"I adamantly protest the richest culture in the history of
the world which still incarcerates millions of humans with
and without disabilities in barbaric institutions,
backrooms and worse, windowless cells of oppressive
perceptions, for the lack of the most elementary
empowerment supports.
I call for solidarity among all who love justice, all who
love life, to create a revolution that will empower every
single human being to govern his or her life, to govern the
society and to be fully productive of life quality for self
and for all."
-Justin Dart
When You Say Ableism Isn't Real
By Kathleen Downes
You think ableism isn’t real? That must be charming, to be
so privileged you can overlook it all
What if I told you it was common for people to say “I’d
rather be dead than disabled”?
That the media constantly tells us that disabled means ugly,
tragic, and helpless?
That looking for a bathroom accessible to us is a scavenger
hunt?
If only a damn place to pee were as easy to find
As a thousand stale wheelchair jokes and ignorant stereotypes.
What if I told you we grow up knowing that being disabled
too often means being poor?
That having more than $2000 could mean losing the care we
need to get out of bed?
That a small change in health policy could land us in a
nursing home?
Could you ignore ableism then?
If only a damn job were as easy to find
As a hundred broken elevators and staring strangers.
What if I told you when you say “as long as my baby’s
healthy”, I hear “Hope it’s not like you?”
That people have asked what my purpose is, if I need help
with so many things?
That I can’t go to the doctor without wondering if I’ll be
treated like a child?
If only a damn ramp were as easy to find
As a million rude questions about my body.
I could tell you so many more things
But we would be here all night.
So, go ahead. Tell me
again that ableism isn’t real.
[Captioned video below]
[Video frame shows Kathleen, seated in a wheelchair, reading her poem aloud. She wears a blue dress shirt with white dots and glasses. Her hair is in a ponytail].