Category Archives: Disabled Rights & Issues

The Race and Class of Schizophrenia

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Mandolin

Back in January, Nojojojo made a post on her livejournal that I found insightful. I asked her for permission to share it with Alas readers which she granted–and I apologize for not getting to it before now. Nojojojo quotes Melissa … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, Feminism, sexism, etc, Race, racism and related issues | 3 Comments

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Maia

So it’s the time of New Year’s resolutions (and if you live in Wellington grumbling about the weather).* The newspapers didn’t have much copy over the last couple of weeks, so they were full of: “50 ways to be healthier … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, Fat, fat and more fat | 30 Comments

Ableism in Workshop Advice: "There are Worse Things Than Death…"

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Mandolin

There’s something that gets bandied about a lot in workshops when people are talking to newbies. “You don’t have to kill your characters to up the stakes,” they say. “There are worse things that can happen to people than death.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, literature | 53 Comments

Why Not to Use the Word Lame: I Think I'm Starting to Get It

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Mandolin

Another progressive blogger and I have had a few discussions about how we don’t see the word “lame” as really a big deal. However, we both concluded, it wasn’t really our fight and the stakes weren’t as high for us … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 99 Comments

New Jersey Man Beaten By Cops For "Wandering" While Black

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Ampersand

From WPIX: PASSAIC, N.J. (WPIX) – A police officer in New Jersey, captured on surveillance tape viciously beating a mentally ill man, has been reassigned while an investigation into the incident is underway. Passaic cop Joseph J. Rios III, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, Prisons and Justice and Police, Race, racism and related issues | 14 Comments

Ableist Language – replacement suggestions from the Hand Mirror

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Mandolin

Ampersand and I have periodically discussed the issue of ableist language. We’d both like to do better about purging some of the words that infest our vocabulary. In particular, the word “lame” has a tendency to creep into our statements, … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 38 Comments

Fox's "Glee," the stereotyping of fat black women, and making friends with the loser kid in the wheelchair

Posted on April 23, 2009 by Ampersand

I’m getting sick of the-popular-kids-are-better-at-geek-stuff-than-the-geeks trope, which stinks of noblesse oblige. And there are a zillion other things wrong here. But I’ll still be giving this show a try, because I’m that much of a sucker for anything resembling a … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, Fat, fat and more fat, Popular (and unpopular) culture, Race, racism and related issues | 57 Comments

Some parents complain that disabled TV host "scares children"

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Ampersand

From The Independent: Disparaging comments by adults about a children’s presenter have led to an angry backlash in support of Cerrie Burnell, the 29-year-old CBeebies host who was born missing the lower section of her right arm. One man said … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, In the news | 55 Comments

Captioning Online Video: Government Regulation Is Called For

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Ampersand

Joe Clark argues that the only way we’re going to get good captioning of online videos is if government steps in and regulates. Agree or disagree, it’s an interesting essay about a problem that — frankly — I haven’t thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 6 Comments

Helplessness and the Medical Establishment

Posted on October 28, 2008 by Mandolin

Another of my fumbling attempts to write about disability: I have disabling depression. When I’m not medicated, I have constant panic attacks. Leaving the house is an enormous effort. This wasn’t always true — I have had problems with depression … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 13 Comments