Disability Allies: post #2




How to be an ally to the invisible population


Be an ally and fight for our rights. It's hard to get, and

easy to lose, disability benefits. Legally, we are not

equal to able bodied people. Here are the biggest

problems in the US: 

  • Marrying and losing benefits
  • Making over $1220 per month and losing benefits 
  • Disabled people can legally be paid less than minimum wage
  • Any building built after 1992 is legally required to be accessible, but the reality is very different. The law is not enforced. For example only 1 to 5 percent of US housing is accessible 
  • Inequality is prevalent in today's society, but the invisible population does not gain as much news attraction or as many allies as other minorities.
Here are some inequalities that are commonplace but shocking:
  • Abuse is more common, intense, and prolonged than for their able bodied peers
  • Be mindful we are the least publicly represented minority in the media
  • Sexism, racism, classicism, transphobia and homophobia can even further exacerbate the health outlook for disabled people



Remember history of social, economic, and

environmental disadvantages



Studies have shown documented differences

in health outcomes at the population level that

relate to higher rates of unmet health care needs,

unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, mental health and

chronic diseases, and social determinants of poor

health due to avoidable causes


When interacting with a disabled person, please see

more than our disability. The social anxiety of getting

stares, unwanted questions, and useless unsolicited

advice can often be enough to keep us at home. Here

are some dos and don'ts:



  • Do not judge, assume, or invalidate our abilities


  • Believe us when we disclose any information or
 experience of our conditions



  • If you are a stranger, never ask about somebody's

visible disability



  • Do not grab somebody's wheelchair or body

without asking if they need help first



  • (If you are in a position to) think of how your

professional workplace could adapt to be more

accessible or how you could include more

people with disabilities



  • If you see and hear a disabled person being

harassed or discriminated against in public,

say something!



  • Don't assume disabled people can't speak for

themselves and try to ask others to speak for us



  • Do not grab somebody's service/therapy animal


Other ways to be a good ally to the disabled

community:
  • Take interest in educating yourself on various types of disabilities 
  • Do not use spaces or resources designated for disabled people 
  • Normalize disabilities and include the disabled community in important social justice conversations
  • No more "inspiration porn"
  • Do not use spaces or resources designated for disabled people 
  • Fight for health care for all
  • Support affordable care and not the pharmaceutical industry


Spread this message: disabled people need allies too

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