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I’ve seen so many of my disabled peers doing so many amazing things today. I want to acknowledge their tireless work, & the fact that I stand on ground forged by activists who came before me & those alongside me, in pursuit of equality for those that will come after. #IDPwD2020
Unfortunately too much of what we as disabled people share and create is only consumed by community or those on the fringes. While it’s important to have spaces to learn and grow with each other, it’s also crucial for non disabled people to engage with this too.
You don’t have to be versed in disability theory or understand academic language or be completely immersed in the disability community to be an ally. It’s not an all or nothing approach. We need all of you to care, we need all of you to contribute.
Non disabled pals, if you’re unsure where to begin- commit to understanding better by consuming popular culture we create, following diverse disabled people on social media, watching disabled sports. DM me for recommendations, whatever it takes to get started.
Contribute by asking your local cafe to get a ramp, tell your favourite restaurant to stop using the accessible toilet as a storage area, ask for the shows you love to be captioned, tell the council when you don’t see a curb cut, correct your friends’ casual use of slurs.
Use the influence you have where and when you can. Pick a small win and then take it. Then just go ahead find the next one. That’s all it takes. If you’re looking for an invitation into the disability rights movement, this is it.
