Curtis at Attitude tipped me off that this thread on Hard News was hotting up - great to see. Thanks Russell Brown for posting the clip and Hilary Stace for the kind words. Bless.
I always feel slightly torn when considering contributing to these kinds of discussions around impairment and disability, mainly because the language used is so inconsistent and, in many cases, either confusing or just semantically inaccurate.
Disability, disabilities, disablement, different ability, physically/ intellectually challenged, mentally retarded etc...all are words used in such an ad hoc manner that they become meaningless in my mind. Sometimes they are used to define and categorise individuals; at other times to describe social processes; then again to paint a picture of behaviour. The only thing they have in common is that they serve to draw a comparison with what we interpret as a "normal" experience of being in this reality we call life, the world, society (look, more ad hoc, confused semantic redundancy).
Russell alluded to my talking about human diversity in place of disability on the Attitude Awards on Wednesday night. That's part of it but I'm actually more interested in diversity of experience and how we describe and value it. For instance, look at our quest for "normality" and the high value we place on our children "being normal". What if we reframed "being normal" as "having a common experience" and revalued it as somewhat dull and boring? How tedious to experience life as a human being with the same physical, cognitive, emotional, social etc capacity as most other people. How would that change in value impact on us as human beings, individually and collectively? How would it change the world? If common experience became passe, old hat, would we all start hankering after a "unique experience" of life? Unique means "different in a way worthy of note", and having a unique experience is a much less emotive, constructive and interesting way of being different than being disabled (or having a disability for that matter). Who cares about medical diagnoses to explain why and how you are different from everyone else, when you are fascinated with being as different as possible from everyone else?
Alas, I forget how scared most people are of being different, let alone in a way worthy of note, and how important it is to fit in. Not to mention how our popular culture teaches us to catastrophise and demonise anything out of the ordinary. Personally, I blame soap operas and reality TV. I think people spend a lot of time trying to add drama to their lives to make them as interesting as Shortland St, Neighbours, Days of our Lives and Coronation St. Disability in its current frame is all one needs for a lifetime of cliffhangers.
Red, over at walkingisoverrated.com (I've wanted to say that "over at" thing for ages) says in a recent post that it was a "shock to me [that] more than half of the respondents of a recent online poll said they’d rather be dead than severely disabled."
Possibly the best TradeMe experience I've had to date. Allyse and Paul, you have a great business - excellent service and, in particular, timely and professional communication. Even when I had a concern, you expressed support and gave me factual information. An incredibly reassuring mix that alleviated all stress - and turned out for the best. So bravo, keep up the honesty and openness, thank you and hope you don't mind me popping this on my blog with a link to your profile (is that allowed)?
Another day at home in my lovely house, for which I feel grateful on a daily basis. Two visitors commented on what a lovely place it is (a regular occurrence), and I’m reminded of feeling embarrassed to have people visit in the past, in this place before the renovations and previous dwellings.
I was going to go out this evening to a seminar at McLaurin Chapel in Princes St, but ended up not going, partly to finish AMP Scholarship application but also because the thought of going out put me off! It means finding a park, getting someone to bump me down steps or through the ridiculously long accessible path through trees and up and down hills. Then it’s often cold and the toilets are not accessible so it’s a matter of struggling through three doors. And then sitting there thinking about getting out again!
I called two people today about access to a restaurant where a dinner is being held on Friday. The second person, who’s responsible for the event, didn’t return my call. These people have known me for 18 mths yet I still have to check up on this stuff. The first person said they’d thought about access but wasn’t sure, and I’ve been to the place years ago and it was hopeless – split levels (steps) and dodgy toilets if I remember rightly (the restaurant is in Cornwall Park).
Anyway, I’ve done my bit. I’m not going to pursue it and if they don’t respond, I won’t go.
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