#be nice to people with disabilities

[ya-what--ya-erster]

Hey can we stop being assholes please

TW: implied slurs, suicidal thoughts, SA (sort of?)

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you aren't cool when you use racial slurs or homophobic slurs or any other slurs and you aren't cool when you make fun of people who have mental health problems or disabilities (physical or mental)

"Did you see the (Yes, the n-word im sorry) over there?" Go back to the, like, 1800s please. Racism is not cool. Don't say that word.

"Nobody likes you, you (f-slur, sorry again)." Do you realize how much it hurts when us queer folk hear that? And we hear it a lot. So please don't. We don't need the whole world to hate us. It isn't hard to just be kind.

"Oh, your name is Austin? More like autistic" Okay NOT AN OKAY INSULT. Literally stfu. Autism is not something you should be repulsed by. It's not something you should use as an insult. Autistic people are people just like you.

"People who have anxiety/depression are such weirdos." Yeah thanks, I heard you, now I want to die even more thanks so much. I will gladly off myself so you dont have to deal with such a "weirdo."You've confirmed that nobody wants me here and that people think badly of me. I really appreciate it.

"We should dress up as special Ed kids for halloween cuz then we can pretend to be stupid freaks!" Do you even realize you're talking about another human being. Actually, do you? I'm not sure you do. Be nicer.

All of the above is things I've heard, occasionally they're directed at me. I haven't heard anything much on the next example so bear with me.

Don't do the thing where you call the girl a whore and slut shame her and then pat the guy on the back cuz he got laid. Just, no. Don't make the girl feel like she's done something wrong, then tell the guy good job. STAWP.

Next thing, recent experience, sorry if you're the ppl who have already heard me be pissed about it.

Respect privacy. Respect boundaries. When the person in front of you in line for lunch keeps moving away from you, you're too close, back up. Don't touch their ass. Don't stand so close that you can feel them shaking with fear. And don't try to pull the same thing twice. (btw, i told him off yesterday and it felt very nice).

BASICALLY MORAL OF THE STORY STOP BEING ASSHATS AND THE WORLD MIGHT BE A BETTER PLACE

[userboxesandstuff]

I think it's stupid that people won't believe the "out group" will help them.

Perisex people can be allies to intersex people

Cis people can be allies to trans people

Non queer people can be allies to the queer community

Transmasc and transfems and transneutrals all help each other

Men can be allies to women

White people can be allies to black, brown, hispanic, asian, and native people

Abled bodied people can be allies to physically disabled people

Neurotypicals can be allies to neurodivergent people, whether that's toward intellectual disability, mental health, learning disability, cognitive disability or other stuff

We're all in this fight together: don't forget it. Be an ally to the groups you're not a part of. Help people you see needing help.

[mythicalcoolkid]

You don't wish your disability was worse or more visible, you wish your disability was taken seriously. Please stop confusing the two, I guarantee you would not get the support you need JUST by being more severe or more visible. Please listen to visibly disabled people when we tell you it isn't better on our side

[creekfiend]

people act like being intentionally whimsical is inherently more annoying than being intentionally serious but why. suppose my temper is just naturally whimsical.

[extreme-dyke-syndrome]

DO YOU WANNA HELP YOUR DISABLED NEIGHBORS?

Rake up the wet leaves before we eat shit on the sidewalk! Your city or town should be doing it, but why would they??

[aroaceleovaldez]

one of the things that I found particularly interesting in Demigods of Olympus is that it finally gives the best direct comparison we've seen so far between Percy and another character's experiences in terms of academics and particularly ableist discrimination.

The way Zane describes his experiences and what we see in his POV is that, while he is similarly discriminated against for his "atypical" behavior and blame is placed on him, the only sorts of punishments he receives for this are relatively benign, such as an increase in counseling. (It is also notable that Zane is somewhat autistic-coded, such as having the "incorrect" scripts when speaking with adults and Sam explicitly reminding him to remember to make proper eye contact.) Percy, on the other hand, similarly experiences discrimination for "atypical" behavior, but whereas Zane is treated as "too smart for his own good" and given slaps on the wrist, Percy is automatically labeled as aggressive, destructive, and a trouble-maker based on preconceived assumptions about him and is more severely punished, such as being frequently expelled.

We rarely get this level of direct comparison between Percy's experiences and that of another character, particularly such similar experiences, so looking at the differences is really interesting to gauge what their different experiences with ableist discrimination is like - and how it could potentially tie into intersectionality and other forms of discrimination at play for them.

For instance, Zane's parents are generally heavily implied to be middle-class and/or generally financially secure, versus Percy who grew up poor, so it could be classism in combination with ableist discrimination. Alternatively, it could be intersectionality with racial discrimination, as neurodivergent behavior in people of color is significantly more likely to be punished more severely and labeled as aggressive or disruptive behavior due to racist preconceptions - particularly since we know Percy's experiences with ableist discrimination are also somewhat based on assumptions people make regarding his appearance. Both Zane and Percy are racially ambiguous - Zane's appearance essentially being completely unspecified, but Percy at least having some notable details such as having a deep tan complexion. If not racism, it could also be colorism, which in this context often has similar intersectionality. There's a lot of potential options.

It's just very interesting to me! I love having such a direct point of comparison to examine the experiences of two characters within.

[disabled-dragoon]

More and more I'm exposed to the trend of people seeing me, an ambulatory wheelchair user, out of my chair and feeling the need to express how "proud" or "happy" they are to see me walking and I need these people to understand that, while I know it's often coming from a good place, that is such a condescending, utterly demeaning thing to say to someone who uses any form of disability aid, not least a wheelchair user

[jjdizz]

Posting this here as well

Food for thought

[basilpaste]

i like when people make siffrin disabled postcanon it makes me really happy.

[kismetconstellations]

@sockdooe, This is the full original image:

According to the Tumblr post I originally snagged it from, it's an early piece of promotional artwork, meant to depict Keith as the series's central character. Shiro is shoved into the background, presumably to illustrate that he was intended to fulfill a Doomed Mentor role.

[spectrumgarden]

Actually wild the way some (!) of the fully verbal & LSN people treat me at the workshop.

I was sitting in a swing today, facing the other way, face not visible. I hear someone ask "oh who's that over there?" A second voice goes "idk, ask him who he is?" And a third goes "noo dont ask [for his name], he doesnt speak, he uses a talker" like. So I can communicate with you. The term talker is pretty on the fucking nose. But youre still telling someone else not to approach me? Because I guess communicating with me is "weird"???!

Calling my vocal stims I cant control most of the time gross, getting angry at me, constantly trying to get the others around them to agree with them how shitty I am for vocally stimming. same person who speaks all day which overstimulates others too, but the thing is, everyone else mostly copes in their own way with headphones, taking breaks outside, etc. Nothing they ever attempted. There were multiple other repetitive noises going on at the time too (hammering etc), but I'm the one to be targeted ofc.... & then refusing to use my name when referring to me & instead using things like "that one".

Finding out that I can sometimes speak short words etc and then just walking up to me daily and going "say x word!" "Can you say x word?" As if I'm a fucking dog performing a trick for their entertainment

Etc

[solazu1]

‘Jay Merrick looks so weirddd, he’s like the ugliest one in the cas-‘

You will be dead by morning.

[bean-spring]

People complaining about Mel not liking Viktor and being "mean" to him as if this guy didn't hate her guts too and wasn't constantly rolling his eyes every time she opened her mouth.

[ebonytails]

Some stickers i drew a few days ago :-]c

(theyre also available on redbubble 👀 - 1 & 2)

[bonefall]

I personally like Thunder's prosthetic. Explained it to my friend (who does use a mobility device, a cane and wheelchair, and listens to me rant and infodump about BB) and they agreed, it's important to know that not every person needs what someone wants to give them. It's another example of "bad ableist person does a thing that hurts a disabled person because they are bad and ableist".

Clear Sky got Jagged Peak killed and would have killed Sunlit Frost! He would absolutely force his disabled son to be "normal" and present it like a privilege. "I wouldn't do this for anyone else, it's special, why don't you want to be helped?"

Thunder Storm should toss it in Clear Sky's face. (I would say toss it into the river but we do not pollute waterways in this house)

Thank you for telling me this, and tell your friend I'm thanking them too! If they have anything else to add please forward what they have to say

Since BB!DOTC tackles some of the heaviest topics in the entire series because its canon equivalent is so dark, I think very carefully about what I do here and how I show it. I take feedback on its sensitive aspects very seriously. If I'm understanding the criticism properly, it's that I should avoid stigmatizing prosthetics by making sure Thunder Storm's not the only one with it-- which he's not! And I'll add even more.

I don't want to avoid something only because it's uncomfortable if the topic is important, and my portrayal is respectful. Ableism IS uncomfortable! There are some situations where a prosthetic is not wanted! I think the rejection of this particular one is both a good opportunity to show a type of ableism and ALSO is very fitting for the characters.

In BB!Clear Sky's mind, the villain, he's fixing an old mistake. He can't admit that he got Jagged Peak killed or take REAL accountability for it (though he will, occasionally, apologize insincerely), but deep in his bones, he knows what he did was cruel. He'll never tell anyone this because he doesn't really cognate it himself, but Thunder Storm NEEDS to take his gift.

If Thunder doesn't take it, it blows a hole in his newest story. You see, throwing Jagged Peak out was All That Could Have Been Done back then. It was a Tragedy and he simply Made A Hard Choice. He regrets it very much, But You Have To Understand.

But now? Now? Well, behold. Look at what he's accomplished since the tragic death of his little brother. His cats are well-fed, cared for, and stable enough to make such incredible advancements. If only Jagged Peak had been able to hold on longer, if only he could be here now, I could fix him.

Just like I can (MAKE YOU JUST LIKE ME) fix you.

"Everything I've ever done is for Jagged Peak. For Fluttering Wing. For you." Thunder Sky is SPECIAL, but if he rejects any gift, tries to turn down the "privileges" offered to him, in an instant that becomes ungratefulness and arrogance. He both forces him to be special, and then leverages it against him if it's rejected. "Spoiled brat, doesn't appreciate what I've worked so hard to give him."

It all goes back to him and his own guilt. He can NEVER be wrong. He can't accept his family doesn't have to be "normal" or reflect his own ability. He won't see himself as a bully, let alone a murderer. It was never about his son's comfort or finding out what Thunder Storm wants or needs, it was about his own ego.

...All that said I'm still taking feedback if there's anything else I should keep in mind, or if anyone has a counter point, especially if you also have experience here.

(In the interest of having a link trail for posterity, here's the critique/call for feedback this is in response to)

[transmasccofee]

thinking yet again about Saiki‘s’s final choice in the series being “I’d rather live with my powers than die without them” bc that is seriously the single best ending of a disability narrative I’ve seen. Fuck.