Blogging against Disablism Day for me isn’t just about writing your own post, it’s also about reading what other people have to say, accepting I won’t necessarily agree with all of it, I won’t necessarily like the writing in some of it, but still an interest in what other people think and experience. From previous years, I know there will be some gems to be found in there, and if you don’t go looking for them, you will never know what you’ve been missing.

So to make it easier for those of you who aren’t prepared to go reading through the official Blogging Against Disablism Day 2009 post in order to find out what everyone else has to say (or maybe you just like reading the ‘review’ posts), I’m going to offer you up a selection of the ones I liked the best. Although at the rate I’m finding them, this is liable to be about half of the posts…

The first BADD post I read was a personal account from Bad Cripple which still makes me smile: someone standing up for themselves is always a good thing, although the point is they shouldn’t have to — not everyone would have the courage to do this.

There’s Linguanaut, who found the RNIB unhelpful as he has one ‘good’ eye, and points out that speaking more loudly to him does not, no matter how often people try it, improve his eyesight. He also (and not surprisingly, given the name of the blog) has a small look at language, which always interests me. However, on the down side, he includes Order-Order and Ian Dale’s diary in his blogroll…

There’s a personal journey from SpeEd Change which highlights the way that homogenised treatment and expectations can actually single out disabled people. Similarly, something which was obviously intensely personal produced this; sad but beautiful in its simplicity:

There’s a word for that kind of thing … when a newborn is treated as another pending, tragic statistic because her genetic diagnosis arrives before she does

What Sorts of People…

There’s The Iron Chicken who describe ‘A Convenient Myth’ — if everything is inaccessible, disabled people can’t go anywhere, so people don’t see as many disabled people, so it’s assumed that not many people are disabled, so there’s no need for accessibility. This is also illustrated by another post from Radio Clare which highlights how some people want people with disabilities to be hidden away from the rest of us, just so nobody gets offended (and also references “political correctness gone mad!”, hurrah!), and who also demonstrates that not only is she non-disablist, she’s managed to overcome her own prejudices and is also now non-beardist, and non-glassesist.

Wheelchair Dancer tells us to piss on pity, a phrase which I must alliteratively describe as pithy. The Goldfish extends this, describing a personal journey that everyone is different in a variety of respects and she no more needs to feel obliged to explain her impairments or her thoughts around disability to society at large than anyone else should feel obliged to explain why they are gay, or straight, or have chosen to dye their hair.

This actually reminds me of one of the few things I learned from an equalities course once. We all know to treat people with respect (or we should); what people might not consider is that if they are the “one” of type x, then they will feel singled out if people keep asking them questions about it, irrespective of whether the questions are sensible and reasonable. If you have one Muslim and thirty nine non-Muslims interested in finding out more, each asking their own questions, that person might feel quite harrassed and picked on, without anyone being overtly offensive. And that takes me back to Radio Clare again…

The incurable hippie also picks up (as I did) on disabled Martin Ryan being allowed to starve to death whilst in hospital, something so shocking I was surprised hadn’t received bigger media coverage.

In a strange land talks about language, and in particularly the way disability terms are used as insults — “lame”, “spaz” and so on — which implies a lack of worth in people with those disabilities. And you can lump the Moylesian “gay = not very good” terminology into this category too.

Batsgirl offers us a take — not so much on language, but more with perception — with well meaning insults — and in particular one insult which I had already read on her blog, which I suggested had handed her the BADD topic on a plate. I had said then that I looked forward to reading her post: it didn’t disappoint.

I’m always impressed when someone makes me consider something that had not previously occurred to me, and Kethry made me consider whether it is disablist to commend a deaf person on his or her speech. I still don’t have a firm personal opinion on that one: I’ve got as far as “it depends”. Which I find is generally an accurate, if unhelpful, answer to most questions.

On a similar note, what happens to disabled refugees or in a war zone? It’s probably no surprise, but it is persons with disabilities that are first to die. I also liked this post for the typo, suggesting that the blog behind BADD was “Dairy Of A Goldfish”, wondering where I can get a pint of goldfish milk…

Bitch Queen Emily (hey, her phrase, not mine!) talks honestly about a relationship with a disabled person and trying very hard not to be ableist — which isn’t always that easy. From a personal relationship to a spiritual one: Sophia’s Call gives a perspective from a Catholic hospital chaplain which, I know some people might be inclined to dismiss because of the source, although I would rather hope not: after all surely the point here is to fight against judging people? Besides which, you’d miss a really interesting post, and one not about strictly physical issues for a change…

Then there’s another one which looks at people’s perceptions towards those with autism, and cautions, not so much about making initial assumptions, but in not seeing past these assumptions later:

And the thing is, I honestly can’t blame people for making these initial assumptions; it’s an easy trap to fall into. I do, however, think that sticking to these assumptions even in spite of evidence is very much worth criticism.

Normal Is Overrated

One of the things I like about BADD is it gives me the opportunity to read a whole pile of blogs that I wouldn’t normally read. If I particularly enjoy them, I might come back and visit later; I might read some of their other stuff. I’ve found quite a few blogs like this today. It’s particularly pleasant when within two paragraphs I’m thinking “what a lovely turn of phrase, I’ll be coming back here again”.

…my haphazard attempts with the petrol lawnmower, which under my visually impaired and fibromyalgic direction becomes more of a ploughing device than a cutting device. It looks like shite before I mow and looks like hammered shite afterwardsA Load of Old Squit

After one thing that made me laugh comes another, this time from Ham.Blog with their Invisible Illness Bingo.

Attila the Mom has a story to which she simply remarks WTF? As I’m less refined then her, I’ve also provided the expansion of the anagram in case there was anyone who didn’t realise that the “F” in it was for “fuck”. Those of you with a nervous disposition should have looked away some time ago. However, she’s spot on with her sentiment. Read the story to find out why.

Hello to you out there in Normal Land
You may not comprehend my tale or understand

Ian Dury and the Blockheads: Spasticus Autisticus

And, like all variety numbers, it’s appropriate to finish on a song. Particularly a song which is by one of my favourite singers/bands: the late and very great Ian Dury. For this reason I implore you to take a look at Marmite Boy’s post No, I’m Spasticus!

Finally, apologies to anyone not included in this run-down. I have still read your post (or at least those added before 20:30 “Goldfish time”); I too value your contribution; it’s just that I’ve not included it here. However, I probably did like it very much, as my initial run-through of this post was listing the majority of the posts on BADD, rather than simply offering a selection. Also, there’s only a certain amount of writing I can do in one evening without my wife and kids demanding a little more of my time, so if you’ll excuse me pinching a disability metaphor for something else, I’ve run out of writing spoons for the time being…