Bad Crip: noun [bǽd krɪ́p]
A disabled person who has ever been or is any one or a combination of the following according to a nondisabled person/people;
- is not disabled enough (someone who wants accommodations even though there are totally more disabled people who “deserve” to be accommodated more)
- is too disabled (someone who asks for accommodations that actually require work to provide)*
- can do something a nondisabled person assumed that they couldn’t
- couldn’t do something a nondisabled person thought they should
- doesn’t “look disabled” (oh I’m sorry, I forgot to dress up as the International Symbol of Accessibility today)
- isn’t being inspirational™ right now (see also: Supercrip)
- isn’t letting a nondisabled person be inspirational™ for helping them just because the nondisabled person wants to (see also: Charity Poster Child)
- doesn’t feel like answering a nondisabled person’s unsolicited questions about their personal medical information (thinks they should have the same right to privacy as everyone else)
- wonders why if nondisabled people are so obsessed with their personal medical information, their actual medical diagnosis can’t seem to make it past spellcheck (hemiplegia? I think you actually mean paraplegia)**
- doesn’t feel like explaining that “yes disabled people have sex too” to random nondisabled people who think it’s ok to ask strangers about their sex lives (because apparently this is still something people are confused about)
- doesn’t care about the unsolicited medical advice from complete strangers (yes we’ve heard of that cream, it’s effects have nothing to do with us)
- doesn’t care if you pray for them to be healed
- doesn’t think they need to be healed at all
- expects nondisabled people to include disabled people in conversations that impact them rather than just accept whatever solutions nondisabled people come up with (otherwise known as: so you’ve come up with a “solution” that doesn’t address disabled people’s concerns and somehow still manages to maintain the status quo)
- thinks that they are a human being and deserves to be treated like one
- and is generally completely fine with being disabled.
Did I miss anything?
*It is somehow entirely possible to be both not disabled enough and too disabled at the same time.
**According to spellcheck, I don’t exist
Update
Because of course I missed things
Embeded tweet from Pamela Hope reads
17. Shuts down able-splaining.
18. Talks about ableism.
19. Has/Hasn’t $.
20. Doesn’t ask permission.
How to Support My Work
So now for the very in depth appeal for support for my PhD. Please read through there are so many ways to help, including just sharing this blog post on social media.
Kindle ebooks read on my iPad are the easiest way for me to read and take notes unfortunately Amazon does not allow people to buy ebooks for others through their wishlist system. I have an amazon wishlist anyway as some of the books can only be purchased in print or from third party sellers because they are out of print. If you could buy me one of the books that can only be had in print, I would greatly appreciate it. If you want to help fund the ebooks I’ll need you can buy me a gift card and send it to the following email address
The email is kimberleyjanephd@gmail.com
I will not be answering queries about my research through this email. It is solely a way for people who want to support my work to be able to do so. (this is a safety boundary). If you want to talk to me, find me on Twitter.
My research and supporting myself will get past the reading phase and there will be field work in my future. If you would like to help me fund my PhD in the long term you can
support me on patreon
buy me a ko-fi
send me money via paypal
send an e money transfer to the email above (if you have scruples about third party sites)
I also have a generic disability wish list of things that would just improve my quality of life
Thank you for your ongoing support. and just an FYI I’m changing my name socially to Kimberley Jane Erin. You can call me Kim or Jane but I prefer Jane. I am however, not the least uncomfortable with Kim so don’t worry about messing up.
It’s time I really leaned into my identity as a scholar. I hope you’ll support me
crippledscholar 
You got it. Spot on!
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I’m a “Bad Crip” because I didn’t appreciate a supposed friend’s exhortation to “stop wallowing” just days after my diagnosis and my doctor’s revelation that I would most likely be in pain for the rest of my life and there is no cure. My ‘friend’ felt that if I just “smiled more,” everything would be fine. This was a few months ago. I am still pissed.
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22 – Has complicated feelings about their relationship with doctors, rather than always looking at doctors as either “The Font Of Wellness” or “The Enemy”.
23 – Bases their treatment of themself more on their experiences than on theory or politics (“Yes, I know X-drug should be perfect, but I hated the side effects. Yes, I know acupuncture is a sham, but it makes me feel better.”
24 – Doesn’t accept all offers of help.
25 – Accepts offers of help.
26 – Continues having their disability long after having had the heart-to-heart with a friend that should, in a sensible narrative, have cured them.
…I suspect you’re right, and that this list will go on literally forever.
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OMG is this wonderful. Add the disabled person who does any of the above because they know what all disabled need.
I’ve re-posted this to the CA Democratic Party Disabilities Caucus Facebook page.
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27. Says “you don’t look sick” or “you don’t look like you’re in pain” because you don’t always wear your pain face.
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I have given up on people and embrace my #badcrip.
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I always look young and great. I’m always so cheerful and am an inspiration to all, except toddlers in strollers and Millenials. Oh yes, having a good attitude makes such a difference.(I’m a bad crip in good crip’s clothing).
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28. – has a Bad Attitude
29- is unapologetically fat
30- is not photogenic
31- has no interest in sports or yoga
32- doesn’t respond to pain medication exactly as doctors think they should
33- has no special talent to justify their existence
33- has no diagnosis or a stigmatized diagnosis
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Thank you, I just came ascross you’re post and it’s is crap I experience all the time! Makes me feel better that I a my not the only one feeling these things.
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