Disabled Workers Are Being Paid Pennies Per Hour Legally and Finally People Are Starting to Get Outraged About It - News - Bubblews
My blog post on the fact that companies can and are paying disabled people sub-minimum wage, and how despicable it is. I'm not happy, not one bit.
"When they all make you feel like a problem girl, remember, you're no problem at all." Rob Thomas, Problem Girl
Monday, June 24, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
yes, i am the elephant in the room, so please stop looking at me - that girl magazine
yes, i am the elephant in the room, so please stop looking at me - that girl magazine
I am thrilled to report that I have a guest post up on That Girl Magazine!! That Girl is all about feminism, college, and loads of other stuff!! My post is about disability in college - check it out!
I am thrilled to report that I have a guest post up on That Girl Magazine!! That Girl is all about feminism, college, and loads of other stuff!! My post is about disability in college - check it out!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Where Is the Love? The Case of Alex Spourdalakis
On Friday, June 7th, 2013, 14 year old Alex Spourdalakis was brutally murdered by his mother and godmother.
He was stabbed, twice in the chest, and two slits to the wrists.
Let that sink in for a minute. How many of you, without any context whatsoever, just those two sentences, think this is a horrible event and those responsible should be punished to the fullest extent of the law?
Yeah. Me too.
But throw the fact that he was autistic into it and suddenly the view changes.
Not for me. But for a lot of others, this tips the scales.
Because of course it was so haaaaaaaaaaard for the MOTHER, don't you know?
The mother and godmother, who unsuccessfully attempted suicide, left a suicide note detailing how difficult it was caring for him. And maybe it was. We don't know the ins and outs of the situation. But parenting, in itself, is hard. It's always going to be hard. You can't kill your kid because the game's too hard for you. You don't have a choice in what kid you get. You can't request an easier kid. You get what you get - and you don't get upset.
A comment on one of the articles I saw said simply "she killed him out of love". I'm sure Dorothy Spourdalakis loved her son very much and didn't want to see him in pain (Apparently Alex had gastrointestinal issues that he was hospitalized for repeatedly). But ending another's life is not a choice to make lightly, and unless that person has specifically asked you to make those sorts of decisions, it's not your decision to make.
What if it was a nondisabled child? A child who could have said "NO" when you were trying to kill him? Does it make it any better that he couldn't form that word? Because I bet if you couldn't speak, you'd still be screaming in your head, screaming for your own mother not to kill you. Screaming for anyone not to kill you, actually, because that pesky survival instinct is pretty damn strong.
Alex had feelings, too. I wonder what he felt as he was being murdered. Hurt, maybe? Betrayed? Confused? He was a human being too, with his own desires and feelings and ideas. No matter how impaired someone is, it does not negate their humanity.
I don't care if you feel hopeless, helpless, what have you. Murder is not an option. Because you're taking someone's autonomy, choices, life away from them. And disabled or not, that is not acceptable.
Alex had feelings, too. I wonder what he felt as he was being murdered. Hurt, maybe? Betrayed? Confused? He was a human being too, with his own desires and feelings and ideas. No matter how impaired someone is, it does not negate their humanity.
Alex Spourdalakis was a human being, flesh and blood, just as real as you or I. I mourn for him, and for a life that shouldn't have ended. I demand justice for him and all the other disabled victims who are killed by parents or caregivers in the name of mercy. And I. Will. Not. Give. Up.
There will be a virtual vigil for Alex Sunday night into Monday. Please join if you can. https://www.facebook.com/events/387982241320567/387993201319471/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
He was stabbed, twice in the chest, and two slits to the wrists.
Let that sink in for a minute. How many of you, without any context whatsoever, just those two sentences, think this is a horrible event and those responsible should be punished to the fullest extent of the law?
Yeah. Me too.
But throw the fact that he was autistic into it and suddenly the view changes.
Not for me. But for a lot of others, this tips the scales.
Because of course it was so haaaaaaaaaaard for the MOTHER, don't you know?
The mother and godmother, who unsuccessfully attempted suicide, left a suicide note detailing how difficult it was caring for him. And maybe it was. We don't know the ins and outs of the situation. But parenting, in itself, is hard. It's always going to be hard. You can't kill your kid because the game's too hard for you. You don't have a choice in what kid you get. You can't request an easier kid. You get what you get - and you don't get upset.
A comment on one of the articles I saw said simply "she killed him out of love". I'm sure Dorothy Spourdalakis loved her son very much and didn't want to see him in pain (Apparently Alex had gastrointestinal issues that he was hospitalized for repeatedly). But ending another's life is not a choice to make lightly, and unless that person has specifically asked you to make those sorts of decisions, it's not your decision to make.
What if it was a nondisabled child? A child who could have said "NO" when you were trying to kill him? Does it make it any better that he couldn't form that word? Because I bet if you couldn't speak, you'd still be screaming in your head, screaming for your own mother not to kill you. Screaming for anyone not to kill you, actually, because that pesky survival instinct is pretty damn strong.
Alex had feelings, too. I wonder what he felt as he was being murdered. Hurt, maybe? Betrayed? Confused? He was a human being too, with his own desires and feelings and ideas. No matter how impaired someone is, it does not negate their humanity.
I don't care if you feel hopeless, helpless, what have you. Murder is not an option. Because you're taking someone's autonomy, choices, life away from them. And disabled or not, that is not acceptable.
Alex had feelings, too. I wonder what he felt as he was being murdered. Hurt, maybe? Betrayed? Confused? He was a human being too, with his own desires and feelings and ideas. No matter how impaired someone is, it does not negate their humanity.
Alex Spourdalakis was a human being, flesh and blood, just as real as you or I. I mourn for him, and for a life that shouldn't have ended. I demand justice for him and all the other disabled victims who are killed by parents or caregivers in the name of mercy. And I. Will. Not. Give. Up.
There will be a virtual vigil for Alex Sunday night into Monday. Please join if you can. https://www.facebook.com/events/387982241320567/387993201319471/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Mentally Ill Stuffed Animals? - News - Bubblews
I have a new Bubblews post talking about the new "mentally ill stuffed animals" being created in Germany! Check it out and please share if you like!
Mentally Ill Stuffed Animals? - News - Bubblews
Mentally Ill Stuffed Animals? - News - Bubblews