Weekly Reading List

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Illustration of two shelves of multicolored books

In this week's list, I am taking a bit of a break from outrage and heavy-duty activism, to spend some time with some more contemplative, lighter pieces. Except for the dwarf tossing; that's a pretty serious issue.

'My biggest act of rebellion as a disabled person is living as I wish'
Mary O'Hara, The Guardian, UK - January 27, 2016

This profile of a young, British disability rights activist also gives an excellent overview of the current state of disability rights in the UK, which also seems pretty relevant here in the US.

Pride in disabled accomplishments vs. inspiration porn
Real Social Skills for Autonomous People - January 31, 2015

This is an important exploration of the similarities and differences between well-earned praise for the hard work of being disabled, and inspiration porn.

Lego unveils first ever mini-figure in wheelchair
Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian, UK - January 27, 2016

I played with Lego when I was a kid, so this thrills me. Back then, mini-figures were less common, and I thought differently about disability as well. So, it's hard for me to tell how I would have felt about a wheelchair figure when I was a young disabled kid. I am pretty sure, though, that it wouldn't have done me any harm.

Disability and the Transformation of Memory
John Morris, Medium - January 30, 2016

I feel like I don't see that many articles on disability by people who became disabled later in life. It helps to read how their feelings evolve over time.

Toss Objects, Not People
Leah Smith, Center for Disability Rights - January 27, 2016

My sense is that the missing element to explain "dwarf tossing" today is hipster irony. "Hey, look at this totally retro, really tasteless thing we're doing. Aren't we hilarious?" Hipster irony is almost always obnoxious, but usually harmless. In this case, it's both annoying and very, very harmful.

More Debate

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Illustration of a generic Election 2016 button

Another round of Presidential Debate analysis from me and Emily Munson, writing for the Center for Disability Rights.

KASICH!!!

Kasich: The Unlikely Hero of Debate Seven
Emily Munson, Center for Disability Rights - February 1, 2016

A Real Disability Issue, But Is Anyone Listening? The Seventh Republican Presidential Debate
Andrew Pulrang, Center for Disability Rights - February 1, 2016

Disability Blogger Link-Up

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Closeup photo of a computer keyboard with a red wheelchair symbol on one key

Sorry for the late start. Post away!

To make the links easier to browse, in the “Your name” blank, please 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!

A note about multiple posts:

If you have more than one item you want to post, please feel free. However, keep in mind that these linkups open every other weekend. Plus, Two Thirds Of A Planet runs a Link-Up every other weekend. So there’s no need to post all of your best, favorite stuff all at once.

This Link-Up will close at Midnight Eastern on Sunday. The next Disability Blogger Link-Up will start Friday, February 12, 2016.

Throwback Thursday

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Picture of the time machine from the film Time Machine

One year ago in Disability Thinking: "Language, Privilege, and Stuff ..."

Believe it or not, I remember most of the things I post here. But I totally forgot this one. It’s pretty good, too. I highly recommend reading all of the links I included, because it’s all still very applicable, probably more than it was a year ago.

Two years ago in Disability Thinking: "Jillian Mercado On 'Today'"

Another post that is, if anything, more pertinent today than it was two years ago. In this case, it helps draw the legitimately tricky distinction between “Inspiration Porn” and stories about disabled people that are awesome. More than ever, I think the key differences are:

1. Be specific, and
2. Include the disabled person the story is about, in the story.

Do those two things, and whatever else you do in your disability story, it will be better.

#CripTheVote: Our Voices, Our Vote

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#CRIPTHEVOTE: OUR VOICES, OUR VOTE - AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION - Democratic Debate, February 11, 2016, PBS, Time: TBD - Republican Debate, February 13, 2016, CBS, Time: TBD

I am pleased to announce a social media project designed to get disabled people more involved in the upcoming U.S. General Elections, and to raise the profile of disability issues. It’s called #CripTheVote. Alice Wong, of the Disability Visibility Project, Gregg Beratan and Disability Thinking will collaborate on a series of Twitter Chats before Presidential Debates, under the #CripTheVote hashtag.

The first two #CripTheVote events will be this February:

#CripTheVote: Our Voices, Our Vote
Americans with Disabilities and Political Participation

Democratic Debate         February 11, 2016, PBS, Time: TBD

Republican Debate         February 13, 2016, CBS, Time: TBD

#CripTheVote is a nonpartisan campaign to engage both voters and politicians in a productive discussion about disability issues in the United States, with the hope that disability takes on greater prominence within the American political landscape.

How to Participate

When the debate begins, check out the live-stream: http://twubs.com/CripTheVote

Follow @AndrewPulrang, @DisVisibility, @GreggBeratan on Twitter for updates

Use the hashtags #CripTheVote and #DemDebate or #GOPdebate when you tweet

Additional information on voting and people with disabilities
http://disabilitythinking.com/election-2016-cripthevote

A note on language and usage of the word ‘crip’:
https://www.wright.edu/event/sex-disability-conference/crip-theory

Questions? Media inquiries?

Email Andrew: apulrang@charter.net

Thinking Today

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Iconic side view of a head with four gears representing the brain

I was thinking today about new way to explain how we want disability programs to change.

It’s not that we insist on nursing homes, group homes, sheltered workshops, and separate, self-contained classes all being banned … although some disability rights would like exactly that. The problem is that right now, in most states and localities, these types of facilities and programs are treated as default options when they should be last resorts.

If you need help with everyday self-care, you can go into a nursing home. Or, if you have a damned good reason, you might be able to get home care and supports instead so you can live in your own place like everyone else does.

If you have developmental disabilities and your parents can’t take care of you anymore, you can live in a group home. Or, if you have a damned good reason, you might be able to get on a waiting list for services that enable you to live in your own apartment.

If you need ongoing training and support to find and succeed in a job, you can work in a sheltered workshop, maybe for less than minimum wage, and certainly cut off from the rest of the community. Or, if you have a damned good reason you might get some services and supports that help you find and keep a job in a real workplace out in the community.

And if you’re a kid with significant disabilities, you may find yourself in a separate school or separate classroom just for kids with disabilities. Or, if your parents can give a damned good reason, your school district might agree to let you learn in a regular classroom along with other kids your own age who aren’t all disabled.

Instead of having to make an extra-strong, carefully laid out and heavily researched argument for why they should be allowed to live like everyone else, disabled people should have to have a damned good reason if they prefer instead to live and work in a more segregated, specialized, sheltered environment.

If you want to move into a nursing home, you should have to have a damned good reason why you can’t live at home with supports instead.

If you or your family would prefer a group home, you should have to have a damned good reason why you can’t live in your own place with supportive services.

If really want to work in a sheltered workshop, you should have a damned good reason why you can’t work in a regular job with job coaching and supports.

And if your parents want you to go to school in a “special” school, they should have a damned good reason why you can’t benefit from education in a regular school with non-disabled peers.

Maybe these older, more restrictive programs should still be options, but you should have to give a damned good reason to choose them. You shouldn’t have to prove that freedom and independent are right for you. You should have to prove if you think they aren’t.

Weekly Reading List

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Picture of two shelves of multicolored books

ABLE program provides tax-free savings for disabled children
Carole Feldman, Washington Post - January 19, 2016

It has been quite awhile since we heard about the ABLE Act, and I'm glad to see it's finally being implemented. I like that Ms. Feldman consults tax professionals in her article, not just disability experts. And one of them mentioned how ABLE accounts are not counted as assets for the purposes of ongoing benefits eligibility ... which is one of the most valuable aspects of the program, yet rarely mentioned. I do wish there was a stronger pitch directly to disabled adults, instead of always describing this as a program for parents of disabled "children." Even though it's only for people whose disabilities began before age 26, if you meet that criteria you're still eligible if you live past 26 ... so it's not just for kids.

'My baby would always be a carrier of my disability'
Kathleen Hawkins, BBC - January 18, 2016

This article has a terribly misleading headline. It suggests the article will be a sad story about a disabled woman deciding not to have a child for fear of passing her disability on to her child. It's actually about a disabled woman who is aware of the genetics, but decided to have a child anyway, even if she had found her child would be disabled. It's also a very realistic and positive story that if it conveys any message at all, says that pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a child are entirely feasible for women with disabilities. Even the photo on the article clashes with the tone of the headline. How strange.

I Can't, In Fact, "Do Anything I Set My Mind To" (And That's OK)
The Squeaky Wheelchair - January 21, 2016

This is a fantastic exploration of the nuances of the possible where disabled people are concerned. It's a much more complex and balanced argument than I expected based on the title. And the accompanying photo is perfect!

Voices Out of Turn and Without Permission
Dave Hingsburger, Rolling Around In My Head - January 22, 2016

I share Mr. Hingsburger's view that it's okay for disabled people to comment on disability-related images and expressions that are publicly offered, even when they are also expressions of private, personal feeling. I especially like how he notes that ideas about disability are inherently political, never just personal. However, I do think that some degree of moderation is in order when the thing we are talking about involves the most intense and fundamentally private matters, like family, children, love, and loss. I also think the politics aspect needs more exploration, because while many of us equate "political" with "meaningful" and "important,"  many pep[;e associate "political" with "corrupt," "arrogant" and "self-serving." I think they're wrong, but it's a very common reaction to the whole notion of "politics" and "agendas." It's one of the main reasons it's so hard to talk meaningfully about disability without rubbing people the wrong way. Of course, what is private and what is public? Is there a gray area between the two? Might that gray area be similar to what some social media people and activists call "safe spaces" ... public, but with an understanding that some responses are, in that particular context, "not okay?" I really don't know. Its an interesting and maybe important thing for the disability community in particular to think about.

Born This Way: A Closer Look At The New Hit TV Reality Show
Vicki Vila, Two Thirds Of The Planet - January 23, 2016

I am really impressed with the thoroughness of this review. Ms. Vila gives due consideration to many different takes on the show and its meaning, and takes the time to reach out and talk with some of the key people associated with the show, and with other reviewers. I found it most interesting to read how the viewers with Down Syndrome she spoke to reacted to the show. I feel like I need to figure out a way to keep including more disabled voices in the Disability.TV Podcast ... more disabled voices other than mine, that is.