tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.comments2024-02-27T04:13:43.169-05:00That Crazy Crippled ChickCara Liebowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11860032209178249016noreply@blogger.comBlogger758125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-63260434024087162032018-01-18T13:09:54.009-05:002018-01-18T13:09:54.009-05:00Thank you for putting words to my thoughts, specif...Thank you for putting words to my thoughts, specifically the term "recognition privilege". I'm glad there is a term for this. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-60613584691096898982018-01-18T13:04:43.489-05:002018-01-18T13:04:43.489-05:00I love this article and I would like to add, as a ...I love this article and I would like to add, as a person with lupus, that in day to day life it is easier to not disclose but when I need to, to get accommodation or to voice a perspective, people don't believe me. They tell me I'm not disabled because they don't see the pain I'm in or the struggle I go through. I want visibly disabled people to be able to interact in public spaces as I do and I want to be believed and taken seriously when I tell people about my condition....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-45796635699360203812017-09-22T14:40:18.760-04:002017-09-22T14:40:18.760-04:00This a great list, but it really highlights for me...This a great list, but it really highlights for me that I don't fit in anywhere. I, thankfully, can do the majority of this list, most days. Yet, I have CP, and there are days that are not so blessed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10441095925540581454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-58201928608718611772017-08-30T07:30:22.110-04:002017-08-30T07:30:22.110-04:00Excellent points Cara! Wheelchairs should be incl...Excellent points Cara! Wheelchairs should be included if they use one. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06541237531390916653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-22109420619959750342017-07-11T17:25:15.855-04:002017-07-11T17:25:15.855-04:00"I don't even see you as disabled." ..."I don't even see you as disabled." Ok. But I am. It's not all I am, but it's a part, a big part. Acknowledge it. <br />Good entry :)Jesus Arroyohttp://www.mybleedingink.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-21795748853973002552017-07-08T23:55:44.530-04:002017-07-08T23:55:44.530-04:00I'm not really a fan of the word able-bodied b...I'm not really a fan of the word able-bodied because of the notion that those with physical disabilities and developmentally, mental, or neurological disabilities are somehow in a distinct or separate category or that these disabilities aren't as important to be addressed because they aren't visible (which is associated with some of the verbiage of able-bodied).<br /><br />This article can elucidate some more of that if you have a chance to look at it: <br />https://laurensmithdonohoe.com/2017/02/19/its-time-to-retire-able-bodied/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-90563128439231942152017-07-08T18:59:45.523-04:002017-07-08T18:59:45.523-04:00This is EVERYTHING!This is EVERYTHING!Robbie Roppolonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-26296845223718919202017-07-08T16:47:54.573-04:002017-07-08T16:47:54.573-04:00Great pic Cara! I tried to explain the same thing ...Great pic Cara! I tried to explain the same thing to a sociologist who showed me one of those "see the person" campaigns. Margothttp://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-71722329755796199122017-07-08T12:47:21.188-04:002017-07-08T12:47:21.188-04:00When you don't notice the wheelchair you can&#...When you don't notice the wheelchair you can't accommodate the wheelchair. kathy kuleszanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-15116760812355502052017-07-08T03:46:29.104-04:002017-07-08T03:46:29.104-04:00Spot on! "I don't see the wheelchair"...Spot on! "I don't see the wheelchair" is just another form of disability erasure.Siobhan (Chronically Siobhan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08205646156083423676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-53184578019958089212017-07-04T04:55:06.694-04:002017-07-04T04:55:06.694-04:00Quality posts is the key to attract the users to p...Quality posts is the key to attract the users to pay a visit the site, that's what <br />this website is providing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-39746888293455913882017-06-04T09:44:50.559-04:002017-06-04T09:44:50.559-04:00I like your post; it's very insightful. I am c...I like your post; it's very insightful. I am curious of how ableism is not such a bad thing when your definition of it and your explanations of what ableism is happen to be negative towards those with disabilities. I do agree that many people are too sensitive towards their disabilities and maybe that this what you are referring to in a way by basically saying that if those who are offended by an ableism comment stopped to think about what was being said and why before getting upset, then they might not get upset after all. I have CF (Cystic Fibrosis) and CP. I am old school so I am not much for political correctness but that does not mean that I am prejudice or don't think about what I am going to say before I blurt it out. I have always believed that people could think whatever they want about me or others with disabilities but that doesn't make what they say true. I wonder how your response would fit other forms of prejudice like that of racism. There are other forms of ableism that are not verbal such as barriers that keep those from getting into places or getting hired. I do like your post but it excuses prejudice towards those with disability. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-17182078721432793772017-06-01T04:23:10.171-04:002017-06-01T04:23:10.171-04:00If your accessibility is conditional, it's not...If your accessibility is conditional, it's not accessibility. -Very well said!Martin @ Barriers Gonehttp://barriersgone.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-35163732533636554532017-05-03T12:31:44.539-04:002017-05-03T12:31:44.539-04:00I feel your pain and applaud you for telling it li...I feel your pain and applaud you for telling it like it is. I tried to encourage the Mighty to make their site accessible to those of us who use large print. They haven't yet bothered to respond. How can I respect a site that doesn't bother to make itself accessible to people with disabilities? I check back periodically to see if they've fixed it yet, but they haven't so I haven't read anything on there in ages. (your site, by the way, works well in large print!). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-77201786846778549102017-04-18T01:03:39.540-04:002017-04-18T01:03:39.540-04:00I am so sad reading this since my school is loaded...I am so sad reading this since my school is loaded and I mean loaded, with disabled teachers and one of my other disabled friends just got a new teaching job. What your college did was so wrong. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-17110535784089347862017-03-05T03:17:40.798-05:002017-03-05T03:17:40.798-05:00Hi Cara. I met your friend Emily at a UJA conferen...Hi Cara. I met your friend Emily at a UJA conference and hope she told you.<br /><br />I get what you are saying. When I was in the 8th grade, my regular teacher was absent and we had a substitute who was a general education teacher. My para, the one specifically assigned to me, said in front of us "this is not for them", as in, a general education teacher is not for us. She was talking to her colleagues, but in front of us, and never included us in the conversation.<br /><br />It's similar to the "disability vs. special needs" idea. Stephen Hawking uses a wheelchair and requires caregivers, but will never be called a "special needs man". If you google "disabled adults" and "special needs adults", you will get different results. Special needs is used is usually reserved for children but is used for adults with intellectual disabilities. There is the "us vs. them" attitude towards disability that is pervasive in society.<br /><br />Then there is "us vs. them" attitude. 90% of the school is considered the general education, the normal kids. 10% are special education kids. They are there because they have some sort of disability or handicap. If they were mainstreamed they would just be a distraction to normal students, sometimes just get bullied by normal students. Sometimes they get lunch first. Instead of complaining be grateful you don't some sort of disability or handicap. This attitude is pervasive in all of society, so inevitably, teachers and other special ed professionals will bring this to their job.<br /><br />My para could have handled this differently, such as asking us how we felt about having a general education teacher as a sub. That's what's what "nothing about us, without us" means. Just because we didn't respond to her immediately doesn't mean we're OK with her speaking about us like that. She may have felt we didn't get the support we need. She still should ask how we felt about receiving supports. If you still justify this by thinking we were supposed to be receiving special education services, we did not choose to be in special ed. teachers hold IEP meetings without as before the age 14. Students never have a say in their accommodations before 14.<br /><br />My middle school, though a general education school, had a class for students with severe intellectual disabilities and medical needs. We knew they were not on the same level of us and as my para put it, "they all have something wrong with them". It's interesting how people may have thought about the same things about us. <br /><br />Special ed professionals are taught in their training to write IEPs, collect data, decide services, etc. without consulting the student. This doesn't happen in other professional settings, like the therapy setting. The therapist always asks you why you come to therapy, gathers data with your input etc. Thus teachers and other special ed professionals bring the "us. Vs them" or "my students vs the school" attitude.<br />Anna Hillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04487235606231453664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-72273902405264901102016-10-05T16:19:41.747-04:002016-10-05T16:19:41.747-04:00I absolutely agree with 100% of what you said here...I absolutely agree with 100% of what you said here. I truly have not one thing to add. Sarah Kate had an appointment with her rehab doctor yesterday and we got tickled before we went in about that scene with the PT, because we knew she was going to have to walk for her doctor. She also ended up seeing the clinic PT and her ortho, as well, and had to walk both with and without braces for all three of them (three times, not concurrently). The visit was overall very positive - she is better than she's been in a very long time - but at the end of it she felt a little beat down because they (of course!) pointed out and wanted to Fix All the Things. I reminded her of that scene in Speechless - pointing out the imperfections is just what they do, and it's nothing to freak out about.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14332891322312545635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-74179605072789722262016-05-21T17:27:39.174-04:002016-05-21T17:27:39.174-04:00Interesting post! However I think some disabled ac...Interesting post! However I think some disabled activists sometimes get obsessed with their "disabled identity" to the point where they objectify themselves yet again so just a caution there when dealing with certain activists. I have literally had to ask some disabled activists "So your disabled. I get that. But what are your other interests?" I'M NOT KIDDING. If you only think about disability than I think the means you have not accepted yourself as a full human being. I'm NOT criticizing you Cara! Just giving general thoughts. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-43237808412930044592016-05-02T22:59:38.195-04:002016-05-02T22:59:38.195-04:00You write so well! Any thoughts on the movie "...You write so well! Any thoughts on the movie "Me Before You"? I would love to see you do a post on the movie with your perspective as a disabled activist. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-17767765682915773802016-04-13T15:37:39.626-04:002016-04-13T15:37:39.626-04:00Really enjoying your blog, Cara. And agree with Br...Really enjoying your blog, Cara. And agree with Brendan's comment about the title; I love it. Found you by Googling Anna Stubblefield. As someone with a "disability" myself, and who has done advocacy work for a decade, I applaud your forthright writing and sharing.Kimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-51034385600909851802016-03-14T17:58:17.539-04:002016-03-14T17:58:17.539-04:00Totally agree Cara! So much for "Party of inc...Totally agree Cara! So much for "Party of inclusion" eh? Margothttp://cripvideoproductions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-36350632251905743082016-02-11T20:57:28.472-05:002016-02-11T20:57:28.472-05:00as a neurotypical person (is that the right word?)...as a neurotypical person (is that the right word?) who just stumbled upon this awesome post I think I will forward it to my kids' teachers. I am a neurologist and meet people who may look different all the time and it doesn't phase me (or my kids actually). Really good points here about the white dude in the wheelchair, very highly disproportionately represented in graphics - but that is true for all models I suppose. <br />Thanks for writing this. An important piece, and well written<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-19083171307759612402016-02-11T18:45:40.963-05:002016-02-11T18:45:40.963-05:00The only purpose of The Mighty seems to be perpetu...The only purpose of The Mighty seems to be perpetuating ignorance of disability issues by over-protecting mothers who are afraid of dealing with their kids' disabilities as well as other adults who are equally bad at dealing with the real issues of disability and culture.<br /><br />It seems like every time I dare open up a story on the site, it reeks of inspiration porn - or it angles for it, which is even worse, imho.<br /><br />I am glad to see you making an effort but unfortunately I think it's in vain. Maybe it's because I have grown into a grumpy old cynic of a man. Who knows?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-79879351371970823902016-02-04T13:41:07.167-05:002016-02-04T13:41:07.167-05:00Hi, just wanted to say that I found your blog on G...Hi, just wanted to say that I found your blog on Google (in case you're wondering how some stranger randomly got here) while Googling about The Mighty. My first piece to the site just got published, & much of how I ended up making a submission came about from the sentiments that surfaced after Meltdown Bingo. I said I could write if they'd allow for my less-than-picture-perfect experiences, of having both physical and mental conditions for which The Mighty claims they are looking for.<br /><br />Must say I do agree with some of your points raised in this post - especially the part abt paying for per published article (mostly to show that they value their actual first-person-perspective contributers), & also what you said abt inspiration porn, appropriate/inappropriate humour, & the general "if you won't say/do this abt a non-disabled person, don't do it to a disabled person" sentiment.<br /><br />Personally I would love to see more articles on actual issues (eg, according to a friend who volunteers with the deaf community, they often get jobs that are too low level compared to their educational level/skill set bcos companies do not provide a deaf-friendly work environment etc - like these people have diplomas and etc but are unable to do tasks that match that qualification bcos companies do not have measures to facilitate a deaf person working there ..) - that kind of real experiences, not some parent who thinks their child with some physical disability/limitation is "inspirational" for acquiring a degree (or something, off the top of my head & arbitrary.)<br /><br />While completing university education is an accomplishment in its own right, a "disabled" person doing it doesn't make them "inspirational". It makes them just like every other non-disabled person with ambitions, wishes & dreams - & that little bit of extra resilience to cope in an environment that does not always favour their chances of success. Add to that extra dogged determination to prove that they are just as capable as their 'regular' friends .. ta-da! Success & accomplishment from a student who happens to have a disability.<br /><br />(I hope I'm making sense, admittedly it is the wee hrs of the morning where I am as I type this ..)<br /><br />- from the girl who earned her teaching diploma & completed high school without any special privileges on exams or physical ed. classes, in spite (or maybe because of, haha - dogged determination to be on equal footing remb?) of congenital hydrocephalus, x<br /><br />(psst - link to article here: http://themighty.com/2016/02/to-the-girl-growing-up-w1th-hydrocephalus/)Dora C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6495205444562241273.post-40283694158316338962016-02-03T10:06:46.968-05:002016-02-03T10:06:46.968-05:00I love this article! I too have experienced the sh...I love this article! I too have experienced the shock and awe of people when I started using a chair to get around. I am "obese" by medical classifications and up till one year ago I was a very good walker, then I slipped and fell on a mossy patio and fell again in a badly shoveled snowbank, both of which left me unable to walk long distances without a random out of the blue lockup or give out of the injured knee and a fall on the ground. I tried a walker but it wasn't helping much the pain and surprise knee issues kept on happening. When I got into a wheelchair it was like my life began again, I was able to do things, keep up with the family etc. It's amazing how many people just assume though that I am in the chair because I'm fat, and because I'm lazy. I have a torn meniscus and I personally believe that thanks to the delayed diagnosis my arthritis went from meh to severe in the damaged knee. I can't have surgery done on the knee because of the arthritis,and because of my size. So....I am going to do my physiotherapy but I love the chair (I can't qualify for a scooter) and I like that I have more energy and more freedom using that chair than I did struggling to walk and putting up with insults from those around me. Now they insult me with their eyes, but their mouths are bricked up I guess being in a chair means they don't feel as entitled to pick on me anymore. Thank you for writing this article it was a MUCH NEEDED thing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com