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Listening to a webinar on "the business case" for hiring disabled people (or, as they keep emphasizing, "people with disabilities"). Why am I doing this to myself? 
(I'm doing it for a project. I would not subject myself to this level of violence for fun.)
I have an idea! Hire disabled people to do this mother fucking presentation. 
Yikes. They just said that UBC is a leader in inclusive hiring.
Oh pals. This is so patronizing. They just used the autistic programmer example. Then they had two ther examples of competent disabled employees and were like "does this surprise you?"
With friends like @AccessEmployers, who needs enemies?
They're talking about "innovation" -- or what we know as SURVIVAL STRATEGIES.
Good to know our struggles are profitable to someone -- because it's not making us rich...
"All employees -- not just disabled employees --" apparently benefit from us being hired as well. Oh good. Glad my disability makes nondisabled people better people.
Take heart: we're a good "return on investment".
Oh! We just got to employer concerns. Girding my loins...
Concerns include "what if I offend them?" and how to fire them. Cool.
Lol OMG I just got kicked out of the webinar! Hey @AccessEmployers if disabled people can't hear what you're saying about us, you probably shouldn't be saying it.
I didn't go into the webinar planning to tweet about this... but it was just so excruciating to hear disabled people discussed in these deeply harmful ways. 
Love that @AccessEmployers was like, "How can we make this experience more upsetting for a disabled person attending this webinar? I know! Let's boot them when they express concern!"
@CQualtro opened the webinar saying that she likes the @AccessEmployers model so much she might just take it national. I hope that doesn't include the silencing disabled people who express concerns part...?
If it isn't clear: my loyalty lies with disabled people. Always. An organization's reputation will always rank below this community and our access to security, autonomy, and wellbeing. Always.
If you don't want to me to embarrass you, make disabled people your priority as well.
If you don't want to me to embarrass you, make disabled people your priority as well.
(...especially if that's the community you claim to represent.)
Also (I can't believe I'm sticking up for employers here, but...), if you're representing the disability community THIS badly in a presentation to employers (some of whom ARE disabled!), you're doing a disservice to both the disability community AND employers.
And if you think that employers won't understand your message unless you present it in this deeply harmful way, you're disrespecting your employer audience. Never OVERestimate the information your audience has and never UNDERestimate their capacity for comprehension.
Furthermore, it's never just a matter of what information you present but HOW you present that information. Disability advocacy is praxis. You can't just have good intentions. You can't just have the right language. You can't just have the information. You have to DO it.
And if you're like, "this was a session for employers, not disabled ppl", pls know: how you talk about us when you don't think we're in the room is very revealing.
Moreover, there are disabled employers?!
Also WE'RE EVERYWHERE. We're 20-25% of the pop! We're always in the room.
Moreover, there are disabled employers?!
Also WE'RE EVERYWHERE. We're 20-25% of the pop! We're always in the room.
If you're like, "why wouldn't you just quietly address your concerns w/us?", you need to take a hard look at power dynamics: @CQualtro (the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion!) introduced the webinar and top employers in the province attended.
Meanwhile, I'm just some disabled person with v. little individual agency who has to actually LIVE WITH the consequences of actions taken by government agencies, employers, and organizations like @AccessEmployers who speak "for" disabled ppl.
I'm not punching down. Why are you?
I'm not punching down. Why are you?
And I already spend so much (comparatively limited!!!) time, energy, and resources addressing ableism; why should I quietly write yet another "pls sir, may I have some respect?" letter. Want to know how you can do better? TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE AND HIRE DISABLED PEOPLE TO TELL YOU.
