This piece, from the NYT, appeared in the Straits Times yesterday as well. Much welcome and awaited article on disability rights. And its a fun read too! *** But many well-meaning able-bodied folks remain frustratingly ignorant about people with disabilities. We even have a term for it now — “ableism” — though I’m not sure how much it helps. People may know that it’s wrong to exclude or underestimate the disabled, but I fear they’re rarely clear on exactly what that entails or how to behave. There is still something hopelessly “other” about folks with disabilities. ... I’ve long believed in disability pride, a.k.a. Crip Cool (there’s even the #cripswag hashtag on Twitter). To me, that has never meant being an awe-inspiring overachiever, someone who succeeds despite a disability. Rather, it’s the opposite — someone who embraces his or her disability and isn’t afraid to show it. Wheelchairs can be fun. Voice-recognition technology is a blast. Vans with automatic ramps are awesome. And don’t forget our coveted parking spaces. All of which help mitigate the bad stuff. So go ahead and play disabled. As long as it’s done with joy and respect — not to tease or poke fun — I won’t be offended.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 05:08:58 +0000
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