as small as a world and as large as alone, andromedalogic: Also, re: that last reblog

12:02pm July 26, 2014

Also, re: that last reblog — the idea of ‘appropriating’ disability is already a key component of ableism. If you allow this idea to exist, as it currently seems to be spreading on tumblr, you ignore the context in which it’s happening. That context is: disabled people are already told that we couldn’t possibly be disabled, because well, you can walk sometimes. Or you can talk sometimes. Or I saw you make yourself a sandwich the other day — why can’t you do it now? Or, if you would just try a little harder. I know you could do it if you’d just apply yourself. You must be faking it. Nobody really feels or thinks or experiences that.

of course, the word ‘appropriation’ isn’t used, but THAT IS ABLEISM, and if you take the diluted way tumblr uses the word ‘appropriation’ and apply it to disability? you literally just get ableism.

There are some things that might seem similar to appropriation of disability, that are worth talking about. For example, how non-disabled actors get a lot of praise for playing disabled characters in movies. That’s a thing.

but overall, ‘appropriation’ means ‘stealing’ — and honestly, at this point in time, we do not have a wealth of people jumping to steal disability experience and culture because they think it’s cool. or because they think it would make them money. in fact, the idea that people do this — pretend to be disabled to gain imaginary benefits — is an ableist myth.

so by all means, bring in the concept of appropriating disability when there are more than 2 non-disabled people in the world who would apply the word ‘cool’ or ‘lucrative’ to disability culture. right now we’re just fucking gross. and most of the disabled people i know would be thrilled to work toward a world in which ANYONE, regardless of disability, is allowed to use the accommodations they need. that’s what ‘universal design’ means. non-disabled people use assistive technology and do weird things all the time, it’s just that those things are normalized. and we want to bring attention to that.

we WANT to make a world where, if someone is flapping their hands, nobody stops them and says ‘you know, you’re insulting people who are REALLY autistic. are you sure you’re not pretending? are you sure you’re not just copying them? try harder.’

I am autistic and my parents have said things like that to me.

I do not care whether the person in the above anecdote is in fact autistic, or has ADHD or Tourette’s, or is in fact completely neurotypical, because either way, the idea hurts me and mine.

The idea that if you’re doing something disabled people do, you must be faking or stealing or copying or doing it wrong. If you make this idea a social justice idea, you primarily hurt disabled people.

You’ve got it backwards. We want everyone to be able to function as it works best for them, labels immaterial, societal barriers immaterial.