Medically-assisted suicide is being used to discard expensive and inconvenient disabled people that our society doesn't value.
Tag: disability
The parents and the brain scans: why learning disabled adults worry about eugenics
When I was in my late teens, I went into a research frenzy about my learning disability diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD or NVLD) at 13, but for a long time, all I knew about it was about my own specific learning needs. As a university student I gained a renewed … Continue reading The parents and the brain scans: why learning disabled adults worry about eugenics
Productivity is not the answer: unpacking the hierarchy of disabililty advocacy
Narratives of disability that focus only on employment end up doing harm to the marginalized
Let’s talk about the fact that a doctor recommended murdering a patient
Trigger warning: this story contains discussion of eugenics and violence against disabled people. Last year, a doctor at Labrador-Grenfell Health in St. Anthony, N.L. told Sheila Elson that her 25-year-old daughter Candice Lewis was dying, and offered to kill Lewis using Canada's assisted dying laws. Elson immediately said no and is now complaining about the … Continue reading Let’s talk about the fact that a doctor recommended murdering a patient
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
DIY, self love, and re-defining legitimate knowledge
That last couple of years I have been trying to eliminate chemicals from my life. I started by using only vinegar and baking soda to clean my house. Then I started washing my hair with vinegar, dyeing it with lemon juice, and moisturizing it with coconut oil. Then I stumbled on a blog post about … Continue reading DIY, self love, and re-defining legitimate knowledge
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
When talking about disability makes us uncomfortable
People get uncomfortable when I mention that I have a disability. Not everyone, but a lot of people. People are totally fine with casually discussing the idea of disability rights and barriers that people face — in theory. But as soon as it's a personal issue, things get weird. Invisible disabilities are a funny thing. When … Continue reading When talking about disability makes us uncomfortable