#disabled is not a bad word

[river-taxbird]

Doing research into disability inclusion can reveal some disturbing truths. In one (fairly major and you have probably heard of it) professional services firm, the HR person I talked to was like "We don't even say Disability, we say Diverse ability."

Girl nooooo!!!!! You're doing the Euphemism Treadmill. It's called the treadmill because by changing language you have the appearance of making social progress when really you're just running in place. If I am discouraged from using the word disability how can I even talk about how my disability affects me negatively? Talking about the negative aspects of your "Diverse ability" makes you sound like a weirdo! How can you claim to foster a culture of belonging when people can't even say what they are?

I am disabled. Please let me call myself what I am, or you'll turn my identity into a slur as so many words for disability have become before. We need to stop the treadmill before "Disabled" becomes a slur too. Gonna lay into that in my final report.

[scarlet-lich]

This legit made me sob. If you've been following my Arcane posts lately, you'll know I have disabilities and was in the hospital a month ago for pacemaker icd upgrade and replacement. It's heart surgery. I made a post about Viktor that night after my surgery, and I'm sharing this one now bc I finished Arcane recently and I'm rewatching it now.

But you'll remember maybe that I said I didn't like Jayce. Mainly bc I thought of him as a bad friend and in some ways, he kinda is. But here, at this moment, what he says to Viktor is just... It hit me in the feels.

Because Viktor has been fighting to make himself other than he is this whole series, or at least since he was diagnosed. It makes me think of what Filomena said in Dota Dragons Blood, also an amazing Netflix show.

"Curing me would make me other than I am. It would make me no longer myself" and I didn't understand it at first but now I do.

Many people with disabilities feel like they are burdens to their families or friends. It's not true, but it's a feeling we have nonetheless. And yet, if we were not disabled, we wouldn't be ourselves anymore. It's intrinsically linked to our souls, as well as our bodies. We may hate our illnesses, but they make us make sense. In a way. I mean, our illnesses are not who we are, but they're a deep part of us. And so, when Jayce said this to Viktor ... He was telling him that he's perfect the way he is because that's how Jayce knows and loves him. Like Silco saying to Jinx "don't cry, you're perfect"

It's hard for me to articulate what exactly I'm thinking here. But I seriously hope y'all understand that Viktor is an extraordinarily amazing representation of those of us who are disabled. He and Jayce in this scene are the best example of a true friendship.

Embrace yourself, flaws and illnesses and all. You're you, and that's why you're perfect the way you are. Because making you anything else would not make you yourself anymore.

[disability-and-cats]

often times the lack of accessibility keeps me unable to go places/do things MORE than my disabilities themsleves

[3moe5me]

being both physically and mentally disabled really allowed me to realise how awful of a term "neurospicy" is. it reminds me of being called "differently abled" in reference to my physical disabilities, like you're beating around the bush trying to find a 'nicer way' to mention something so integral to my being as if the thing in question is bad and needs to be sugar-coated. it's disrespectful.

just tell it like it is. I am disabled. I am physically disabled. I am mentally disabled. you don't need to come up with these bollocks new terms to say that. disabled is not a bad word. stop treating it like it is.

[thehollowwriter]

I'm so sick of people trying to "reclaim" the R slur because almost every single time it's an able bodied neurotypical person trying to use it as an insult.

Guess what? You can't reclaim shit if you aren't part of the group opressed and hurt by the slur. Because it isn't yours to reclaim. Even if you were, you still can't reclaim shit if your specific intent is to be allowed to use it as an insult or to allow others to use it freely.

Slurs like queer, the N word, etc were all reclaimed and specifically used in a positive light and to protest discrimination and oppression. But even then, a slur is a slur. There is a difference between a queer person calling themselves queer and a homophobe calling a gay couple "queers" to demean and insult them.

The R slur is still used by basically everyone from basically every community you can think of to tear down and insult people. The R slur is specifically used against disabled and neaurodivergent people and is even an actual medical diagnosis that makes it legal to lose your rights and independence.

Disabled people don't want to reclaim it, because it has not only destroyed their lives and stripped them of their rights, but it along with words like "differently abled" "special" "victim" "handicapped or handi-capable" "physically "super powered" etc have been used to infantalise disabled people and make them into inspiration porn, or treat disability as a nightmarish fate worse than death that you must be ashamed of, something that must be made palatable and covered up because it makes able bodied people uncomfortable.

There's a reason certain assholes tag picures or videos of physically disabled people as "tw body horror." There's a reasson the only ones calling for saying "differently abled" because "But "disabled" is such a horrible thing to call those poor people, you'll hurt them" are able bodied people.

Disabled people are often ignored and swept under the rug, yes even in the queer community, and yes even in other marginalised groups, because on all sides they are still forgotten about or seen as lesser. For example a lot of queer people are constantly insisting that July should be their pride month too or whatever, but July is disability pride month. It is not queer pride month part 2 or "the aftermath", it is disability pride month for disabled poeple.

You don't get to sit and tell disabled people "it's not a slur actually" "but I'm reclaiming it" "You're trying to censor people and sanitize the internet"UHM actually it's ALSO a music term-" (Nobody knows that "r*tardation" is a music term and it doesn't fucking matter because you are clearly just fighting to be allowed to call people the R slur. NOBODY is thinking about music sheets when they use the R slur) "Well people say queer all the time" "It's basically the same as saying idiot" "It's just a word." And almost most importantly, you don't get to act like what a disabled person has to say doesn't matter or is just "a persecution complex" if they happen to be cishet or white or both.

The R word is a slur. You are not "reclaiming" it. You just want to be able to freely use it to hurt people.

[shayandwildlifepack]

Little vent from us. We are kinda going through some shit rn.

We don't think there are any tw/cw but if there are let us know.

What do you do when you realize that you might not be able to work a "normal" job or maybe any job at all ever?

What do you do when you realize that your disabilities affect what you are able to do in ways that are so against what you wanted to do and what you wish you could do?

What do you do when disabilities are actually disabling?

What do you do when other people don't understand even when they are disabled themselves?

What do you do in any situations where disabilities affect what happens?

What do you do when you need to tell people and make them understand that you are disabled and that means you can't do the same things as others?

- Shay 🐾

What do you do when you are disabled?

[persistence-and-adaption]

Oh boy. I saw a thing and... I'm just going to make my own post.

"Autism is not a disability."

Okay. I understand that statement is meant to be uplifting and helpful to people.

It's not.

Autism is a disability. Depression, anxiety, PTSD? All disabilities!

"But calling those people disabled is rude and disrespectful unless they want to be called that!"

I'm not calling people disabled. I'm listing disabilities. Anyone who wears glasses also has a disability. I started wearing glasses in 2nd or 3rd grade. I didn't call myself disabled then. I don't call anyone I see wearing glasses disabled. That doesn't magically make any of us able to see without glasses. Impaired vision is a disability. It's just so easy to fix (most of the time) and so obvious (people wearing glasses) that society has normalized it. You don't have to request an accomodation to wear glasses at work, school, or college. You likely get complimented for your glasses more than you've ever been bullied or discriminated against for them.

IBS, diabetes, broken limbs? Disabilities. anything disabling is a disability, regardless of how transient or permanent it is.

Autism is disabling. Autism is also a spectrum. It may be less disabling to some people than it is for others. That doesn't mean it's not a disability. It just means not everyone will identify with the "disabled" label. You can have disabilities and not call yourself disabled. I have for years.

You can even have multiple disabilities and still not call yourself or others disabled. There is also no bar you have to reach. If you have a disability, you can call yourself disabled. You don't have to be fully reliant on outside aid to call yourself disabled. It can be as simple as undiagnosed chronic back pain. That's disabling to some amount, you can call yourself disabled.

Destigmatize it. Disabled is not a bad word. It's common. It's way more common than you think! Imagine how many people have depression, allergies, diabetes, and/or wear glasses. Millions and millions of people! I know more people who have disabilities than people who don't.

Autism. Is a disability. Struggles autistic people face that neurotypical people don't, or do to a much lesser amount? Those are reasons it's a disability. It doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's just what it is, and we have to manage it every day of our lives.

You matter. You do not have to have a job or be fully, or even partially independent to be an amazing person. You are. And that's all you have to be.

Cats don't go to work, and yet they're still beautiful, graceful creatures many awe at, make movies about, and help when they can. that applies to us, too. Don't let capitalism make you feel anything less.

[pebblesblog]

Planned my outfit for pride!!

[checkoutmybookshelf]

My preference for identity-first language has a threefold rationale. First, institutions and organizations insisting on this over the preference of many disabled folks is paternalistic, so fuck 'em. Second, disabled is not a dirty word. Third, if I have to remind whomever I am speaking with that I am, in fact, a person, then something is already fucked six ways from Sunday.

And please note I'm speaking at a population level, not an individual one. If an individual prefers to use person-first language, respect their choice.

[monriatitans]

Meet Diversability & Our Allies | Diversability

ANNOUNCEMENT - 06/30/2023: JULY’S CAUSE OF THE MONTH

With June, and Pride Month, coming to an end, a new cause to raise awareness of is in order. If you missed the quotes for June, you can see them here!

July brings Disability Pride Month. So, for July 2023 (and every July, to be frank), I will be sharing quotes pertaining to disabilities and anti-abelism. In addition, I will also be bringing to everyone's attention a resource, Diversability, linked above.

"Part of the problem with the word 'disabilities' is that it immediately suggests an inability to see or hear or walk or do other things that many of us take for granted. But what of people who can't feel? Or talk about their feelings? Or manage their feelings in constructive ways? What of people who aren't able to form close and strong relationships? And people who cannot find fulfillment in their lives, or those who have lost hope, who live in disappointment and bitterness and find in life no joy, no love? These, it seems to me, are the real disabilities." - Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

These are all the updates I had for this evening.

Thank you for reading! May every decision you make in the future be in the spirit of fairness and may the rest of your day NOT go to $#!7.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MonriaTitans started The Weekend Game Show (WGS) with the mission to educate on and discuss different aspects of game development, and to show why video games can take years to make, with the goal of preventing another Cyberpunk 2077 scenario. Watch MonriaTitans on Twitch and YouTube! Please consider supporting by buying MonriaTitans & WGS a Ko-fi!

In addition, what began as a fun activity has become a mission; Artist Shout-Outs are provided with the goal of supporting human artists to combat AI compilations and their parasitic developers. To be clear, she does not have an issue with the AI themselves, only with how they are being constructed. Want to learn more about the Artist Shout-Outs? Click here! The Artists Shout-Out posts can be seen on Instagram, Tumblr, Discord, and more!

[butchfalin]

the funniest meltdown ive ever had was in college when i got so overstimulated that i could Not speak, including over text. one of my friends was trying to talk me through it but i was solely using emojis because they were easier than trying to come up with words so he started using primarily emojis as well just to make things feel balanced. this was not the Most effective strategy... until. he tried to ask me "you okay?" but the way he chose to do that was by sending "👉🏼👌🏼❓" and i was so shocked by suddenly being asked if i was dtf that i was like WHAT???? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?????????? and thus was verbal again

[just-a-pot-of-frogs]

I just wanted to rant about something that was bugging me.

Spoiler warning for ST s4

So at the end of stranger things we see Max gets “vecnaed” and is in the hospital in a coma. And the injuries she has a very severe and life threatening.

So here’s my thing I am definitely hopping that max will survive, but if she dose she will most likely be disabled. I wouldn’t be surprised is she was blind and / or paralyzed from what she went through.

And I really enjoyed seeing fan art of max and what they think she’ll look like in s5. And sometimes she’s in a wheelchair or has a waking stick and I really enjoy seeing this but, I hate when in the comments people are saying things like:

“Oh this looks really good but I hope max isn’t disabled.”

“Nooooo max, why did you draw her like this??”

“I pray the duffer brothers don’t do that to max!!!”

I’m like… guys what she went through is pretty hard to come back from unscathed and without permanent damage.

She was dead for several minutes.

And her being disabled is not an awful thing. Yes it will probably suck and will be a big thing for her but it won’t end her and I hope the duffers do take the route of making her disabled because I think that could be really interesting character development for her.

Any way this was just getting on my nerves so I wanted to rant about it thank you for reading.

[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

[uncanny-tranny]

The bourgeois or "exploiting class" doesn't inherently include the person who gets their nails done biweekly, or the disabled person who has a carer, or the guy who got a $70 video game for full-price, or the person who relies on medication (yes even the ones you don't think they "need"), or anything else like this. None of these people will, on average, have the ability to exploit workers by means of ownership or whatever.

While you are busy fighting with fellow workers, you are still being exploited by your boss, by capitalism, by (potentially) not having healthcare, by being overworked and underpaid, and so are they.

[frizzillshiz]

Am I the only person who really hates “person first” language?

Like, I vastly prefer being referred to as disabled as opposed to a “person with a disability”. Being disabled is a key part of who I am. It’s central to my identity and how I interact with the world. To me, person first language reinforces the idea that disability is a bad word.

Overall, obviously it’s best to use whatever the specific person you’re talking about prefers, but I genuinely would love to hear other disabled people’s thoughts on this!