#access is a human right

[chronicallycouchbound]

The elevator in my ADA “accessible” building is broken. It has been for days. No word on when it’ll be fixed.

The fire alarms just went off, briefly, then stopped. There is no evacuation plan. Today is a bad pain day, it’s raining and I had to go grocery shopping (including going up and down some steps) with my in home care worker earlier. I could maybe get to and down the stairs by myself. Maybe. I don’t know if I could get my partner’s cat out with me (I would do my damn best though).

I have neighbors who also are wheelchair users, some who are in heavy powerchairs who live on the upper floors. Me and those neighbors haven’t spoken much outside of basic pleasantries by the mailboxes over the years— I think we’re all housebound. We are effectively strangers but we have shared cries for help. I know their screams and they know mine. Intimate terror.

The alarms have stopped and as of right now I am safe. My neighbors are safe.

I’m focusing on trying to catch my breath and lower my heart rate back to a safe range. I can’t stress enough how traumatic it is to be disabled in an inaccessible world.

[thelegendofmik]

The Little Big Things - Setting the Standard for Accessibility in Theatre

The Little Big Things is a musical that recently opened at the West End's Soho Place and it is a stage adaptation of Henry Fraser's memoir of the same name. It is about Fraser's experience with becoming disabled and figuring out how to navigate life newly disabled.

Of course, the show portrays Fraser's life before and after becoming disabled. And this show comes up with a very simple solution that doesn't involve an abled bodied actor "cripping up" - they literally just double cast the role of Henry Fraser. They have abled actor Jonny Amies play Fraser pre-accident, and disabled actor Ed Larkin plays post-accident Fraser. Like the reality is, no one cares that the actors don't look identical.

Not only is Fraser played by a wheelchair user, as is another character, Agnes (Amy Trigg), but both their understudies are wheelchair users as well (Joseph Wolff and Elena Pitsiaeli). That is four wheelchair users in the cast of the show. The associate director, Nickie Miles-Wildin, is also a wheelchair user.

So the narrative that "there just aren't enough disabled performers" is a load of bullshit. Not only was this show able to hire five wheelchair users, but they also hired several other disabled/chronically ill cast and crew members. It is clear that in this show accessibility was a priority, not an afterthought, as it often is in theatre.

Like look at this beautiful representation:

This is a story about disability being told by disabled people, and this should really be the standard for the industry. I really hope that there are more shows like this created because this is the authentic representation disabled people deserve. We deserve to be able to tell our own stories.

Have a link to some of the music:

[lgbtlunaverse]

The world exists in such a baffling state of simultaneous sex-aversion and sex-hegemony. Every social platform on the internet is trying to banish sex workers to the shadow realm but I can't post a tweet without at least two bots replying P U S S Y I N B I O. People are self-censoring sex to seggs and $3× but every other ad you see is still filled with half-naked women. Rightwingers want queer people arrested for so much as existing in the same postal code as a child and are also drumming up a moral panic about how teenage boys aren't getting laid enough. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

[chronicallycouchbound]

I do think it’s important to note that I personally feel that not having spoons to do IDs or captions is reasonable. Sometimes I need to say something right then and there and genuinely do not have energy for anything beyond that. Most of my IDs and captions aren’t put into my posts right when I write them, I go back and add them later. “Having enough spoons to do x means you should be able to do y” is an ableist line of thinking that I don’t support. Some people genuinely do not have the energy (ability) to do something in a given moment (or ever).

And… you should still make the effort when you do have the spoons/ability to. If you can’t�� disclose that upfront on your blog/wherever so that those of us who need those accommodations can avoid you.

Okay to reblog/like even if you're on my DNI. I'm putting this on my disability blog because it relates to accessibility.

Let's talk about inaccessibility in the MOGAI/LIOM/Queer/LGBTQIA+ community online. Especially if you're a coiner, flag maker, or whatever.

Do you know how privileged it is to be able to not make any, and I mean ANY, of your posts accessible because you are arrogant about people being forced out of the community because of you? Specifically people who are visually impaired in any way which are forced out of the community because you're lack of willingness to be accessible?

There are many, MANY resources available to you to make your posts accessible. You absolutely can make your posts accessible. YOU, yes YOU, can absolutely fucking make YOUR POSTS accessible. Just fucking ask. Reach out.

You can draft your posts, you can look further into communities to make your post accessible before posting, you can save spoons to make your post accessible or wait until you have spoons to make them accessible, and you can look for others to create descriptions/plain text FOR YOUR POSTS.

At this point, there is no excuse to have none of your posts be accessible. "I don't have spoons," but making flags and counting terms also requires spoons. You aren't sneaky with not wanting to be accessible and putting in the work to do so. Oh, and we shouldn't have to be fucking BEGGING and ASKING for accessibility. BEING ACCESSIBLE SHOULD BE STANDARD.

[PT: Being accessible should be standard. End]

So you know what? Start calling people out on this ableist, arrogant behavior. And you know what else? It is ableist if you do not make no attempt to be accessible. Simply because, you have no reason to not be. If your blog shows absolutely NO ATTEMPT at being accessible, YOU need to change. Doesn't matter if it, 'ruins your aesthetic,' neither.

Start being accessible, or continue to have no care whatsoever for people who require that accessibility on your posts. Show no care and sympathy for people who are forced out of the community because of you.

Tags, asked to be removed

@chronicallycouchbound @epikulupu @xdle-coxns @galaxy-starshine @potato-head-kids @blindcultureis

[majaurukalo]

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

[reasonsforhope]

"France became the first country in the world to make abortion a constitutional right Monday [March 4, 2024], with French lawmakers adopting the bill in a 780-72 vote in a move inspired by the U.S. reversal of Roe vs. Wade.

The law gives women a "guaranteed freedom" to choose for themselves if an abortion is the right choice to make.

The amendment won the support of the three-fifths of the 925 National Assembly and Senate members required to pass in an extraordinary afternoon session at the Palace of Versailles just outside Paris in a move that was overwhelmingly supported by the public.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said to those assembled in Congress Hall that "we owe a moral debt" to the women who had to suffer through illegal abortions in the past.

After the vote to approve the constitutional change, Paris' Eiffel Tower was lit with the words in French "my body my choice" in the country where abortion was first legalized in 1975, two years after the United States' first ruling on Roe vs. Wade...

While limiting abortion ranked very low on France's political agenda, lawmakers were prompted to take action to protect abortion rights in 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of the 1973 Roe ruling that legalized abortion. Subsequently, several American states have passed laws to restrict or outlaw the procedure.

"I say to all women within our borders and beyond, that today, the era of a world of hope begins," said Attal, who at 34 became the country's youngest prime minister.

This was the first time since 2008 that France took steps to change its constitution. There will be a ceremony to finalize the amendment on Friday [March 8, 2024], which is also International Women's Day."

-via UPI (United Press International), March 4, 2024

--

Note: It may be the first, but I am confident that it will not be the last!

[liberaljane]

can you spot all seven bunnies?

Digital illustration of a woman pushing a wheelbarrow of fresh fruits and vegetables. Around the wheelbarrow are bunnies, and there's a sign that reads, 'everyone deserves access to fresh nutritious food.'

[cherry-pop-elf]

New Chapter

Anya x Reader

Can be read as platonic because we all want the best for her

SUM: Anya gets an abortion so you and the rest of the crew wait for her. You were the first one, however, to see her after surgery. Also because fuck you, abortion rights

Warnings: Abortion, sexual assault, jimmy, medical situations, abortion rights, domestic happy family

“How long is it gonna take?” Daisuke asked, as he was worried but also excited. Excited for Anya to feel better. Worried for well….Not like he’s had the best reactions to medical situations. Example A being Curly in the wheelchair next to him.

Curly was doing so much better now that he was actually on the planet again. The doctors were still jaw dropped that Anya was able to keep him alive with so little. Was not only a testimony to how she refused for him to die, but him refusing to leave his crew behind as well. It’s still a long journey ahead, but he was in clean bandages and clothes at least. Was even able to talk again. Sorta. Rather raspy but he will get there.

Jeez where to start on how you all got here to begin with.

“She’s going to be fine. Abortion is way less invasive than you think. It really depends on how far along, but luckily she isn’t too far for it to be to extreme. Not sure what type she went for, but whatever she chose she chooses. Just grateful we were able to return home before she reached to far along.” You would admit, as you would check up on Curly’s IV bag for him. Taking over Anya’s roll until she could return.

“Ya know….My wife had an abortion.” Swansea said, and it made all of you look over to him in pure surprise.

“What’s the funny look for? Ya think I’m a freak that would refuse my wife that? She needed it! The kid just….It ain’t my place, but the kid just wasn’t gonna survive. Either she carried it to term and die with em, or she just skips the heart ache. Not like it was her fault. We got two healthy girls at the end of the day. We got em because she got rid of that fucked up one.” He explained, as Daisuke seemed wide eyed in respect.

Explains why he snapped more clearly.

Anya had explained to Swansea what had happened, and before you pre Daisuke knew it Jimmy’s head was sliced off and rolling across the kitchen floor. Poor Suke threw up all over you from the sight, and shock. Then threw up again when he learned why he did such a thing. Lots of puking and crying. Fitting.

“Glad that damn company is dead. Whose wise idea was it to have a single woman surrounded by men. No offense you two-“ Curly would wheeze, before you would help him take his medication. Sure is easier to take pills when you actually give him water and take it slow. No choking or crying.

“Thats a can of worms I don’t want us to talk about.” Swansea would scoff. As a father to two girls he had a lot of things to say. Daisuke would be willing to listen, sure, but honestly you all had enough emotional fatigue to last multiple life times.

Thank god Curly was so high up on the food chain at the company. They knew they would get into more hot water if their, once, top captain suddenly vanished. Wouldn’t make their bankruptcy any smoother. For once they did the right thing and sent Simeon to save them.

Funny. A capitalist corporate organization took responsibility for their actions. For the right reasons? No. But they still took it. Strange. Isn’t it?

“Is she done yet?” Daisuke would whine, as you laughed at his childish nature. As if waiting on a sister to get out of the dentists office. You found it rather endearing honestly. That despite it all he was still having a heart full of love and excitement.

“Go play on your toy.” Swansea would grumble, as Suke whined. Regardless he would pull out his game boy. A nice excuse to play video games with out any guilt on wasting his time. Enjoying life shouldn’t be a burden.

“Need anything, Curly?” You would ask him, since you planned on going to the bathroom. Yeah Swansea and Daisuke could handle him, but you still wanted to be polite. Maybe you could grab him something from the vending machines. Maybe a soda. Some sugar in his system would do him good. Anya said that sugary bubble water of some kind, like sprite, can help quite a lot with indigestion.

“I should be fine. Thank you for asking though. Sorry you have to…” He would admit, as he looked himself over. His missing limbs now properly covered up with fabric to keep them clean, and allow him some kind of independence. The fabric on the stumps were padded. With enough practice and effort he would certainly be able to roll himself around.

Then again this was a world of space travel. He was going to get cyborged eventually, but you need to be healed first before such an intense operation. Can’t rush something like this.

“Hey. I do it because I can. Not because I have to. You are our captain. Let me be a good solider.” You teased him, and even in his broken face you could see a smile.

Swansea have you a head nod to indicate he would ‘take care of the boys’ and you were off to use the restroom.

Once done with that you would grab a soda from the vending machine for Curly, a bag of candy for Daisuke, and some pretzels for Swansea. As you were making your way back a nurse would motion you over.

“Miss Anya was asking for you. She has finished her operation, and wanted you to see her.”

You were surprised at that. You expected Curly to be her first guest. Did something go wrong? Oh you couldn’t help but freak out.

You followed after the nurse quickly, and all you were shown was Anya resting in her hospital bed. Tired, but relieved. Mostly. You saw that familiar stress in her eyes. That same stress she had when asking you if she made the right choice in asking Jimmy for help with medicating Curly.

That worry of if I did the right thing.

The nurse would leave you to alone, and you would quickly set the snacks aside. Now you were sitting next to her, in a chair, and holding her hand. Ready to be the shoulder she needed.

“Hey there Doc. How you doing?” You asked her, as you carefully stroked the back of her hand. Made sure to be mindful of all the tubes and wires.

“Well….It went far smoother than I expected. It was just so quick. They didn’t even need to put me under. The IV is more so for the issues I already had because of being stranded on the ship for so long. It was just so quick. So painless. Was just like pulling a thorn out of an arm. It was….Simple.” She would try and explain to you. Needing to make sure to stop herself before using doctor jargon.

“Too easy?” You puzzled.

“Yes. It was just….I expected pain. Pain and anxiety and horror. Suppose even a nurse can come to learn a thing or two…..”

She was hiding something, and you had an educated guess on what.

“You expected Jimmy to break down the door. Weren’t you?”

There was silence, but it told you everything.

“Scoot over. Move it sister-“ You were now crawling into the medical bed with her, moving the wires around, and soon snuggled into her side. Hugging her close, and especially with your arm over her stomach.

“You did the right thing. It’s your body at the end of it all. You took responsibility of taking care of yourself. You wouldn’t have been able to live a proper life. You went to med school. You don’t need me to tell you the horrors of pregnancy and birth. That alone is terrifying. But also you simply not wanting to be pregnant is enough. Ain’t no Jimmy’s gonna storm in and say otherwise.” You huffed, as she smiled. Her head leaning into yours.

“Yeah….No more Jimmy’s. Pretty sure Swansea will make sure of that.” She did her best to joke, and you were proud of her for it. This whole ordeal was hell. Hell none of you will ever truly walk away from. But that’s ok. You all had each other to lean on.

“I think I’m ready for everyone now.” Anya would whisper, as you gave her hand a squeeze. You were so proud of her. This was all such a nightmare, but she’s taking it in stride.

“Hell yeah.” You agreed, before climbing out of the bed. You made sure to grab the snacks, and exited the hospital room.

“Come on guys-! Anya is waiting on you-!” You shameless shouted outside of the room. She couldn’t help her face palm. Daisuke sure was an influence on you.

“I wanna push Curly!”

“Like hell you are-!”

They would bicker away, before Curly said ‘fuck it’ and did his best to roll himself over. He sure was a stubborn one. Made it half way before you figured that was enough work out for one person.

“Pretty far! Getting better at it-!” You encouraged, as the two men realized how far Curly rolled off on before finally following you two into Anya’s room.

“HAPPY NO BIRTH-DAY!” Daisuke would cheer, as Anya shook her head at such a joke.

“God dammit kid-“ Swansea side, before he came over to Anya. Giving her head a kiss. Just comforting her much like a father would.

“How many of us need to be in medical beds?” Curly would give a raspy snort, as Anya reached her hand out. He would lean his head over, and she would give it a stroke. As if all his hair never burned off. A means of holding his hand, in a way, compared to just grasping a limb.

She didn’t need children.

She had all of you.

What else could a woman want?

Since you were willing to read through this story to the end, and get a nice in depth look on the importance of such why not donate to some organizations? : D

Planned Parenthood

Nation Network For Abortion Funds

National Abortion Federation

The Bridge Alliance

The Satanic Temple

ActBlue

No worry on donating. Spreading awareness and signing petitions still help! The more people learn and understand the better! Could also like reblog with other organizations or petitions!

Abortion is healthcare!

[sealpup9]

Internet Archive Live Hearing happens tomorrow: March 20, 2023

Here's a link to the Internet Archive's page, describing how you can participate and listen to oral arguments on Monday March 20th at 1pm ET

You may know the Internet Archive because of the Wayback Machine!!

The court case Hachette v Internet Archive is being brought to court and threatens to tear down the Internet Archive as we know it.

"The Internet Archive is a nonprofit digital library, preserving and providing access to cultural artifacts of all kinds in electronic form. CDL allows people to check out digital copies of books for two weeks or less, and only permits patrons to check out as many copies as the Archive and its partner libraries physically own. That means that if the Archive and its partner libraries have only one copy of a book, then only one patron can borrow it at a time, just like any other library. Through CDL, the Internet Archive is helping to foster research and learning by helping its patrons access books and by keeping books in circulation when their publishers have lost interest in them."

This is so important because not only does the Internet Archive provide books that are long out of circulation and copies for people to borrow, they are also used as sources for things like Wikipedia articles! Imagine if suddenly, no one could access sources that someone cites for their information! Having access to information digitally today is a very important thing, and with all of the paywalls people face nowadays for news, imagine if you suddenly had to pay for access to any books. Websites like Amazon already are attempting to replace any sort of ebook rentals with paid services, when we have the right to borrow books online just as we do physically. The Internet Archive is extremely important and one of our rights- access to information- is actively being fought against.

REMEMBER: This will not JUST affect the internet archive. This could change how libraries in general work, and could threaten public access to information. Imagine how many youtube video essay sources would be null and void, imagine just trying to research an obscure topic at 3am-- If all of that was behind a paywall, only those with money would be able to access them! The harder it is for libraries to share books and archive information, the more the public suffers!

Please show your support! Read more about the case here: https://www.eff.org/cases/hachette-v-internet-archive

https://www.battleforlibraries.com/

I'm not sure how quick Tumblr will work on approving this blazed post but if the day/time has passed, please know that you can actively look into more information on this case and other info on the Internet Archive Blogs. You can also add your name to a list of supporters of Battle for Libraries Here.

Let's work together on making sure we have access to information! In this digital age, we deserve to access just as much online as we do offline!

[chronicallycouchbound]

I can’t live in over 99% of housing.

This is not an exaggeration.

“Less than 1 percent of all units are equipped with features that would allow a wheelchair user to live independently.” (HUD.gov)

My experiences of homelessness are inherently tied to this.

•

[ ID: Red capitalized text on a cream colored background reads: “I can’t live in 99% of housing” the “99%” is much larger than the other text. Below that in pink small font reads: “Less than 1 percent of all units are equipped with features that would allow a wheelchair user to live independently. HUD.gov” End ID. ]

[thelegendofmik]

sorry for being emo here but this is the only place I can post this without the person in question seeing it lol

don’t you just love when a friend doesn’t even invite you to their birthday and then you find out it’s because it wasn’t accessible so instead of putting in some effort to make their event inclusive to the whole friend group they just chose not to tell me. And then when I found out they went “you can come if you want not sure it’s accessible tho”. Like get fucked. If you really wanted me there it would have been accessible.

Anyways I have instead spent the night having a bath and playing Zelda which imo has been so much more fun than inaccessible karaoke lmaooo.

honestly I was not expecting to be crying about not being invited to a party at 21 lol but here we are.

[sixpossumsinaclownsuit]

Logan Howlett would advocate and understand the need for disability access and accommodations. Logan Howlett would know that he has a body that can endure anything, and that his ability is not the standard. I dunno. I feel like he'd be really understanding to other disabilities and if he learned someone had a disability he'd go out of his way to learn more about it and understand it. That's all.

[homosexual-trash]

I love you disabled people who use multiple mobility aids

I love you disabled people who use one, or a few mobility aids

I love you disabled people who use no mobility aids

I love you disabled people who are part time mobility aid users

I love you disabled people who a full time mobility aid users

I love you people with hidden disabilities

I love you visibly disabled people

I love you disabled people with a common condition

I love you disabled people with a rare condition

I love you disabled people with multiple conditions

I love you disabled people with only one condition

I love you disabled people with a diagnosis

I love you disabled people who are undiagnosed

I love you disabled people who are independent

I love you disabled people who are dependent on others

I love you disabled people who are unafraid to speak up for themselves

I love you disabled people who are still learning to find the confidence to speak up for them selves

I love you disabled people who use alternate forms of communication

I love you disabled people who always listen to their body

I love you disabled people who do activities even when it isn't the best for them

I love you people who were born disabled

I love you people who became disabled

I love you old disabled people

I love you young disabled people

I love you disabled people

[majaurukalo]

Another thing about inaccessibility that non-disabled people don’t realise is how dehumanising and diminishing it can feel: having to circle a building to find a step-free entrance, maybe where the dumpsters or other junk is kept? Having to ring or call for someone like a child who is waiting for permission to enter while everyone else walks by with no problem? Having to be carried up a flight of stairs, with everyone watching wide-eyed?

Yeaaaaahhhh, it’s no joke.

I’m sure there’s more stuff.

[theenbyroiderer]

In light of Project 2025 and probably more wide scale book bans to follow for you in the US... Well, here's a tip. This is a Little Free Library that my dad built for our village community center. Get together, build one, and stock it with all the queer and trans rep and whatever else the powers that be want to limit access to.

Access to books is a human right!

(Ours is just full of random books, because thankfully I'm not in the US and our libraries aren't under threat.)

[allthecanadianpolitics]

A group of professors and former students at a Nova Scotia university are working together to deliver post-secondary education to imprisoned individuals throughout the province. The “prison access to education” program, spearheaded by assistant professor El Jones, at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) is one of a kind — as it makes the Halifax institution the only degree-granting university for incarcerated people in Canada. Jones, who’s also known for her activism and spoken-word poetry, said the program, which started in 2018, connects inmates to professors and covers everything required to attend university, such as program costs associated with fees and textbooks. “We believe that access to education is a right and is so incredibly important in people’s reintegration in their time in prison,” she said during an interview in her MSVU office on Thursday.

Continue Reading

Tagging @politicsofcanada