No, I Will Not Agree to Disagree: The Prevalence of Platitudes in Disability Social Justice Discourse

I've never liked the phrase "agree to disagree" Much of this just stems from my self-absorbed desire to be right and acknowledged as being right. In practice, it does have some practical value, particularly when dealing with someone whose ideals are diametrically opposed to your own. Sometimes it's just easier to not discuss some topics … Continue reading No, I Will Not Agree to Disagree: The Prevalence of Platitudes in Disability Social Justice Discourse

We Need to Stop Saying Things Like “The Last Acceptable Prejudice”

I came across an article yesterday entitled "Laughing at Dwarfism is the Last Acceptable Prejudice". It's a great article actually. It talks about how the author and other people with dwarfism have both experienced general prejudice and the added bizarre phenomenon of having people basically ask them if it is ok to tell a story … Continue reading We Need to Stop Saying Things Like “The Last Acceptable Prejudice”

In Defense of the Radical Idea of Letting Disabled People Exist in Public Without Comment

Today, I was reading a blog post by Dominick Evans called Don't "Just Say Hi" to Me...Just Fuck Off Instead. He's referencing the Cerebral Palsy Foundation's ill advised campaign to combat people's discomfort around disability by inviting them to engage with disabled people and "Just Say Hi". In my experience people don't have trouble saying … Continue reading In Defense of the Radical Idea of Letting Disabled People Exist in Public Without Comment

Please Stop Simultaneously Bringing Attention to and Minimizing Examples of Passive Oppression

First off lets define what I mean by passive oppression. I am referring to those instances of bigotry that people unaffected by the oppression don't see as problematic. These actions are usually brushed off with a "oh I didn't mean it that way" or "It was Just a joke, lighten up". The thing that makes … Continue reading Please Stop Simultaneously Bringing Attention to and Minimizing Examples of Passive Oppression

When the Real Life Murder of a Disabled Child Was Used as a Moral Dilemma in a University Class

Being disabled in academia can be difficult. Not just in terms of access to physical and academic supports but also in terms of the disability is presented in academic discourse. The social environment of universities can be toxic for disabled students and academics. So much so that some people feel that they have to leave. … Continue reading When the Real Life Murder of a Disabled Child Was Used as a Moral Dilemma in a University Class

A Media Guide for Nondisabled People Talking About Innovations for Disabled People

Recently, I have written two articles on problematic media coverage of innovations designed for disabled people. The first was on the viral support among predominantly able-bodied people for a stair climbing wheelchair and a standing scooter. The second about Nike's supposed shoes for disabled people which are actually only available in men's sizes. In both … Continue reading A Media Guide for Nondisabled People Talking About Innovations for Disabled People