Monthly Disability Reading List - October 2019

The three best things about disability I read last month …

Lavender Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer is my secret weapon for getting around
Kelly Dawson, Vox.com - October 22, 2019

A fascinating way of exploring coming of age with a disability, and some of the gritty physical barriers and interactions disabled people have to live with every day. It’s also a remarkably honest description of the downside of growing up with disabilities in a supportive, but sheltered environment that can be shattered in adulthood.

10 Disability Policy Questions Every Presidential Candidate Should Answer
Rebecca Coakley, Center for American Progress - October 15, 2019

This article ably answers the question, “What disability issues should we pay attention to in the 2020 Election?” It could also serve a template for candidates who want to build disability policy platforms.

What Ableism Cannot Have
Kathleen Downes, The Squeaky Wheelchair - October 4, 2019

A personal, moving, and ultimately optimistic take on what ableism is and what it does to disabled people.

Because I’m a Grown-ass Man
Mike Ervin, Smart Ass Cripple - October 22, 2019

As usual, “Smart Ass Cripple” gets to the heart of things we mostly already know, but sometimes have a hard time expressing. In this case, it’s why people with disabilities on the whole don’t like being “taken care of” in nursing homes and other “facilities.” It’s pretty simple really.

My Disabled Body Isn’t a ‘Burden.’ Inaccessibility Is
Aryanna Falkner, Healthline - September 23, 2019

Another excellent exploration of ableism, accessibility, and “accommodations” … and the informal, cultural and emotional barriers disabled people face, even when formal accommodations are technically available.

Monthly Disability Reading List - September 2019

Three things about disability I read last month …

No, Bringing Back Mental Institutions Won’t Stop Mass Shootings
Maggie Koerth-Baker, FiveThirtyEight - August 27, 2019

It’s always helpful to review the hard data disproving the connection between violence and mental illness. So many people think it’s just common sense, but it just isn’t.

Do All Disabled People Think The Same?
Jubilee, YouTube - September 1, 2019

The answer is “Of course not!” but it’s fun to see it dramatized by real disabled people in fun exercise.

Marca Bristo, Influential Advocate for the Disabled, Dies at 66
Glenn Rifkin, The New York Times - September 8, 2019

When I was starting out working at a Center for Independent Living, just starting to learn about the Disability Rights Movement, Marca Bristo was one of the first names I learned, and the first personal story I heard about.

Banana slicers and pre-peeled oranges: “useless” products can help people with disabilities
s. e. smith, Vox.com - September 20, 2019

One of the most useless stages almost every disabled person goes through is judging ourselves lazy for using even the simplest conveniences, helpers, and shortcuts to make our lives easier. It’s so wrongheaded, so wasteful, and so, so common. But it doesn’t come naturally. We learn it from the blithely judgmental attitudes of the society around us.

Will You Still Love Pete, tomorrow …
Rebecca Cokley, Medium - September 23, 2019

I have watched a lot of reaction videos where YouTubers watch and react to “Game Of Thrones.” They all love Tyrion. Most reactors’ admiration for the character, and for Peter Dinklage, seems deep and nuanced, and neither condescending nor sentimental. So I am cautiously optimistic that Dinklage and his character Tyrion really have broken some ground that won’t be covered up again.

Monthly Reading List - May 2019

The best things about disability I read last month …

Are You Inspired by That Disabled Person or Shocked They Were Included?
Imani Barbarin, Crutches & Spice - May 30, 2019

Inspiration Porn, in all its many varieties, never seems to die. This “America’s Got Talent” performance promoted the latest version, and Imani Barbarin is on it with a crystal clear explanation of one of the reasons why it’s a problem, and an impassioned “Stop it!” for both popular culture and everyday participants in social media.

Tyrion Lannister, Dwarf Identity, and the Struggle for Agency
Dr. Joseph Stramondo, Rooted In Rights - May 21, 2019

The end of the long running TV epic “Game Of Thrones” renewed and complicated debates over the meaning and impact of the show’s iconic disabled characters. This is a particularly interesting look at probably the show’s most loved and admired character.

Disabled people need more ramps, not more fancy new gadgets
s. e. smith, Vox.com - April 30, 2019

Innovative technology has always been viewed as one of the keys to independence for people with disabilities, and for good reason. But there definitely is at least a sub-genre of disability gadgets that miss the mark, mainly because what disabled people need most often doesn’t match up with what looks awesome to non-disabled people.

“It’s a Spectrum” Doesn’t Mean What You Think
C. L. Lynch, The Aspergian | A Neurodivergent Collective - May 6, 2019

This is one of the most helpful explanations I have seen so far of the “neurodiversity” view of autism. Given how contentious the competing views are, explainers like this are incredibly valuable.

Taking Up Space - New Mobility
Reveca Torres, New Mobility - May 1, 2019

A lot of internalized ableism boils down to disabled people feeling ashamed for “taking up space.”

Monthly Reading List - March 2019

Each month I select and share five disability-related articles I read the previous month. Here are the five from January 2019:

The College Admissions Scandal Could Have Lasting Impacts for Disabled People
Brittney McNamara, Teen Vogue - March 13, 2019

It's especially good to see this angle covered so well by Teen Vogue. Much of its audience is either in or approaching college, and just beginning to shape how they think about disability accommodations in academics.

‘Medicare for All’ Must Truly Be for All—Including People With Disabilities
Robyn Powell, Rewire News - March 13, 2019

Whether or not "Medicare For All" is a politically realistic possibility at the moment, it's incredibly important to map out what disabled people need from any health insurance system.

I have a disability everyone can see. My bipolar friend who died by suicide did not.
Ben Mattlin, USA Today - March 20, 2019

This is a very good head-on exploration of the sometimes difficult relationship between the community of physically disabled people and people with mental illness.

Here’s What Dr. Phil Got Wrong in His Episode on Interabled Relationships
Melissa Blake, Rooted In Rights - March 26, 2019

Frankly, you don't have to look very hard to find Dr. Phil being sloppy and unnecessarily insulting on his show. And a couple of his quotes alone speak for themselves. But this piece nicely underscores the core problem with his recent show on "interabled" couples.

Betsy DeVos’s threats to the Special Olympics are cruel. But disabled people have bigger problems.
s.e. smith, Vox - March 28, 2019

Problems with disabled people's health care, critical benefits, and basic civil rights never seem to "catch fire" with the public, while certain high-profile disability causes garner a disproportionate amounts of sympathy and outrage. This kind of thing is completely understandable and at the same time legitimately frustrating.

Disability Blogger Linkup - March 2019

Welcome to the monthly Disability Blogger Linkup for March, 2019! If you are new to this, click here to see previous linkups.

The idea is to share something you’ve written that’s about disability in some way. Please be sure to link to the specific article or post, not just the main page of the website it’s on. Also, to make the links easier for visitors to identify, in the “Your name” blank, type the title of the article you are posting. In the “Your URL” blank, paste the URL address of the item. Like this:

Then click the “Enter” button.

Please don’t post pieces that are basically advertising or endorsing a product or service for sale. There’s nothing wrong with promoting a specific product or service, but that’s not what this writing share is for. You may however share a video or audio program if that’s your preferred medium.

This linkup will close at Midnight Eastern on Sunday. The next Disability Blogger Link-Up will start Friday, April 12, 2019.

That’s it! If you have any trouble making it work, or have any questions, feel free to email me at: apulrang@icloud.com.

Monthly Reading List - January 2019

Each month I select and share five disability-related articles I read the previous month. Here are the five from January 2019:

4 Ways To Respect The Needs Of Employees With Disabilities
Amanda Reaume, Forbes - December 14, 2018

I’m not sure why, but Forbes has been publishing a lot of articles on accommodating employees with disabilities. It is a business magazine, so it fits with its profile, but the number of articles on this topic is surprising. I wonder if there is a specific reason for this. In any case, the articles are usually pretty good, though not very ground-breaking or audacious. It’s mostly standard “disability is diversity” and “being decent to disabled people is good business” fare.

Navigating the Wheelchair Accessible Path to Adoption
Katrina Kelly, Center for Disability Rights Blog - January 2, 2019

A great and very personal take on a disability topic not often discussed, but probably more common and relevant than most people would think.

Hiring People with Disabilities is Good Business
Ted Kennedy, Jr., New York Times - December 27, 2018

Again, the disability employment arguments are pretty standard and unchanged for decades. It’s essentially the same pro-business argument that took shape right after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It’s not a bad argument, but it might be a little stale. It also might be more valid in “white collar” workplaces than it is in lower wage occupations.

Why cast Bryan Cranston as a quadriplegic man when disabled actors are queuing up for roles
Rachel Charlton-Dailey, Metro.UK - January 9, 2019

This to me is the best argument for why it’s morally objectionable for non-disabled actors to platy disabled characters … not just representation for the audience, but employment opportunities for disabled actors who need to make a living.

I Prefer That You Say I’m “Disabled”
Robyn Powell, Dame - January 15, 2019

A nice articulation of a classic disability question … how we want people to refer to us, and how we think of ourselves.

Disability Blogger Linkup - January 2019

Welcome to the monthly Disability Blogger Linkup! If you are new to this, click here to see previous linkups.

The idea is to share something you have written that's about disability in some way. Please be sure to link to the specific article or post, not just the main page of the website it's on. Also, to make the links easier for visitors to identify, in the “Your name” blank, type the title of the article you are posting. In the "Your URL" blank, paste the URL address of the item. Like this:

Then click the "Enter" button.

Please don’t post pieces that are basically advertising or endorsing a product or service for sale. There’s nothing wrong with promoting a specific product or service, but that’s not what this writing share is for. Also, please share a single specific piece of writing, not a whole website or blog.

This linkup will close at Midnight Eastern on Sunday. The next Disability Blogger Link-Up will start Friday, February 8, 2019.

That's it! If you have any trouble making it work, or have any questions, feel free to email me at: apulrang@icloud.com.

Monthly Reading List - December 2018

Each month I select and share five disability-related articles I read the previous month. Here are the five from December 2018:

American Nightmare: How workers with disabilities are denied economic prosperity
Mark Riccobono, The Hill - November 30, 2018

This is an unusually good explanation of subminimum wage, the original rationale for it, and why it’s long past time for it to end.

Stop Asking Disabled People, “What Happened To You?”
Jessica Gimeno, Fashionably Ill - December 6, 2018

Intrusive personal questions from strangers is one of the most common everyday annoyances of having disabilities. It’s far from the worst kind of ableism, but it really does get you down. This article explains why, and offers helpful suggestions on how to engage with disabled people more appropriately.

Speech at ASAN Gala 2018
Julia Bascom, Executive Director, Autistic Self Advocacy Network - December 10, 2018

Julia Bascom offers an exceptionally clear and comprehensive overview of the current state of disability rights in the United States. She also gives a powerful defense of the importance of inclusion and disability rights principles for people with developmental disabilities.

Disability insurance: A crisis ends, but problems persist
Henry J. Aaron, Brookings - December 12, 2018

This article offers some encouraging news about the Social Security Disability “crisis,” while noting that reform is still needed. What’s missing, however, is any ideas from the people who actually use SSDI, the disability community itself.

DVP Interview: Judith Heumann and Alice Wong
Alice Wong, Disability Visibility Project - December 13, 2018

One of the pioneers of disability rights and independent living in the U.S. shares a little of her background and perspective on her life and what’s important for people with disabilities in general.

Disability Blogger Linkup - September, 2018

Welcome to the Disability Blogger Linkup! If you are new to this, click here to see previous Disability Blogger Link-Ups.

The idea is to share something you have written that's about disability in some way. Please be sure to link to the specific article or post, not just the main page of the website it's on. Also, to make the links easier for visitors to identify, in the “Your name” blank, type the title of the article you are posting. In the "Your URL" blank, paste the URL address of the item. Like this:

Name = Title of your article.
Your URL = Link to your article.

Then click the "Enter" button. That's it! If you have any trouble making it work, or have any questions, feel free to email me at: apulrang@icloud.com.

Note: Please don’t post pieces that are basically advertising or endorsing a product or service for sale. I have never made this explicit before, but I have been getting a lot of emails from bloggers and website proprietors who may or may not be semi-disguised marketers, wanting to post “guest blogs” to this site. No disrespect to what they are doing, but that’s not the kind of content I want.

This Link-Up will close at Midnight Eastern on Sunday. The next Disability Blogger Link-Up will start Friday, October 12, 2018.

Monthly Reading List: September, 2018

Five selected disability-themed articles from August, 2018. It turns out my choices this month are about fundamentals of understanding the disability experience. Taken together, they form a pretty good introduction for anyone who might be exploring disability thinking for the first time.

It isn’t a wheelchair that makes my life disabled, it’s buildings without ramps
Frances Ryan, The Guardian - August 23, 2018

Accessibility is the purest, simplest example of how in real life, disability is about your surroundings, living conditions, and the restrictions they impose as much ... if not more ... as it is about any medical conditions or impairments you have. This is the point where the Social Model and Medical Model of disability diverge.

My Disabilities Make Me Both Broken and Whole
Kate Ryan, Rooted In Rights - August 24, 2018

There is a lot of debate inside the disability community about whether accepting the Social Model of disability, and having a positive view of disability in general, means you have to gloss over the frequent pain and medical complications of actual disabilities. This article deftly threads the needle between the two main ways we experience disability. The bonus is that it is beautifully expressed.

Cripple Perks: The Unreasonable Luxury of Living While Disabled
s.e. smith, Catapult - August 15, 2018

One of the most common types of discrimination disabled people face is the dirty looks, eye rolls, and other forms of passive and sometimes not so passive disapproval we get when we use "special" accommodations and shortcuts to make our lives a little more bearable. It's important for both non-disabled and disabled people to understand the difference between unearned privilege and necessary, equalizing accommodations. As long as we aspire to a "no help" standard of independence, and tacitly agree to the judgements of onlookers, we hold ourselves back from achieving real independence and equality.

Report shows LGBTI people with disability experience higher rates of discrimination
Nicole Pope, Disability Support Guide - August 10, 2018

The fact that many disabled people experience multiple overlapping layers of discrimination is often expressed so abstractly that people who don't experience it firsthand have trouble understanding it. Real data like this is valuable in demonstrating how being disabled and also LGBTQ mix to produce additional and distinct forms of discrimination. This is intersectionality ... a somewhat intimidating word for a pretty basic reality that still isn't recognized enough, even within the disability community.

Q&A With The Money Diarist Living On Disability
Anabel Pasarow, Refinery - August 9, 2018

You can't get more concrete than asking an actual disabled person on Social Security Disability how they manage their day to day finances. There is a lot of moral posturing about "Disability" benefits, but ultimately it comes down to real people doing real math.