@disabilityinsight

Happy Friday! ☀️ Doing another re-do of a previous post today. I know us disability allies are sometimes subject to criticism. We’re told it’s not our position to advocate. However, I believe it’s not *what* we’re doing but *how* we’re doing it. Us disability allies are often made to feel like we’re unwelcome within this space. But I think we’re important tools to creating an inclusive world. Allies can advocate and be deeply moved by the experiences of those close to us who are disabled. I do think that there is a place for us within this space - but only if we do it properly. I’m not a perfect ally myself nor am I an expert of what it means to be a disability ally, but I’ve been doing it my whole life and I don’t think I’m too bad at it. There’s two prevalent problems allies seem to get caught up with that I wish we’d do better with. First: Allies will never know what it’s like to be disabled. You may know what it’s like to be the parent, or the sibling, or the best friend of a disabled person, but this doesn’t mean lived experience. Second, ensure that the advocacy you’re pursuing is legitimate and a problem for the disability community. That it’s accurate and not simply an issue created by the non-disabled community. Fight for employment equality because making subminimum on the basis of disability isn’t okay - disabled people say so. Say disabled - disabled people say so. Raise awareness about inaccessible public transportation because there’s no excuse for it - disabled people say so. If the majority of disabled people are advocating for one thing and you’re advocating for another, this does nothing but create unnecessary confusion amongst the general population. The time disability rights get for America’s advocacy is small. No room for fake problems. Allies can be ableist. Don’t be one. (ID in comments) Hashtags #DisabilityInsight #DisabilityInclusion #Disability #Disabled #DisabilityAlly #DisabilityAllyship #DisabilityRights #DisabilityAdvocate #DisabilityJustice #Ally #Allyship #Advocate #Inclusion #Advocacy #Accessibility #DisabilitySupport #InclusionMatters #DisabilityAdvocacy #Ableism #AbleismAwareness #AbleismExists #AbleismIsTrash