Throwback Thursday

One year ago in Disability Thinking: "Advocacy Or Fundraising ... Demanding Or Asking?"

I still think a lot about why, when faced with systemic barriers, some disabled people seem to turn naturally to advocacy, while others turn just as automatically to a more personal, charity approach. Certainly some situations call for one or the other approach, but I do think a lot of it has to do with personal temprement. I also think we have to remember that in general, there are more immediate social rewards for disabled people who articulate their needs in more personal terms, and "ask" for help. The most effective and famous activists get praise too, at least within the activist community, but on the local level, disabled people who assert their rights instead of asking for favors tend to be viewed as cranks, malcontents, and troublemakers.

Two years ago in Disability Thinking: "Albany Protest Update"

The ADAPT protests in Albany worked out for the best, in the end, but home care rules and funding tend to be a flashpoints every year about this time ... here in New York State at least. Right now, home care and independent living activists are trying to get the NYS Legislature to add enough funding in this year's budget to meet the new, higher minimum wage for home care workers. It's important that they do so, for the home care workers of course, who need and deserve a living wage ... but also for the disabled people they serve, who will lose hours of care if the budget isn't increased. The fight never ends, but it's a good fight, for exactly the type of care disabled people actually want.

Three years ago in Disability Thinking: "Money, That's What I Want"

Then again, it's always good to remember that the best, most adaptable disability program possible is probably cash. We can buy literally any service, device, or assistance we might possibly need, and dollar bills never try to tell us what we need and what is or isn't good for us.