Monthly Disability Reading List - October 2019

The three best things about disability I read last month …

Lavender Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer is my secret weapon for getting around
Kelly Dawson, Vox.com - October 22, 2019

A fascinating way of exploring coming of age with a disability, and some of the gritty physical barriers and interactions disabled people have to live with every day. It’s also a remarkably honest description of the downside of growing up with disabilities in a supportive, but sheltered environment that can be shattered in adulthood.

10 Disability Policy Questions Every Presidential Candidate Should Answer
Rebecca Coakley, Center for American Progress - October 15, 2019

This article ably answers the question, “What disability issues should we pay attention to in the 2020 Election?” It could also serve a template for candidates who want to build disability policy platforms.

What Ableism Cannot Have
Kathleen Downes, The Squeaky Wheelchair - October 4, 2019

A personal, moving, and ultimately optimistic take on what ableism is and what it does to disabled people.

Because I’m a Grown-ass Man
Mike Ervin, Smart Ass Cripple - October 22, 2019

As usual, “Smart Ass Cripple” gets to the heart of things we mostly already know, but sometimes have a hard time expressing. In this case, it’s why people with disabilities on the whole don’t like being “taken care of” in nursing homes and other “facilities.” It’s pretty simple really.

My Disabled Body Isn’t a ‘Burden.’ Inaccessibility Is
Aryanna Falkner, Healthline - September 23, 2019

Another excellent exploration of ableism, accessibility, and “accommodations” … and the informal, cultural and emotional barriers disabled people face, even when formal accommodations are technically available.