Unpopular opinion:

Young disabled Americans born since the ADA have a very different perspective of accessibility than that of those of us that were there before the ADA and fighting for access then, and now.

#a11y #disability #advocacy
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For instance - I've been "told off" for selling accessibility as being good for "everyone" (e.g. curb cuts are good for wheelchair users, parents with strollers, delivery folks with dollies, kids on skates, etc).

2/6

I need, apparently, to only push the disability agenda, because to say it's good for everyone is to "erase disabled folks"...

I get the point. But... In many ways, if the end result is that there's a curb cut, or a website is accessible, that's what counts.

3/6

The whole thing about changing people's attitudes is super important. Critical even. Because beyond physical or digital barriers, negative attitudes towards disability are a significant problem.

One thing at a time.

4/6

Having fought for accessibility since before there was a US National law about it, my perspective is very different. Not better. Not worse. Just different.

We've all got to push. All our efforts, joined, will reach more people and make a bigger difference.

5/6

What we must avoid, at all costs, is to fight between ourselves. As long as we are fragmented, we can't make headway.

"The people, united, will never be defeated" - as we used to chant at ADAPT actions.

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