What Do Disability Pride and Self-Advocacy Have in Common?
by Sydney
Every couple of months here at Easterseals, we host Twitter chats centered around issues relevant to people with disabilities and their families. Past topics have included financial wellness, fearlessness, media representation, and inclusion.
On July 20, 2017, we were joined by an incredible group of folks who tuned in using the hashtag #DisabilityInFocus to discuss disability pride and unity. The conversation was insightful, with a diverse array of perspectives represented. Together, we tackled questions such as:
- How parents can help their children with disabilities have pride in themselves;
- Ways society can work together to ensure disability is viewed with pride and positivity;
- How someone can be a good ally to people with disabilities;
- And more!
In the coming weeks, we’ll feature some of the ways our panelists and participants addressed these topics, beginning today with the theme of self-advocacy. Stay tuned for more featured tweets from this chat, and if you’d like to read our full conversation, be sure to check out our recap!
1.
A1: #DisabilityInFocus is important. I can’t ignore that I have a disability & I’m proud of being #ActuallyAutistic when i’m told not to be
— Haley Moss (@haleymossart) July 20, 2017
2.
#DisabilityInFocus Too often #autistics are represented on stage, in books, in articles without the autistic voice or experience. https://t.co/aq3Dkdh651
— Samantha Craft (@aspergersgirls) July 20, 2017
3.
A8. And no movement can truly call itself inclusive without our perspective. #DisabilityInFocus
— Mike Mort (@MikeeMort) July 20, 2017
4.
A8 #disabilityinfocus
Disability perspective in the workplace benefits everyone through inclusive practices, acceptance, voice, and respect— Samantha Craft (@aspergersgirls) July 20, 2017
5.
A8: remind movements that disability is tied to all important movements, allow PWDs to participate, and accommodate them #DisabilityInFocus
— Timotheus Gordon Jr. (@timgordonjr) July 21, 2017
6.
A9Talk about and openly share our own experiences with temporary, situational or permanent disabilities #hiddenNoMore #DisabilityinFocus
— Alicia Jarvis 🇨🇦 (@AJarvis728) July 21, 2017
7.
A9 my education about my own disability came entirely from people I met through social, telling their stories. #DisabilityInFocus
— Tinu Abayomi-Paul✊🏿 (@Tinu) July 21, 2017
8.
A9. Focus on constructive, mature conversation about disabilities & needs
Put out in the world what you want given back#DisabilityInFocus— Samantha Craft (@aspergersgirls) July 21, 2017
9.
A9. Call out inspiration porn & ableist actions/language, & demand more realistic images of our lives to be shown. #DisabilityInFocus https://t.co/4CR6LKSNv5
— Vilissa Thompson (@VilissaThompson) July 21, 2017
10.
Equal-opportunity employers need the disability perspective (and disability hires!) to be truly equal opportunity #DisabilityInFocus
— Ellen Seidman (@LoveThatMax) July 21, 2017
11.
At recent corporate event disabilities represented by person w/disability
Not Autistics – represented by non-autistic
#disabilityinfocus— Samantha Craft (@aspergersgirls) July 21, 2017
12.
A9: By sharing our stories, being present online and off, showing the world what disability REALLY is. #DisabilityInFocus
— Easterseals Thrive (@ability2thrive) July 21, 2017
13.
Be open and educate… it’s up to us to speak up! #DisabilityInFocus
— Bridget Hayman (@Wheelygrl) July 21, 2017