Great Disability Blog Posts of 2016 (Part 5)

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Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

Happy 2017!  Even though it's the new year, you're in luck!  I have even more blog posts to share from 2016!  Today we have two posts by Fox, another by Ellen, one by Rhema and another by Vilissa:

Performing Letter Talker by Fox at Fox Talks With Letters

I MADE A VIDEO WITH RUBY INTERVIEWING ME. I FELT NERVOUS ABOUT BEING IN A VIDEO AND THOUGHT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT. A TALKING, SINGING OR PERFORMING REALLY ALL I'VE SEEN ON VIDEO. I LETTER TALK SO I THOUGHT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK IT'S WEIRD. I'M GLAD I CONQUERED MY FEAR. - Fox

(Not weird at all, Fox.  I loved seeing your interview and thought you did a great job!  I think other people will love it, too!)

[Image is: a chalkboard that reads learning with a line below it and below the line, is the word schooling.  In today's great posts, two are about how important learning is to autistic kids, in particular.]

Please Don't Praise Me for Loving My Child With a Disability by Ellen at Ellen Stumbo

If I saw a friend with her typical child and I pointed at her kid and said, “I could never do it.” I think we would all agree it would be rude. That statement would say a lot about what I thought about her child, most likely not positive because I just said I could never do it. “What do you mean?” She’d probably ask offended. “I mean, it must be so hard to parent YOUR child!” Maybe right then she would have day dreams of punching me in the face. But I would not be surprised if she picked up her kid and walked away from me, offended, and reassuring her child he is loved, and wonderful, and she is lucky to be his mom. - Ellen

Ellen does a great job explaining why it's harmful for kids with disabilities to hear comments like, "I could never do what you do," made about them to their parents.  Seriously, go and read this.

Real Thoughts About School by Fox at Fox Talks With Letters

FEEL SCHOOL WAS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. - Fox

Fox shares some super important insight about how being taught below grade level and by teachers who did not understand autism remains traumatic for him to look back on, even though he is now homeschooled.  Very important post to read and consider.  I related to it a lot, because I also had a year in school where I was surrounded by ableism.

Speech to teachers by Rhema at Rhemashope

My strong desire is to have a challenging education. I want to be a scientist. Not something I would have thought so much possible years ago but now I think it is possible. Strong minds should have strong educations. Not strong minds should have strong educations too. Good education is a goal for me. - Rhema

This year was a big one for Rhema, as she gave a speech to teachers, about the importance of having a challenging education.  Like Fox, Rhema also spent time being taught below grade level, which was frustrating and angering for her.  Please read and listen to these kids.  It's so important for us to not assume a student cannot learn because they cannot prove they know something.

The Black Body, Assisted Suicide, & the “Me Before You” Connection by Vilissa at Ramp Your Voice!

Death and the Black body are intimately connected, so much so that death by one’s own hands that are not systemic based is tremendously taboo.  We see that “tabooness” in the ideals we ardently hold unfold in the aforementioned research data about assisted suicide that are prevalent in our community:  the right to die by any other means that is not tied to racism, systemic oppression, or saving another is frowned upon, and those who are pondering their right to die will most likely meet resistance from members in our community.  - Vilissa

One of the most eye opening pieces I have read this year.  Vilissa shares why a story like Me Before You likely would not exist with Black characters.

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Did you read these posts?  Did you learn anything new?  Let me know in the comments - or better yet, let Fox, Ellen, Rhema and/or Vilissa know that you read their posts.

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