International Day of People with Disabilities

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So, that's today apparently.

Whether or not we view ourselves as disabled, I think it's important to at least have this kind of stuff, so that people can at least get marginally interested in what life is like as different from a neurotypical.

I still hold that we are only disabled because the world is not autism friendly or understanding.

Anyway. Just thought y'all should know.

I'm not sure I want people interested in what it's like to be me. It seems like the only time people show any interest in AS they're talking about how it's a made up "disease" that I should be able to get over. It makes me just want to hide from it all and avoid that discussion entirely.

I attended a event last week which was operated by a 'pan-disability' advocacy group, everyone from wheelchair users to people with down's syndrome were there.

In all honesty, as far as I was concerned it was like any other party where i felt socially awkward. The event may as well have been filled with able bodied people, I still had a hard time socialising and empathising with people.

Although there are disabling traits, its difficult to pin autism as a disability per se. Autism is just something unto itself.

I wish people would be interested in what it's like to be me in order to APPRECIATE it.

But that's never going to happen.

I feel like I should have done something in honour of/for this day.

Same here.

I posted this....
Hmmm....


That's the thing about these things. It's so abstract - we need practicality!

Well that's more than I did and I think it really does help....it spreads awareness among people who have disabilities and their loved ones (and perhaps others). There was a disability activism booth in the front corridor of my school this morning (which I've never seen before) so I guess it was because of the day. I kept thinking I should at-least visit the booth but the corridor was so crowded and noisy (as it always is) and people were crowded around the booth talking and I really wanted to just go home, so I did.

I'm starting to think that disability activism is more for people WITHOUT disabilities than it is for those with it.

It makes them feel like they're doing something....

Sadly, I think that's true.