Thread by @agnieszkasshoes, PSA because I genuinely think it hasn't occurred to many people.Here is [...]

PSA because I genuinely think it hasn't occurred to many people.
Here is a thing disabled people do (other groups as well). We listen to/read everything you say, make detailed calculations of its implications for our lives & base many of our actions & interactions on them

That includes trust. We base the amount of trust we place in the nice things you tell us on the other things you say that have implications for us and also on the actions you take & whether they agree with or contradict them. The world is dangerous & scary. We can't afford not to

Running a marathon with a charity T shirt on, using a hashtag, posting a hotline number or telling us we're valued won't necessarily lead to us trusting you if the rest of your words & deeds erase us.

Many people think this is mean of us, & don't get why we're not grateful. Believe me, that's nothing like what we think of them! Also, hint: expecting gratitude is neither a reason to do something nor good etiquette in general.

Now I want to contextualise this with an issue that doesn't affect me personally but does affect many of my friends (and other people of course).
Face coverings. I want to mention 3 things
- "it costs nothing" discourse
- "don't be in public spaces" discourse
- hypocrisy

starting at the end.
Hypocrisy. There are good reasons some people can't socially distance. So I don't assume things when I see people not doing so. But many people who don't could. Many of them also berate people who say they can't wear face masks. Erm...

- "it costs nothing to wear a mask" - if it doesn't for you, that's great. Do it (though try to learn some basic sign language & be prepared to have written conversations - see this fab video from Jessica Kellgren-Fozard )

But please don't universalise your lack of discomfort. And please also don't assume that when people say they "can't" they actually mean "it causes some discomfort". That's basically the "I think you're lazy or lying" myth that disabled people are long since used to

- as for "if you can't, don't be in public spaces" I've seen this a lot from a lot of people. I understand you are frightened of Covid. Most disabled people are fucking terrified every day so believe me, we get it.

- I also get many of you are frightened not for yourselves but for highly at risk people you know. That's brilliant. Thank you - and thank you for the years you spent as a result campaigning against cuts to essential services those people needed (oh, wait, what was that...)

- seriously, though "disabled people shouldn't be in public spaces" Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME. I get your fear now. That's all I'll say for now. But when this is done, let's go right back to tweet 1 - trust - because you're going to have to explain long and hard about that one

In short if you can wear a face covering you absolutely should (even if you don't like it). That's how society works. (But see above about communicating). But think about how to make spaces accessible for those who can't e.g.:
- don't judge
- if you can, always keep your distance

end of thread. I won't guarantee to answer questions, because this is a subject on which there is a seriously disingenuous use of disabled people's time and labour. Also, as I say, it's not an issue for me personally, so I'd rather you found resources by people for whom it is

finally - that includes DMs - I won't answer DMs on this because they, for me, really come at a major cost of resources at the best of times. Many apologies, but posting on some subjects uses about every spoon I have & there are none left over for that. Thank you for getting it

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