I've learned a lot about Implicit Association Test in the past few years, and it is important to recognize how our implicit biases may affect our actions. This applies to many different groups of people, and the disabled community is definitely an example. The more we are aware of the biases we have (which are often formed due to societal norms), the better we can learn and support the disabled community. What do you all know about implicit biases? -Kathleen Boyce (Forum Contest Entrant)
top of page
bottom of page
I’m probably most adept at examining accessibility issues. But the past 4 years have magnified my disability, and what I stand to lose in terms of my freedoms. I’ve never felt so marginalized as I did under Trump. And I realize that that’s a privilege, to have spent most of my life largely immune to issues with my disability. I also think I’m becoming less tolerant of accessibility issues than I used to be. I’d love to elaborate more. -Valerie F. (Forum Contest Entrant)
This might be a long one.
I'd like to talk about a concept and a story, hopefully I don't run out of characters. The biggest problem facing the disabled community isn't a lack of ramps, automated doors, or parking spaces. No, the problem lies in the fact that the disabled community is viewed as either a burden on tax dollars or a people to be pitied at a rate which we're no longer a concept to be concerned about.
We don't have the honor of being a large enough minority to be pandered to by politicians, charitable donations and research funds go to more public and deadly concerns (Which, they obviously need the funds), and any move to build ourselves up is sanitized as inspiration porn or destroyed by the strict guidelines that control our healthcare, food stamps, and SSI income.
We're overlooked, unheard, and sidelined. It's a far cry from the days we crawled on the capitol.
This brings me to my story. the day I found out about Madison Cawthorn; at the time a man running for congress in North Carolina. The interesting thing about Madison wasn't that he was only 24, but that he was disabled. This sparked my heart: Finally! Real disabled representation in Congress. Despite the fact that he wasnt born with his disability, and that his politics sat opposite of my own, I was ready to turn on the Republican National Convention just to watch him speak. And I did.
This man's speech was a masterclass. Expertly weaving policy, inspiration porn, and highlighting the struggles of the disabled community. In his words: I felt invisible, and I am running because I see you. This was it! The moment I'd waited for!
And then, what I deemed as probably the only thing he could have done to make me despise him happened. He stood up. After saying again and again that he felt invisible, looked over because he was small, he delivered his speech's haymakers while standing.
He no longer was there to represent me, but instead used his disability as a power move until it was no longer useful.
It was that day I knew I had to run for office one day. I'm tired of being overlooked, unheard, and sidelined. I'm tired of US being looked over for jobs just because we need adaptation. I'm tired of being invisible.
We deserve better. -Tyler F. (Forum Contest Entrant)