The R-Word Campaign: Spread the Word to End the Word

OK, so I know I haven't blogged in a really really long time, but I'm sorry. I just emerged from an avalanche of homework.

So. Onto the R-word campaign. I've been involved informally in the R-word campaign for years, but *thank god* people are starting to take it to the next level. Anyway, March 31 is The First Global Day to Eradicate the R-Word. For more info, go to http://www.r-word.org/. The R-word (retard) is incredibly insulting to not only people with intellectual disabilities, but those who care about them.

I know BADD isn't until May, but can we have a Blogging Against the R-Word day on March 31? Please, if anyone is reading this, please blog against the R-word to show your support for the campaign! And if you don't have a blog....write a Facebook note, make a video and upload it to youtube, anything to show your support!

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What defines disability? The Disability Experience

This question came up on a thread on my very favorite disability site, Ouch, where some people were pondering the vague comment by some of the moderators that "80% of Ouch users are able-bodied". Here was my response:

Hmmmmmmm....very interesting. See, the thing with this is I think we have to go past the stereotypical, medical definition of disability and start thinking of disability as a MINORITY group, much like any other racial or cultural group out there. Most of us have agreed in past threads that disability does have a culture, and even those who don't quite agree with that statement know that disability is a whole different world than the so called "able-bodied" or "normal" world. This board is not made up of all "disabled people" per se, however, it is made up of people who, "disabled" or not, are a part of the disability community in some way, shape, or form, and understand the differences b/w "our" world and "theirs", as I like to think of it. We have our own humor, ideas, etc. as this site clearly illustrates. The people who post on this board "get it", as I always say. Disability is not a medical condition, or even a state of mind so much as an....experience. We experience disability. Some of us, like myself, live it, and have lived it all our lives. Some of us are just beginning to tiptoe into this wonderful experience now, and are still coming to terms with the drastic differences. Some of us experience it through others, as some people have already mentioned. But no matter what, disability is a roller-coaster experience that will never leave you, no matter how "able-bodied" you may become. We are disabled. All of us, on this board, we're all disabled. We all know disability. We all experience it. We cannot, I repeat, CANNOT start defining who is really "able-bodied" and who is "disabled" on this board, because we know where it'll lead. First it'll start with animosity towards the supposed "ABs" and then, who knows? I mean, are we going to start moving towards a society dominated completely by those who we consider "disabled", and anyone who isn't disabled enough is eliminated? I know it sounds like something out of a science-fiction novel (one that I would probably write!), but that's what we're heading towards with all this pigeon-holing of people. Like I said, anyone who knows the disability experience is "disabled" in my eyes.

What say you? Let me know YOUR opinions!

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A note of explanation and welcome...

First of all, I'd like to welcome you all to my new blog. This is an idea that has been rolling around in my head for awhile-creating a blog, I mean. I have a lot of ideas in my head that usually never get written down, so I'm creating this blog for that purpose. I'll mostly blog about disability issues and general rants, but who knows? I might blog about other stuff, too! *grins* I'll keep you on your toes...so to speak, seeing as I can't go on my toes.

OK, before I start rambling (which I think I've already done), I want to offer a note of explanation as to why I named my blog "Candidly Crippled". I know some people will balk at the word "crippled" and I wanted to clear those issues before they arise. I am crippled. I use the word as a term of disability pride. That's right, pride. I am disabled. I am very involved in the disability community and culture. I am not ashamed of who I am, in fact, I am proud. I wouldn't trade my CP for anything. It has made me who I am as a person and shaped my thoughts, my ideas, and my general outlook on life. I am candid. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything in this blog. I don't deny that the life of a disabled person is difficult sometimes, but it is made more difficult by others assumptions and stereotypes about us. So, for any able-bodied person that is reading this, I'm going to try and show you how we feel. We don't need your pity. We don't need your patronization. All we need is for you to see us as you would any other person. Thank you.

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