Narratives of disability that focus only on employment end up doing harm to the marginalized
Tag: ableism
Five unhelpful things I wish people would stop saying to me
Our society is not very good at listening to neurodivergent folks. When we're not being told we are lazy, the things we ask for are routinely ignored. Sometimes the way that this happens is very subtle, and even the people who say they value accessibility sometimes say hurtful things when they are not paying attention. … Continue reading Five unhelpful things I wish people would stop saying to me
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau needs to stop talking about mental health
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's approach to mental health is completely individualist, over-simplistic and useless for most of us who struggle with anxiety, depression, and trauma. It's also not new.
Calling Trump “crazy” is lazy, ableist and counterproductive
This is going to sound repetitive for anyone who read my last blog post, but throwing around language about mental illness like this, without evidence, is not okay. Not ever. And when it's about someone like Donald Trump, it carries even more power.
A free resource on disability & the bible
The Student Christian Movement of Canada, a radical left-wing, political and inclusive organization of young christians, wants to think through disability, and wants to encourage Christians to do so too. So when they asked if I would help them create a resource on disability and the bible, I was only too happy to do so. … Continue reading A free resource on disability & the bible
No, hating “big pharma” is not ableist
"Big pharma", the corporations that control the world's prescription drugs, consistently take advantage of sick people for profit. Contrary to the headlines I've seen lately, hating that is not ableist. What is ableist is judging people for doing the best they can with the options that are presented to them. The problem with big pharma is … Continue reading No, hating “big pharma” is not ableist
I am invisible
There is almost nothing written about nonverbal learning disorder in adults. Almost nothing. What little there is, is written by the so-called "experts" - psychologists and the like, often about how to recognize it in adults, or tips for surviving the workplace. I have found exactly one published book written by someone with NLD. It's an invisible topic. … Continue reading I am invisible
Five major barriers to basic mental health care
Trigger warning: the following includes discussion of health care professionals, depression, anxiety and mood disorders in general. It's June of the year I turned 23. I have just moved across the country, from Ottawa to Vancouver, and into my mother's house, because I am too sick to work and can't afford to pay my rent. The … Continue reading Five major barriers to basic mental health care
On the ableism of the holidays
I probably don't have to tell you that the holidays are out of hand. We know they are out of hand. Every year we acknowledge it, we complain about malls and music and all the crap we buy and receive, and yet we still participate in it. I constantly hear people talking about about how exhausting … Continue reading On the ableism of the holidays
The University of Ottawa yoga controversy: a disabled person’s response
The recent wave of media coverage of the cancellation of a yoga class at the University of Ottawa is a perfect illustration of everything that is wrong with mainstream media. Some context: sometime last week, the Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD), a service of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), put its free yoga … Continue reading The University of Ottawa yoga controversy: a disabled person’s response
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