My thoughts concerning the ADAPT protests from last evening are somewhat deepened after reading William Peace’s take on the issue. Disability advocacy activities are truly civil rights efforts. Until we convince the world that our issues are not inherently medical or rehabilitative, we will always be coming to the table at a distinct disadvantage.
People with disabilities are not a diagnostic or rehabilitation challenge. We are people whose needs differ from the “norm” in understandable and manageable ways. To my friends, family and colleagues: please listen to what I say when I describe a need. For me, its not the active or malicious discrimination which is the most damaging; its the il-considered action. The un-thoughtful failure to provide access at a meeting is different only in degree from the failure to consider alternatives to ones choice of living arrangements. Both make assumptions about the world that are basically flawed and in need of revision.