Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Deceptively Simple
There are millions of variations of course, but it seems like most people approach disability and disability issues in one of three modes: angry, ironic, or sentimental.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Mind The Gap
m kelter, invisible strings - December 22, 2014
This is a wonderful piece. It’s one of the very best I have seen addressing the radical differences in how some people view autism as compared to others.
One of the striking things about disability in society is that there are unusually wide gaps between different schools of thought and practice on disability. I’m not even counting the people who are openly hostile towards disabled people … like the eugenicists who think we muddy up the gene pool, or the grouches who can’t stand it that disabled people get all these “special privileges”. Set them aside completely, and you still have tons of people who all absolutely mean well for disabled people, in their own minds, yet are miles apart on what that actually means and what should be done. Disability seems to be one of those things that really demonstrates how people can look at exactly the same thing and come to completely different conclusions about it.
It’s not just autism, either, though the gap there seems to be truly massive. There are similar gaps over long term care … (Nursing homes and group homes, or individualized supports at home and in communities?) … education … (Push hard for higher achievement and independence, or make disabled kids as happy and protected as we can?) … and employment … (Build sheltered workshops and “day programs”, or provide one-on-one coaching and support in real workplaces?).
Again, there are also truly greedy bastards, resentful cranks, and evil predators, too, but even among the “good folks”, there’s a shocking lack of coherence and agreement. I’m not even saying that’s all bad. It can be productive to have real, substantive arguments over any kind of policy. It’s also much better to have intense, divisive arguments than to have only one, unquestioned policy that’s terrible. It makes communication and understanding a lot harder, though.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Disability.TV - Ep. 17 - Mini-Cast
As promised in the episode, here is the original comment Tweet from Amanda, and the video comments she posted a couple of days later. The video, in particular, explains her concerns in more detail.
Wow what an ableist podcast. http://t.co/cQIcQaQ7PL #ableismis saying that you understand ASD as a punchline because we're so "bizarre"
— AmandaMills (@NaturentheCity) November 16, 2014
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Weekly Wrap-Up
Monday, December 22, 2014
"It seems like everything else I have read in the last couple of weeks has been either a completely uncritical fluff piece on how awesome it is that Congress passed the ABLE Act, or bitter and somewhat over the top denunciations of the law’s last-minute limitations."Tuesday, December 23, 2014
"Happy Holidays!"
Saturday, December 27, 2014
"It’s the kind of day where it feels just right to spend a little time catching up on a good web series, like My Gimpy Life."
Saturday, December 27, 2014
My Gimpy Life Rewatch
I’m just checking in. I’m still on a blogging break, mostly.
I think I like the days between Christmas and New Years better than either of the really big occasions. Everything feels more loose and free-form. It’s the kind of day where it feels just right to spend a little time catching up on a good web series, like My Gimpy Life.
High on the list of Things I’d Like To See:
Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman as guest stars on My Gimpy Life.
Teal Sherer as a guest comedian on Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.
Technically, she doesn’t need one, but it would be great to see Jerry hunt down a high-end ramp van to use as the “car”.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Short Blogging Break
Happy Holidays! I’ll be taking a blogging break from now until the weekend after Christmas.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Best Article On The ABLE Act
Justin King, New America Foundation Weekly Wonk / Vox.com - December 19, 2014
Large kudos to Vox.com for posting the best article on the ABLE Act I have ever read. It accurately describes the problem the ABLE Act was designed to address, properly notes that the new law will probably help, but also explains the new law’s shortcomings. It seems like everything else I have read in the last couple of weeks has been either a completely uncritical fluff piece on how awesome it is that Congress passed the ABLE Act, or bitter and somewhat over the top denunciations of the law’s last-minute limitations. This article even describes exactly how the law itself is a better deal for higher income than lower income families and individuals … something a few Tweets and blog posts alluded to in dire tones in the lead-up to passage, but rarely explained.
Beyond this particular issue, I think it’s really important for the disability activist community to encourage high-quality reporting from mainstream news and opinion outlets on disability policy. Most disability stories come off as journalism-lite … lots of sugary flavor and zero calories.
(Hat tip to the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network).
(Hat tip to the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network).
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Weekly Wrap-Up
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Friday, December 19, 2014
Sunday, December 20, 2014
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Stella Young Memorial
Melissa Davey, The Guardian - December 18, 2014
A memorial event for Stella Young was held on Thursday, December 18, in the Town Hall of Melbourne, Australia.
I don’t have anything to add really. Just watch the videos.
Nelly Thomas
Graeme Innes
Stella Barton
Friday, December 19, 2014
Turtle - Lego - Wheelchair
This video and the story behind it has been making the rounds of disability blogs for a couple of weeks now. I finally watched it and I have say, it's worth sitting through all the German for the eventual payoff. It’s cool as a still picture, but even cooler on video.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
New Facebook Page
I just set up a separate Facebook Page for the Disability Thinking blog and the Disability.TV podcast. The “Facebook” tab at the top of the blog now leads to the new, dedicated page.
Now is probably a good time to remind readers that Disability Thinking has four distinct outlets. Here are the links:
The Boy With The Cane. Or, What The Heck Is A "Pool Noodle"?
Fox2 Now St. Louis - December 17, 2014
So, first I had to look up what a “pool noodle” is. Turns out it is a long, thick, semi-flexible “stick” made of squishy styrofoam, used as a toy or perhaps a sort of float by kids in swimming pools. Looking at pictures of “pool noodles”, I can see right away what the school staff were thinking. It’s long and semi-rigid, so it could, in theory, provide some of the sensory feedback of the canes used by blind people. At the same time, it is made of a material that can’t really hurt anyone, even if used as a deliberate weapon. I’d bet real money that there is at least one person at that school who really, honestly thought they had come up with a brilliant solution to a perceived disciplinary problem.
Of course, one suspects that the “problem” was either overblown or nonexistent. Dakota’s parents say it was all a misunderstanding … that the bus attendant might have seen him raise his cane and assumed it was to hit someone.
To me, this isn’t the issue. Dakota is still a young boy. It’s entirely possible that on occasion, he’s used his cane in questionable ways. It’s also possible he’s still learning how to control his cane, and not accidentally bump it into people or trip them up. The point to me is that the school should have a more thoughtful set of guidelines and procedures for how to deal with Dakota if he should misbehave, as most 8-year-olds misbehave from time to time. And a central tenet of any disciplinary plan should be to never take away an assistive device a child depends on for independence and mobility. This would apply to canes, crutches, a speech device, a wheelchair, or any other equipment that helps them with their particular disability.
It seems to me that part of the formula for kids like Dakota should be some sort of peer counseling “real talk” where someone he trusts … maybe a blind adult ... tells him, as a friend and ally, that assistive devices should never be used as weapons or to cause mischief. Teach disabled kids that they have an absolute right to their devices. They are not revokable privileges like a cell phone. But they also have a responsibility to use and look after their devices with great care. That seems like an essential bit of “growing up” that disabled kids, in particular, have to do. In a way, it’s part of learning self-advocacy.
As a side note, I found it kind of appalling that apparently, the cane was supplied by the school, which is one of the excuses the school used for taking it away. I suppose it’s good they provided the cane, if Dakota’s family can’t afford one, but also reminds me of all the ridiculous angst some school administrators go through over fears that school-provided assistive devices will be “misused” … including being taken home. Especially with something like a cane, whoever pays for it ought to just give it to the person who needs it, with no strings attached.
Update: Via @SFdireworlf, Dakota's school district apologized for taking his cane away. 1. I hope the district also agrees on a disciplinary policy that excludes confiscation of adaptive devices, and 2. I hope Dakota gets a cane of his own.
Update: Via @SFdireworlf, Dakota's school district apologized for taking his cane away. 1. I hope the district also agrees on a disciplinary policy that excludes confiscation of adaptive devices, and 2. I hope Dakota gets a cane of his own.
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