Disability Allyship #2
Red Flags everywhere...
Hi my lovelies, how are you? Thank you so much for subscribing to my newsletter on disability allyship. I have 50 subscribers now - wow!! If you are finding value in this newsletter do please share and encourage your friends and workmates to subscribe. Let’s send ripples of disability inclusion all around the globe.
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#Thought - Disability and language.
Two discussions around disability and language have happened to me in the past week - one was with a corporate client who I am doing a keynote for who wanted clarity on language and disability and the other is a disabled friend who is new to the activist world and wanted to understand why many disabled activists have an issue with “person with disabilities” as opposed to “disabled people.”
It felt like this is a wider discussion worth having with you folks, and so I want to start with a question to you:
“How does using the term disability or disabled make you feel?”
(Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash)
[Image: A green wooden box on wheels is filled with books. On the side is painted the text Think before you speak. Read before you think.]
The term disability is often seen as negative; it is a loaded term for a lot of people, including many disabled people. So whether in wider society or within the disabled community itself, there is often debate about what is the right language to use.
You will notice that I always use the term “disabled people” and I call myself a “disabled person.” There is a reason for this - using the term disability or disabled is a political statement. It is taking back control of a word normally seen as negative. And it also taps into the social model of disability, which states that I am disabled by society and not by my impairment, so I am a disabled person.
Of course, many disabled people don’t agree with me or feel very differently, and at the end of the day I respect their choice.
Next time you are in a context* appropriate conversation with a disabled person ask them about how they identify and ask them their reason why they identify that way?
*Context appropriate conversation means only discussing disability with a disabled person if they are open to this discussion. If a person doesn’t wish to discuss their impairments or conditions or experiences they don’t have to.
#Action - Red Flags.
(Photo by Rushay Booysen from Pexels)
[Image: a red flag is planted in a green golf course with mountains in the distance.]
Have you seen the red flag challenge on Twitter this week?
The red flag challenge involves the tweeter posting a statement about behaviour that is triggering or offensive or concerning, and then posting the red flag emoji repeatedly after their statement.
It is a challenge that has taken off, especially in the disability community, as people share the ableist behaviours they have encountered. But there is a wider issue with the challenge and it is literally an accessibility red flag in itself.
When using emoji’s in your tweets, insta posts, text messages and dm’s, if someone is using a screenreader to access the post/message, the screenreader will literally read out what the emoji is. Emoji’s have built in alt text descriptions, which is really cool because it does make emoji’s accessible… but, not if you place thousands (exaggeration, I know) of emoji’s in your post/message. Here is an example of what a text could look like:
“The person walking up to me and asking me what is wrong with me 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩”
what the screenreader reads out is
“The person walking up to me and asking me what is wrong with me Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post Triangular Flag on Post”
It’s frustrating isn’t it, to even read the above… I am not saying to never use emoji’s, I love a good emoji on the odd occasion, but please limit your emoji use if possible.
#Mood - Disability Employment Month.
October is National Disability Employment Month in the US. But I think it should be a global month long awareness campaign, because we really need to shift the narrative around disability and employment if we are going to achieve inclusion and access for all disabled people.
I remember my first ever job application and interview like it was yesterday because it was a horrifically awful experience and it really impacted on my belief in myself getting into work. I was studying marketing at a further education college and I had applied for a junior marketing role in a roofing firm. The role would entail me being that person standing in the middle of a shopping centre trying to sell roofing product. I got through to interview. I remember walking into the office for the interview and immediately the man interviewing me saying “you can’t do this job.” He had taken one look at my limb difference and made an immediate judgement about my ability to do the job.
At this point in time there were no laws to protect me from discrimination, reasonable adjustment hadn’t been heard of, and I left feeling like I would never get a job anywhere. Because who would hire the disabled girl?
The employment statistics for disabled people are dire, no matter which countries statistics you look at. Disabled people regularly face discrimination in the work place and current laws and inclusion practices are not good enough.
Research shows that the benefits of hiring disabled people include:
Disabled people often produce the same, if not a higher quality of work than their non-disabled peers.
Disabled people are often highly motivated to be at work, hence positively impacting the morale and work culture of the business.
Disabled people are more likely to stay working in the same company for a longer time than a non-disabled employee. Lower turnover is good for everyone.
You can tap into an even wider talent pool, which means you can really find the top talent you are looking for, especially talent that is highly motivated and produces high quality work.
What can you do this Disability Employment Month? Look at your recruitment processes and ensure that they are accessible and inviting for disabled people.
#News - The Liminal Experience of Chronic Illness.
The wonderfully talented Elle Chante has written and is performing Seasick, a play about chronic illness:
[Image: Two people are walking out into the gentle waves of the sea. The lighting is dark and moody. Text describes the play, see text below.]
‘Chronic illness can be a frightening and lonely experience. But nobody is ever truly alone.
In the liminal space between waking and sleep, a chronically ill young woman is haunted by a mysterious siren song.
From her bed, she tries to piece together the meaning of a life marred by an incurable illness and a strange new connection with the sea.
Seasick is an interdisciplinary work of music and spoken word comprised of searing poetry and earnest dialogue, held together by the ethereal songs of the sea.’
The performance of Seasick will be in person at Belgrade Theatre, and can also be watched online during a livestream. You can grab tickets for either option here - Belgrade Theatre.
In working towards disability allyship, I encourage you to watch, listen and read more creative work by disabled people. I am definitely booking my ticket for the livestream of Seasick.
Please feel free to comment, let’s keep the conversation going.
And please feel free to share on your socials, through email, etc.
Also, do let me know if there is anything in particular you would like me to discuss or look at, am always happy for suggestions.
Check out the magazines I edit - Disability Review Magazine, Not Your Monolith, and Conscious Being for more thoughts, advice, and insight into disability lived experience.
Liz x