad was homophobic and racist, so at least I'm better than that."

Maybe that girl on the corner didn't hear my father. But I did. And I've never forgotten it. Or the time I finally admitted to him - after YEARS of being a suicidal teen - that I was extremely depressed, and he told me I was one of those kids making shit up for attention, because HE had been in a car crash at one point and experienced REAL depression.

And yet I always ponder, now, how I could possibly be so insecure. Why I cannot just accept myself and move forward. Why I look at myself in the mirror with disgust.

It's HIS voice that echoes in my head. It's HIS nasty remarks that I remember. It's HIS judgmental opinions that I have to rid from my brain, every single time they pop up, because I KNOW better.

Even though I haven't spoken to my dad in several years now, the way he treated myself and others invades my mind constantly. His negativity has shaped so much of me - of my LIFE - and last time we DID speak, he still refused to take any accountability for the multitude of ways in which he hurt me (this specific topic not even covering 1/10 of the ways in which he did).

Furthermore, this makes me think about all the people who utter "harmless comments" about others when they don't think someone who might be hurt by that is listening. I've been privy to many conversations that have left me feeling hollow, without the folks making those judgmental comments realizing that what they've said applies to me. And I don't often feel safe enough to stand up for myself.

I wish folks could realize that openly passing heinous judgment on strangers is a gateway to passing judgment on people you care about.

"I would never say something like that to someone's face."

You said it to mine.

[astro-b-o-y-d]

Picking up on season three of my RvB rewatch today. Feel like Wyoming's supposed to show up soon-ish, but I also feel like that he's still a season or so away.

[lovevalley45]

#fictober24 - day two

"It's been a long time."

original fiction (power payback)

word count: 911

tw: in-universe discrimination

The nursery felt strange without Grandma Rosemary. 

It had hit her many times over the past few days. But as Primrose flipped through a ledger started long before she was born in her grandmother’s office, it still didn’t feel quite real. It was hers, now, she supposed. Her parents had let Rosemary Marotto handle the books and taken care of the hard labor themselves her whole life. Now it fell onto her and her MBA. 

A knock on the door broke her train of thought. She looked up to see her mother lingering in the doorway. Primrose hadn’t even known she was at the nursery. But if there was anyone harder to keep away from her plants than Rosemary, it was Delia Marotto. 

“You don’t have to knock. That’s why the door is open.”

Her mother laughed. “You sound just like her.” But the comment lacked her usual mirth. Her usual overalls were replaced by a ratty gray sweatshirt, dreads braided into pigtails down her back. “How are you doing?” 

“I miss her,” Primrose answered. “But she wouldn’t want me to waste time crying over her.” 

“Crying ain’t wasting time, you know.” 

“I know.” But she let her attention fall back to the ledger. 

Her mother sat on the edge of the desk. “I don’t want to put more on your plate. But with you taking Mary’s place back here, and just figuring out how to run things with her gone, we’re gonna need some extra help.”

“You’re asking if I’m gonna lift Grandma’s embargo on Daisy working here,” Primrose said. 

She sighed. “Your grandmother said some harsh things about your sister. Some unfair judgements on why she wasn’t allowed to work here, ever again.” 

Those were certainly some words to describe what had happened. Delia had been hard at work in her greenhouse after she’d sent Sprout to talk to Grandma Rosemary, but Primrose had been right at the counter as she’d heard the yelling. 

“We don’t need your monsters running around. And I’ve already chosen Prim to succeed me. When I die, she’ll be the one in charge. She just has a better eye for business. You can muck up your mother’s garden, not mine.”

But Daisy was always stubborn. She just had to dig her heels in. Primrose, not too far from the closed door to her office, could only listen and wince.

“I can control it. I’ll wear gloves while I’m here. Or- or I can help Dad, I’m strong. It’s the 21st century, women can be strong too.”

“Wearing gloves is not controlling it. I would have never let Delia marry my son if I knew all of my grandchildren would be little freaks-”

“I’m not a freak!” 

“Then cover up those scars and do something about that hair. The Marotto name has been besmirched by your lack of self-control. Your sister-”

“Fuck Primrose! I’m not her, I don’t want to be her.” Sprout sniffled. “Why do you hate me? I just made one mistake.”

Whatever their grandmother said had been too quiet for Primrose to hear. The conversation had hung over her like a dark cloud. 

She had known already that her botanokinesis was weak, not as strong as either her sister’s or her mother’s. It dug at her a little that it was part of why her grandmother had preferred her over her siblings, especially after Basil got his terrakinesis. That and being named after her, of course. 

Primrose had never told her mother what Rosemary said about her. Not when she knew how she saw her as her only family. 

“It’s been a long time,” Delia said. “Rosemary designated you to handle the business side of things here. And hell, I don’t wanna be behind the desk. But Sprout’s waited long enough.” 

Would Daisy even want to come back? Last she checked, her sister was getting ready to transfer to UNBC to continue getting her bachelors’ in criminal justice. Maybe her dreams of being a private investigator rung unrealistic to her. But shit, Grandma Rosemary had been wrong about Daisy. She knew that she didn’t have to be like her if she didn’t want to. 

But it was more than that. “What about her Talent, Mom?” 

“She-” Delia closed her eyes, tears slipping out. “I couldn’t let her work with the plants like I do. Not just because of the- the florabeasts, or whatever her and Magni call them. Dr. Merlo said her botanokinesis is practically gone after the accident. She can’t manipulate the plants like I can.” 

It hated her to know that was one thing Primrose was better at than her. Even if by a fraction of difference. 

“I don’t think she’d even want to come back, Mom,” she said after a moment of silence. 

“I loved your grandmother. I really did. I still do.” Her mother shook her head. “But I should’ve pushed back harder. Your father as well. She was still just a kid, and maybe - I don’t know, maybe if we hadn’t been so afraid, it would have come back.” 

“Me too. Maybe I could’ve changed Grandma’s mind.”

She shook her head again. “Prim, you were barely older than she was. That’s my fault. I fought so hard for her against those awful Brashers, but I couldn’t do shit against my own mother-in-law.” 

Primrose closed the ledger in her lap. “I guess it’s too late for regrets.” 

Delia wiped her eyes. “Yeah.” 

But Primrose knew she was lying.

[veeswims]

Hello to anyone who sees this. I’ve very recently been reminded of how awful some families and communities can be, so I have a reminder for you all.

You are all valid.

What I witnessed specifically was homophobia, ableism, and transphobia.

Lgbtq community, you are valid.

I don’t know how many letters are part of lgbtq, but please know that any I didn’t put on there is because I’m not fully informed and don’t want to accidentally put anything wrong in. Thus I went for the version I hear and see the most. Even if your letter isn’t there, you are still very valid!!!

As someone who’s lgbtq and autistic, I am sending this message out into the universe in hopes of inspiring others. Feel free to reach out, and reminder,

No matter what anyone says you are still valid. You are valuable and worth it, and you are not bad for existing the way you do.

[noheroessarge]

muse: Leo Barnes (The Purge) open to: 21+ only please / mutuals and non-mutuals / other canon horror muses, multifandom crossovers, OCs, whatever! triggers: canon-typical, including mentions of death/dead bodies, genocide, guns, violence, classism, racism, ableism, police, grief

21ST MARCH 2028

― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ―

EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM

WEAPONS OF CLASS 4 AND LOWER HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED FOR USE DURING THE PURGE. ALL OTHER WEAPONS ARE RESTRICTED.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF RANKING 10 HAVE BEEN GRANTED IMMUNITY FROM THE PURGE AND SHALL NOT BE HARMED.

ANY AND ALL CRIME, INCLUDING MURDER, WILL BE LEGAL FOR 12 CONTINUOUS HOURS.

POLICE, FIRE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WILL BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL 7AM WHEN THE PURGE CONCLUDES.

BLESSED BE OUR NEW FOUNDING FATHERS AND AMERICA, A NATION REBORN.

― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ―

07:26:03 LEFT OF THE ANNUAL PURGE

― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ― ≛ ―

With one exception, Sarge had never cared for Purge night. It went against everything he'd sworn to do as a police officer. Protect and serve. It had been hard to argue with the results those first few years though because it seemed like it worked. Overall crime did go down in the country, and it stayed down. His job got easier. Then his world ended, and he believed in the Purge a lot. The Purge kept him going that whole first year. The Purge would get him the justice he'd never see in a courtroom. The Purge would set him free.

Yeah, grief could mess with a man's head like that. It wasn't until that night that he started to see it for what it was. Who was mostly likely to be a target. (Not him.) Who suffered the most on those nights. (Not him.) And who stood to benefit the most from things staying exactly as they were. (Not. Him.) It was unfairly stacked against people of color, people of low income, people who couldn't protect themselves. And, naturally, the New Founding Fathers liked it that way. Crime wasn't lower because people got to purge their darkest impulses once a year. It was lower because it cleared out all of society's "undesirables," and the government no longer had to pay to protect them. And when the Purge wasn't effective enough on its own, they sent their own people to help.

He would know.

He hadn't been able to stomach going back to the force after that night. He'd worked on the edges of private security for a couple years but hadn't yet decided if it was going to work out. Nobody needed a bodyguard more than on Purge night, and he wasn't quite willing to give this up. He'd been warned to stay out of it, warned not to play hero, but shit, it wasn't illegal. Nothing was tonight. The worst they could do was kill him, and that could happen just as easily if he was sitting at home as out here in the thick of it. (Maybe not just as easily. But he'd rather be a dead hero than a sitting duck.)

It wasn't that hard to tell the government Purgers from the regular population if you knew what you were looking for. They were better trained and better funded. Sure, you'd get the occasional rich asshole on a murder spree, with piles of fancy or custom weapons they had no fucking idea how to use, but more and more these days, the rich preferred to Purge in the privacy of their homes. Get someone old or sick or dying to come on Purge night, pay their family an enormous sum of money for their sacrifice, and never risk a damn thing. You could bet the government would be extra and trained. He fucking hated those semi-trucks with the automatic weapons in the back, take out a whole block at once like it was a goddamn genocide. (Wasn't it, in a way?)

He'd gotten lucky that first night. Few people had ever dared to fight back against that kind of weaponry. He'd caught them off guard. They were prepared now, but he was too. The explosion had knocked the semi on its side and left a crater in the street, and it was a chaos of gunfire and screaming. His team might not be well-funded or ex-military, but with a sniper rifle at that range, they didn't really have to be. There were plenty of people who hated the Purge even more than he did, and they were more than willing to hit back in any way they could. A little strategy, a little target practice, a little contracting, and you got this, a little street guerilla warfare.

When everyone with body armor, gas masks, and automatic weapons was on the ground, dead or dying, he stepped out from his cover but didn't holster his gun until it was clear he wasn't being shot at. Most of the people who had been hauled out of their tenement buildings to be slaughtered had already fled at the first opportunity, but a few had stayed behind, too shocked or injured to run. All of his team wore the same matte black mask, featureless and invisible in the shadows. It was an extra precaution; they'd already thrown out a signal jammer for the cameras. Everything might be legal on Purge night, but there were 364 other days in the year where "accidents" might happen to people who fought back.

He pushed it up to reveal his face as he knelt by a girl, maybe eight, frightened and bleeding. "Hey, it's alright. Can I have a look at that?" He nodded toward her arm, gently inspecting the three-inch gash in it, likely from being pushed to the ground. "It'll be okay. Hold it up like this to stop the bleeding. You got somewhere safe to go?" This he directed at the woman who had joined them. Mother, aunt, older sister? He had no idea. When she shook her head no, he produced a business card with a single address printed on it, no other information. "Memorize it. Head that way and take a left on 5th. There are weapons and medical supplies. You'll be safe there until morning." The card disappeared back into a pocket, and he nodded a goodbye as they started down the street. He needed to move too, before the next wave, before all the noise brought vultures of a different kind down on them.

It was instinct that had him pointing the gun before he even understood what the threat was or if there was one. He couldn't see clearly enough in the shadows of the alley to tell whether it was victim, threat, or something else entirely, but he hugged the building for cover and kept his aim steady.

"Come on out of there. Slowly."

[factoidfactory]

Autism Acceptance Month Fact #12

Canada allows people to commit assisted suicide solely on the basis of the person being autistic, even if the person is otherwise completely healthy.

[foxless]

“delulu is the solulu” what if i skinned you alive and put you in a fire ant hill?

[identitty-dickruption]

In her discussion of how feminist analyses of oppression would be enhanced by consideration of the lives of intellectually disabled people (particularly intellectually disabled women), Licia Carlson writes, rephrasing Elizabeth Spelman, “Does the existence of those who can be defined as complete women and mothers demand the existence of others who cannot be granted womanhood and motherhood?” (2010, 83). The Ashley Treatment provides an affirmative answer to that question. In response to the outrage many people expressed on Ashley’s behalf, Ashley’s parents set up a website to explain their decision and assure all concerned that they are good parents who simply want what’s best for their child. Their post includes an explanation for why they at think of Ashley as their “Pillow Angel”: “We call her our Pillow Angel since she’s so sweet and stays right where we place her, usually on a pillow” (“Ashley Treatment” 2007). Ashley’s “sweetness” and staying in her place reflect cultural gendered expectations of good little girls, a point reinforced by the fact that photos accompanying media coverage have tended to feature Ashley dressed in pink. Dressed in pink and perpetually small, Ashley is presented as someone who will always be a sweet, easy-to-manage little girl. The assumption that disabled people cannot be sexual beings is a feature of disability oppression. At the same time, cognitively disabled people are often stereotyped as hypersexual. Both assumptions inform attempts to justify the Ashley Treatment.

Hall (2008), Feminist Disability Studies

[the-astrophel-system]

Why Our Alters Mask

tw // brief mentions of ramcoa (no details), using peoples triggers against them, ableism, family being uneducated, brief mentions of deadnaming and misgendering

so, we have a therapist who doesn't specialise in dissociative disorders. but for right now, shes kinda our only option (which is fine, we like her).

but we were talking in our session yesterday and she asked if our mum was aware of our alters and was accepting and stuff. its complicated, but the answer is yes. she's still a bit hesitant, but accepts the fact that we think we have this disorder.

anyway, we mentioned to our therapist that she has been introduced to a few different alters, but we mask almost constantly, so its not like she picks up on it herself.

and our therapist was confused.

again, this is someone who doesn't specialise in this sort of thing, so we do have to talk about our experience and those of people in the community (but y'know she also does have access to scientific and professional stuff, so its not like we're going "our system is the only way it can present").

but i was SO surprised that she was surprised that so many systems mask.

i explained that if you freely drop the mask, thats gonna inform your abusers that what they're doing is working in their favour. they'll learn triggers and use that to their advantage. now, im coming at this from a organic system's pov, we haven't been programmed, nor am i claiming that if systems unmask, they'll automatically be a victim of programming, or later-in-life abuse where the abuser is trying to manipulate the system.

i told our therapist that if you give out your triggers, or you start presenting these switches, people can pick up on those patterns and then use that to their advantage. i clarified and said that i dont think our mum or family would do this to us, its just very very vulnerable and can be dangerous if we unmask completely.

even comments like "you're acting grouchy today", "stop being so childish", and "you never act like this". can all hurt so much and make the system or that particular alter feel guilty for existing the way they do. it would be amazing to unmask around family, but when i have before, i get told im being rude or mean, when thats just how i interact with people. i tease, im a bit blunt, and i tend to swear a lot. im not trying to be rude or offensive, but i constantly feel like an asshole if i do unmask, just because this edgy exterior is who i am.

it can also sometimes be embarrassing for other alters when you do unmask. im sometimes embarrassed by other parts interests, clothes, attitudes, and more. its internalised shit and im working on it. but if we were to unmask, im so worried people wont take me seriously, just because they know of a part who acts differently. and that sucks so much.

another thing is getting told shit like "this is all so confusing", "you have too many alters, how am i supposed to keep track", "you're placing the blame elsewhere because you dont want to admit what you did wrong". comments like that suck so fucking much. i hate them, they hurt, and they're based in misunderstanding.

having many alters (even just any number over 10) can be extremely confusing to others. but i haven't met a single system who expects others to fully know of, remember, and relate to all their alters. all i ask is you accept each new part and if you do happen to remember some names, thats awesome.

it also connects to a lot of gender shit, which our family struggles with. we still cant get them to use our preferred name or pronouns, and we feel like we're too much if we share that we have multiple parts that use different or multiple pronouns. i get that it can be confusing, i understand, especially because my family doesn't see me all that often and if my name and pronouns change each time we see them, it will be a lot to remember. i get it. but my family fills me with so much fear because i feel like they wont try. they wont try to connect with, or understand me. its not fair and its incredibly isolating.

we've also been told that we're placing the blame of negative actions, onto other alters. which, we never do btw. the only time we "shift the blame" is if we try to explain that we don't fully remember what we said or did, because of amnesia. we always try to take responsibility, its just not seen as fair for people to say we're "shifting the blame" any time we try to explain what is going on for us internally. our did isn't an excuse, but its an explanation, yet no one lets us explain.

i explained most of this to my therapist and said that one day we can hopefully be able to unmask more around our family (or even just our mum and brother) so we're less drained all the time. we would get less comments like "why aren't you talking to me", "you're so grouchy", "why are you watching (x show) thats for kids". and more comments like "oh is it (x alter)? thats okay, i wont be mad if you need some time alone", "oh! watching (x show), is this a good episode?", "hey, it seems like (x alter) or (y alter) might be around. i know you're very blunt but just remember to be kind towards your brother", "im not sure if you remember yesterday, but (x alter) and i started this conversation, would you like to talk to me about this, or would you like to wait until (x alter) is back?". or whatever the comments are.

accepting that we are slightly different and not expecting consistency of behaviour, likes, or memories, is so important to us. who knows if this will ever happen for us, idk i guess we wait and see

- virgil (he/him)