Lordess, spare me from the inspiration porn of #NDEAM and make employers actually focus on dismantling their own ableism. @disability#Disability#Ableism
@CiaraNi@disability Yes, that’s why I always pass on my hardcopy Braille books- there’s just no room to store them all! Those numbers seem high to me actually as the last book I had that was nearly 600 pages long was in 9 volumes, she must be reading uncontracted Braille which would be a lot longer. This year I’ve been reading much more electronic Braille using what I call my ‘Braille kindle’, which has one line of Braille that refreshes when you press a button, as it’s so portable though I love the feel of hardcopy more
I've wanted to tell this true story for 10 years. Today, my book, "Freeing Teresa," is live in print and as an e-book. 🙌 Please help me spread the word!
Advance praise:
“A courageous, personal account of fighting the system—and family— to free Teresa from #forcedcare.” Alanna Hendren, Executive Director, Developmental Disabilities Association
I have a silent migraine at the moment, and it's so weird.
I have all my usual migraine symptoms - blurred vision, black floaties, dizziness, my eyes are streaming with tears, blocked sinuses etc.. but no pain at all.
It's so strange. I mean, I'm not complaining. If I can switch out all my migraines for this I'll be a happy muffin. But, it's weird!
The single best way to support neurodivergent people, in the workplace and in life, is to educate yourself about the different forms of neurodivergence.
Learn about the needs, strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, perspectives, and, most importantly, lived experiences of neurodivergent people.
The right way to do this is to listen to neurodivergent people. Follow us on social media. Read our blogs. Get to know us IRL. If you aren't listening to us, you aren't learning about us; you are only learning other people's opinions about us.
As with any minority group, learning about neurodivergent people will force you to reassess many assumptions about people and society that you don't even realize you hold. You will grow as a person. And that is exactly what we need from you.
Oh, this is really cool. With no fanfare or inspiration porn at all, Darn Tough included an amputee modeling their socks on their prosthetic. @disability#Disability#RepresentationMatters
They also, in my experience, absolutely stand by their warranty. I wore a pair out over about 10 years. They replaced 'em. Of course, I immediately bought more (because, duh).
"Killed by Police Over Eight Dollars – Ethan Saylor's Story"
⚠️ CW: Disability and Police Violence (The details may be disturbing to some)
On January 12, 2013, 26-year-old Ethan Saylor of New Market Maryland, went to the movies to see "Zero Dark Thirty" for the second time. After the movie, his caregiver went to bring her car to the front of the theater while Ethan waited inside. Being his favorite movie, Ethan snuck back in to watch the movie again while she was gone.
The theater manager told him that, he would have to buy a ticket or leave but, he refused. Ethan had Down Syndrome and did not understand, nor did he handle money. Not disturbing anyone, he was watching the movie, when the theater manager summoned mall security to have Ethan removed. His caregiver returned, pleading with the manager and one of the deputies attempting to de-escalate the interaction. She begged with them not to touch him and requested to speak to him. She was ignored and not allowed to go to Ethan.
The mall security guards that responded were actually off-duty Frederick County Maryland deputies, moonlighting as security guards. When one of them told Ethan that he had to leave, Ethan again refused and began to swear in protest. Two other moonlighting deputies came to "assist" in removing Ethan from the theater. The three veteran officers, Lt. Scott Jewell, Sgt. Rich Rochford, and Deputy James Harris, forcibly pulled Ethan out of his seat and tried to handcuff him. A struggle ensued and Ethan was taken to the ground by the three deputies.
With Ethan on his stomach, at least one eyewitness account cited that one officer had his knee pressing on the man's back. It also stated that Ethan was heard crying out, "MOMMY, IT HURT!". At this point, I have to ask the question if these men were stupid or just callously evil as I wipe the tears from my eyes. Obviously, that question is rhetorical. It should have been plainly obvious that Ethan Saylor was, as some laws word it, a "vulnerable adult" with disabilities.
A few months later, a Frederick News Post story stated:
“Saylor cursed and resisted the deputies, and he was briefly handcuffed with three sets of cuffs linked together, according to the sheriff’s office. Saylor ended up on the floor during the struggle and had a medical emergency. He was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the sheriff’s office said.”
The Frederick County Sheriff's office investigated and later released Maryland Atty. Gen.'s report said in part:
"The opinion of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was that a 25 year old Caucasian male ROBERT ETHAN SAYLOR, died of ASPHYXIA. Down’s Syndrome, Obesity, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, and Accessory Conduction Pathways of Heart, are also significant conditions…This individual was already compromised by his Down’s Syndrome, obesity, body habitus, and heart disease, making him more susceptible to sudden death in stressful conditions which would compromise his breathing. Using the medical definition of homicide (but for the actions of other individuals Mr. Saylor would not have died), the manner of death is best certified as HOMICIDE".
In April, another news source reported about injuries to Ethan's face and cartilage in his neck, "which has yet to be explained":
“The autopsy revealed Saylor had bruises and abrasions on his face and body. And another injury: a fracture to cartilage in Saylor’s throat. Experts say it’s an unusual injury to see in a choking case. A forensic pathologist not familiar with case [SIC] says the injury happens from some kind of force... It can be seen in a manual strangulation, ” says Dr. John Hunsaker, a forensic pathologist and expert witness. “But in and of itself, one would be difficult to diagnose without more information. And it can occur as a result of a direct blow.”
The use of three sets of handcuffs is a tactic referred to as "hog-tying", in which the ankles and wrists are restrained and connected to each other with the third. In 1995, the US DOJ (Department of Justice), warned police departments that people may die when using this hog-tying method, yet there are still many that employ this technique of restraint. To be clear in regard to the sheriff's worded claim of a "medical emergency", Ethan's larynx was crushed and at least one of the sources below use the words "broken bones" in his neck. Despite the homicide ruling, 17 eyewitness account statements and Dr. Hunsaker's statements, a Maryland grand jury refused to indict the deputies for the murder of Ethan Saylor. One of the officers, Sgt. Rich Rochford, was later "quietly hired" by Frederick city Police Department, despite his involvement in the incident.
It seems I write about these horrific instances of police violence against people with invisible disabilities all the time. It's certainly not because I enjoy them, and it is very emotionally taxing to do so. The fact is, situations like this occur so regularly, there's too many stories to ignore. 50% of people killed by police in the US have a disability and unfortunately, many people never hear about, or care about stories like this. Many seem too busy fighting about colors or wooden hammers. How many of you have heard of Ethan Saylor, Christian Glass or Elijah McClain. I feel that telling their stories to wake people up, is the first step in inspiring them to stand against these recurring injustices facing the invisibly disabled community. Ethan is just another tragic example of the senseless, hateful authoritarian murders of otherwise innocent people. He was killed over an eight dollar movie theater ticket, to put things in perspective. This is one of the main reasons I do what I do, and the support for the cause of people with invisible disabilities is very much appreciated.
@OutOfExile_IDR_Voice@disabilityjustice@disability You’re so right, it’s heartbreaking the frequency and overall silence. In fact, in May of 2013 I referenced this silence. https://mardrasikora.com/the-silence-that-frightens-me/ I’ve written many, many words on Ethan’s story. Patti, his mother, has fought bravely for justice (did not get) and change (facilitated some). Does it add up? Our voices together? It’s a tiny crack in the wall, let’s hope the sun gets through.
Stigmatude: The attitude personified by lack of understanding and acceptance of people living with invisible disabilities and mental illness, that ableists and many others perpetuate. –OutOfExile_IDR
Disabled people are real... Real cool. "Mr. Cool" – David Pate-150 on tik-tok is living proof.
Dude's a rockstar!!
Let's remove the stigmatude for all.
I got an HD on the paper I handed in last week. It was a critical analysis of the policy report from People with Disabilities Australia and Domestic Violence NSW.
I'm pretty chuffed with the comment I got from my lecturer 😊
If you're disabled and part of the University of California community (student, staff, faculty, researcher, etc), what is one thing you wish people who aren't disabled knew about what your UC experience has been like?
@ucaccessnow@disability@academicchatter the countless issues with health insurance and purposeful refusal to apply benefits have almost completely prevented me from doing meaningful academic work. it’s not the disability, but the red tape surrounding the disability that’s so difficult. this includes getting accommodations from employer.
@loshmi@disability@academicchatter Yup, classic social model of disability. It isn't a perfect model, but it is very accurate as to the role of systemic ableism.
It's amusing* that Mastodon can do so well** with regards to ableism and accessibility when it comes to alt-text on images, yet is so grossly ableist with regards to mental illnesses.
by "amusing", I mean "fucking awful"
** by "so well", I mean "the bare fucking minimum
Disability At Home:
"This website documents the ingenuity and creativity that caregivers and disabled people, including those with chronic illnesses, use every day to make home accessible..."
@tomkindlon@chronicillness@spoonies@disability@mecfs@longcovid Busybodies need to stop harassing people who have a disabled placard displayed on their rearview mirror. If there is someone abusing the use of parking spaces reserved for the disabled, there are penalties in place for this, including the loss of this privilege.
"Those with #disabilities face hurdles every day the able-bodied cannot fathom. If you are concerned that the #disabled are getting a “privilege” that is somehow “undeserved,” you are entitled to your opinion but please don’t act on it."