It’s Time To Get Used To Disability It took me a while, but I got over it. I’ve encountered a pretty vast array of people with disabilities. Regardless of having lived with paralysis for some time, as I became involved in the broader disability community, I found it a little daunting and strange. But in time, I got used to pretty much anything. But I understand that apparent disabilities takes some getting used to. Some are easier...
NPR Gets It Badly Wrong
On Thursday, May 7, All Things Considered aired a report titled: “Some Very Premature Babies Can Survive With Aggressive Treatment, Report Finds.” Pretty fired up about it, I posted a comment on the page with the report, and to my great shock, it was deleted by the moderator. I was censored by National Public Radio!! Having to go out for the evening, I wrote again later, apparently with a more calm approach which did not include the...
They Did It Themselves
People With Disabilities Made It All Happen The current process of people with disabilities dramatically emerging into society didn’t happen thanks to the charitable generosity of others. It didn’t happen because enlightened policymakers saw the value of investing in accessibility and civil rights. It didn’t happen because business saw an untapped talent pool or a market of unspent disposable income. It didn’t happen...
Not Charity
The once-popular phrase was “Hire the Handicapped.” Its tone was pretty undeniable: since having a disability is such an unfortunate thing, we should give those poor people jobs as a socially-charitable gesture. The underlying message is that compassionate generosity should be the core drive for employing people with disabilities. Employers should make the sacrifice because it’s the right thing to do. Well, we’ve come a...
Are You REALLY Inspired?
Inspire, the definition: “Fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative.” How, exactly, does that work when people encounter someone with a disability – in person, or in a story on the news or Facebook, etc.? Many people describe their experience of these as “inspirational.” I’m accustomed to that; I often hear that my life on wheels due to paralysis is...