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Am I allowed to have an ableism rant for a second please? It has been on my mind so much and the more I think about it, the more angry and defeated I feel but I have nowhere to vent the thoughts because I feel like I take up too much 'space' (because of ableism ironically)
The other day in my counselling lecture, my tutor was listing factors we cannot change about ourselves. He listed age, gender, sex, race, ethnicity. He didnt list disability, and while this is not a massive issue in isolation, it proves disability is infrequently considered.
Constantly, people fail to recognise their ableism. From the caretaker at my college locking the elevator before the college closed so I couldnt access my classroom, to petrol pimps not having disability assistance for those who need it. At my gym they are currently debating
Whether they can remove the disabled parking since I am the only 'clearly disabled' member. It just feels wrong and like I am living in a world that doesnt care to accommodate and support people with additional needs.
Whether disabilities are visible or not, it should be common practice to ask people if they have any additional needs and whether we can help to support that. I am constantly having assumptions about what I can/cannot do or how I do/dont feel. I am constantly trying to be less
Hassle for people and not be nuisance. Last time I saw my best friend she told me to stay in the car while she went shopping because 'its a lot of effort to have to link arms with me while I shop'. I am SICK of feeling like I should be quiet and make life easier for others
When they have never asked how they can support me, never sought my views on anything, never challenged their own or anyone elses ableism. I'm done. The more I think about this shit the more depressed I feel because it NEVER changes. Noone talks about it, challenges it or cares
Okay I'll shut up again now, thanks for the rant
