Weekly Reading List
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Good stuff from last week's reading ...
Disabled people 'only an afterthought', Lords report says
BBC - March 24, 2016
This is a really profound statement, and I agree with it. The main reason things aren't better for disabled people, at least in modern, "liberal democracies," is that our needs and issues never get enough attention. We have some decent laws. We know how to make things accessible. Most people don't really hate disabled people, at least not consciously. The problem is that almost nobody cares enough for long enough to turn abstract ideas, feelings, and the skeletons of policy into everyday practice. We're not hated, by and large. We're just low priority, and that is bad enough.
The Job Market Is Pulling In People Who Didn’t Want To Work Before
Ben Casselman, FiveThirtyEight.com - March 25, 2016
The article doesn't specifically mention disabled people entering or re-entering the workforce, and employment numbers for disabled people are still dismal. It's a good sign, though, that various policy changes and economic factors may be slowly making it easier for people to work "a little bit." It's not the answer for all of us, and plenty of us can and should be working full time. However, part-time work can be an important bridge to the world of work for people with disabilities.
If Your Home Is Your Castle, Is Your Welcome Mat A Moat?
Nestor Melnyk, Jason's Connection - October 31, 2013
It's been years since I heard about "visitability" laws. I wish we had included it in the #CripTheVote Disablity Issues Survey. Requiring basic accessibility in all housing, both public and private, would have a massive positive effect on physically disabled people, including many senior citizens who become disabled later in life. The effects of such laws passed now would probably reach their peak just in time for massive cohorts of aging Americans needing houses and apartments they can live in, with level entrances, wider doorways, and safer bathrooms.
How to Support an Autistic Person During Autism Awareness Month
WikiHow, link provided by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
This is a good introduction to why autistic self advocates are against "Autism Speaks." It doesn't get into the weeds and specific incidents, but it lays out the differences positively, in ways that the uninitiated can easily understand. I am not autistic, but I can also see parallels in how other disability constituencies relate to certain charities that purport to serve us, may even want to serve us, but end up doing us far more damage than good.
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30: Eddie Ndopu
Avital Andrews, Pacific Standard - March 26, 2016
This isn't "inspiration porn," it's just plain inspirational. Maybe "admirable" is a better term, or "role model," or "awesome." Shared by Lydia X. Z Brown (@autistichoya).