Simon
>
> My concern is some people with hidden impairment wave their label around
> as if they were passports to whatever you want. I have cerebreal palsy,
> I need people to have time to listen to me, a computer, personal care.
> What does this autism, ADHD, dyslexia mean? What changes does people
> want?
There are two things here Simon. Had you thought that people with hidden
impairments have to do this if they want recognition, both by the movement,
which demands that we be 'visible', and by 'society', which can't look
beyond what it sees and demands that we prove we have an impairment before
we get services and support. That is one of the problems with an emphasis on
a 'politics of visibility' - as Larry says, all we see is "the outward "able
bodied appearance" and the outward show of communication which is not
achieved easily or at all on the same terms". I don't really see how those
with autism, ADHD and dyslexia are any different to you except in this vital
way. And I would also argue that the very fact that they have to constantly
remind people that they have an impairment/are disabled is an added burden
to their oppression.
By way of analogy, I don't want to keep saying that I am deaf or talking
about my deafness, but when I do have to raise it the usual response is "I
don't believe you" - and I mean that literally. I'm pretty fed up with the
way that people put their own collective interpretations on what deafness
means, as if it CAN only mean one thing. So I have to keep talking about the
complexity of the term because, in the end, what I want to find is some
inclusive sense of commonality that doesn't deny important differences. I
keep talking because I know that the vast majority of deaf kids are STILL
educated in the mainstream and do not have access to the multi-communicative
environments that will allow them to make real language choices. Instead,
choices are made for them on the basis of a political binary - 'sign
language OR spoken language'. That is why I get a little fed up with the
"positive" focus on a small minority who don't challenge the binary.
Communication is a minefield, but I think it is the key to a strong,
effective and inclusive movement. But in the end communication is about
expressing AND receiving information, thoughts, ideas. In politics,
communication is mostly about (other people's) 'big ideas' and
indoctrination. Think about all those 'consultation exercises' that the
government is so fond of and who is actually consulted. Think also about
'emancipatory' disability research and which disabled people are generally
involved. Consultation, research, politics itself hinges on communication,
but an inclusive outcome usually depends on whether or how people listen and
understand. Without listening and understanding, hierarchies will always
exist, to the detriment of many.
Mairian Scott-Hill
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