Positively Disabled
A submission based blog for people with disabilities. This blog is not inspiring.
secretsofthedisabled asks: Has this been abandoned?
I’m willing to carry it on to the best of my ability in light of the tragic passing of fuckthedisabled, but I may need a co-admin. Not sure.
Anonymous asks: What are some ways a non-disabled person can be a better ally to people with disabilities?
Great question!
First and foremost, DON’T SPEAK FOR THEM. Whenever possible, let disabled people take the stage for themselves and express their own opinions. As a non-disabled person, you have privilege, and you are not, under any circumstances, in a position to speak for them or make decisions without consulting them.
Second, DON’T GENERALIZE. If you’ve met one person with a disability, you’ve met one person with a disability. Don’t make assumptions about what a particular person may struggle with because you may know another person with that particular disability. Always ask the person if you are unsure about their capabilities or what they may want help with.
This also ties in a little bit with inspiration porn. Don’t elevate disabled person to the status of heroes or inspirations because we’re just living our lives. Don’t plaster us on posters that say “No excuses!” We are human beings, as fallible and mortal as the rest of you. We get up, we get dressed, we live our lives the same way you do, with a few differences. We are not “angels of God” or “special” or any of that crap. Neither are you. We’re all human.
Do your research on so-called “charities”. Many charities that are posed to help us actually hurt us. Autism Speaks is a classic example. They have no autistics in their leadership, compare autism to deadly diseases like cancer and AIDS, and work to find a cure for autism instead of putting money towards programs to help autistics that are already living. If you support AutSpeaks, you are not an ally. Simple as that. If you want to donate to an organization that actually helps disabled people, ask a disabled person for their recommendation to avoid pitfalls.
those are the biggies I can think of right now :) feel free to ask if something is unclear! hope I helped!
How is what I said ignorant? I do not need your permission for inspiration. I could care less what inspires you; so stop getting upset about what inspires me. I am at a loss for words. Are you mad because the person in the picture might not want to inspire people? Because if you are, that is ignorant. I hope that I can inspire someone to better themselves and I would hope that you would want the same for yourself. I just really don’t understand what you’re upset about. I’m sorry that I offended you so badly. But people doing impressive things inspires me. That includes all types of people. Fast swimmers, runners, and cyclists all inspire me. Whether they are disabled or not.
submitted by yellowlungs
Look everyone, now I’m ignorant about disability! You’re missing the entire point.
Here are some links, now get out:
http://disabledfeminists.com/2010/10/05/today-in-journalism-overcoming-adversity-inspiration-disability-tropes-it-must-be-tuesday/
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InspirationallyDisadvantaged?from=Main.InspirationallyDisabled
http://www.thescavenger.net/people/why-disability-tropes-matter-supercrips-and-accommodations-776.html
http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/sensitive-news-topics/the-super-crip-stereotype/
If anyone else has something more to add, feel free to do so.
Neo, you can choose the red pill, or the blue pill…
You are either:
- Inspiring
- A pathetic waste of space
I am aware that they are not accomplishing things to inspire me. But don’t I get to choose what inspires me and what doesn’t? Or do I have to ask your permission for that? And also, don’t I get to choose what motivates me to wake up at 5 and workout hard everyday? Sorry I should have asked you to monitor my thoughts. The fact that someone who is disabled could do the same things that I do, (things that I consider difficult), means that they are overcoming something greater than I am. Which is inspiring. I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense to you but I really can’t fathom why this would make you so upset.
submitted by
yellowlungs
Wait just keep speaking. I want to see it’s possible for you to be any more ignorant. I guess we’re not so inspiring when we’re thinking and speaking for ourselves?
I’m sorry that I posted a picture of someone refusing to let their circumstance limit them in any way. I can’t believe you would call me a douchebag for trying to applaud someone. Disabled athletes are extremely motivating. People like you piss me off. I’m thankful that I have a fully functioning body every day that I go out and train. I’m trying to better myself in every way I can and every time I see someone doing the same, I applaud them. Stop being a sensitive bitch and harden up.
-submitted by yellowlungs
Behold: The most abhorrent and ignorant person on the planet. I was not calling you a douchebag for “trying to applaud someone”, I was calling you a douchebag for the comment “no excuses” and for subscribing to the media propaganda narrative of inspiring disabled people. Disabled people don’t accomplish things to inspire you, they are not “extremely motivating”, and one more thing:
Here’s a bingo card for you, you fuck:
No excuses.
Repeat after me itsnotsupposedtobeasy: I am a douchebag for making that comment. I am a douchebag for making that comment. Disabled people are not here to inspire me.
Great picture so I edited out the inspiration porn in the description.
trying to catch the bus
This is exactly how I wait for the bus too! And I thought I was the only one.
Anonymous asks: What's slut-shaming?
Sorry, I’m afraid you have caught me in a short tempered and tired state, so for the moment let me introduce you to this wonderful invention called “google”:
Short answer: Slut-shaming, also known as slut-bashing, is the idea of shaming and/or attacking a woman or a girl for being sexual, having one or more sexual partners, acknowledging sexual feelings, and/or acting on sexual feelings. Furthermore, it’s “about the implication that if a woman has sex that traditional society disapproves of, she should feel guilty and inferior” (Alon Levy, Slut Shaming). It is damaging not only to the girls and women targeted, but to women in general an society as a whole. It should be noted that slut-shaming can occur even if the term “slut” itself is not used.
http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/what-is-slut-shaming/
