I wanna talk about how we, as able people, view disabled people. I feel like it's important to recognize our biases that we hold.

When it comes to disability, our mindsets are automatically negative. We automatically shun it, because it's seen as bad or unfortunate.

Some of us respond to it with pity and/or a sense of superiority. "I'm glad I don't have to go through that." "They're so brave!"

Most of these thoughts are formed, because quite frankly, we don't respect and accept other people for who they are.

We say we do, but we don't. Able people view disability as something to fix. Something to cure. Why? Because, again disability is 'bad.'

Being disabled is not an affliction, not a misfortune, not a mistake. Disabled people have the right to live and exist.

That's the first step in getting rid of our biases: knowing that everyone deserves the right to freely exist.

Once you truly accept and respect disabled people, you won't look to them as inspiration porn. You won't look at them as less than.

From there, we can make space for them in the world, which they deserve to be in. How does that happen? Accessibility.

I RTed someone's tweets a few hours ago, and they detail what that looks like.

Check out their thread: @punnysamosa tweets: https://twitter.com/punnysamosa/status/909036214224908288

End thread.

I lied.

Ableism: the oppression of disabled people by society (able people).

If you want to continue the discussion & help to dismantle this system of oppression, I hope you'll attend.

This conversation needs to happen, because the disabled community is constantly overlooked.