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1/14 This is a message for #DisabilityTwitter #NEISVoid and similar communities.
Abled people can read this, but please don't reply, I'm not interested
Please stop using words like:
-dumb
-stupid
-insane
-crazy
-halfwit
-braindead
-psychotic*
-schizophrenic*
-bipolar*
Etc.
Abled people can read this, but please don't reply, I'm not interested
Please stop using words like:
-dumb
-stupid
-insane
-crazy
-halfwit
-braindead
-psychotic*
-schizophrenic*
-bipolar*
Etc.
2/ Unless used for someone who personally has reclaimed the word and asks to be called it.
*Words marked with asterisks are literal medical/psych terms that are still in use. So you're more likely to see them in other contexts that aren't negative.
*Words marked with asterisks are literal medical/psych terms that are still in use. So you're more likely to see them in other contexts that aren't negative.
3/ Every single day I see at least two or three physically disabled people on my Twitter feed using these words.
I don't want to unfollow all of these people, because I like their content or I like them as people. And there are too many of them to unfollow.
I don't want to unfollow all of these people, because I like their content or I like them as people. And there are too many of them to unfollow.
4/ As someone who is both mentally and physically disabled, it really sucks to see this.
If you insult someone on the basis of their intelligence (oftentimes bigots and abusers are insulted with these words), you're essentially saying that being mentally disabled is a bad thing.
If you insult someone on the basis of their intelligence (oftentimes bigots and abusers are insulted with these words), you're essentially saying that being mentally disabled is a bad thing.
5/ Some words target mentally ill people, and tend to imply that mental illness = evil. Especially certain ones (example: psychotic disorders).
Some words target intellectually and/or developmentally disabled people, and tend to imply that I/D disabilities = ignorance.
Some words target intellectually and/or developmentally disabled people, and tend to imply that I/D disabilities = ignorance.
6/ In all instances, the mentally disabled people who are harmed the most are those who are subjected to multiple systems of oppression. For example, lower class / poor people, unhoused people, people of color, and sex workers are very likely to be exposed to systemic ableism.
7/ And systemic ableism is allowed to continue, partly, due to individual ableist attitudes.
8/ I addressed this thread to physically disabled people, specifically, because you know what ableism feels like. I know the vast majority of you are not intentionally perpetuating ableism towards mentally disabled people. (You could call this "lateral" or "horizontal" ableism.)
9/ I've seen a lot of posts on this issue, written by many different mentally disabled people, but somehow the message hasn't gotten across.
10/ I don't know why that is. Maybe it's because people who are physically disabled tend to only follow other physically disabled people, and they don't follow mentally disabled people as much. And if that's the case then it's fine, but I'm guessing that it isn't intentional.
11/ So one helpful thing would be to follow more mentally disabled people. And even better: read articles, or listen to podcasts, or watch videos that are created by mentally disabled people.
12/ I don't have the energy to create a list of mentally disabled people that I recommend following.
13/ Don't apologize to me. I appreciate the sentiment behind apologies but I will not be responding to them. When people apologize to me about ableism, it feels, to me personally, like they are asking for me to say, "I don't really care," or like they are looking for comfort.
14/ Instead of apologizing, please change your language going forward.
If you are struggling with this, a helpful search term might be "replacements for ableist language" on google or your preferred search engine.
If you are struggling with this, a helpful search term might be "replacements for ableist language" on google or your preferred search engine.
