How to be an Ally to Disabled & Neurodiverse Folks in Activist & Academic Communities
**Note: This is based on my own experience as a Disabled, Trans, Queer, Autistic activist. In compiling this list, I consulted other Disabled activists as well. Most activism I’ve been involved with has taken place in Queer, Radical, & Academic communities. I’ve been both a grass-roots activist and a student activist. I do not claim to speak on behalf of Neurodiverse or Disabled folks–or any group for that matter. Here are a few ideas I’ve compiled on how to be a better Ally to folks who have been left out of social and political movements/communities:
–Make your events/social gatherings accessible. Disabled, Neurodiverse, & Chronically Ill folks are frequently excluded from community building spaces. This means that Disabled folks are often isolated. Extreme isolation is still used as corporal punishment in the medical-prison-industrial-
–Understand intellectual privilege. Know that IQ has been used as an oppressive means of social control & was once enforced by proponents of the eugenics movement. Additionally, academia appropriates the struggles of marginalized groups. Resistance started in the streets by Disabled folks, Queer folks, Trans folks, Poor folks, & Folks of Color–Folks who experienced oppression on many different levels. Emphasizing intellectualism (intellectual privilege) reinforces the idea that folks should conform to one form of intelligence—that is, the “intelligence” as defined in white, able-bodied, elite, academic settings. Acknowledge that there are many forms of intelligence, that people are beautiful & amazing regardless of perceived intelligence. Make a point to include all folks. We all have something valuable to contribute.
–Embrace different forms of communication: not everyone can or wishes to communicate verbally. Some folks prefer to communicate non-verbally, some people communicate with their bodies. Accept that there are people who do not want to communicate, touch, or engage socially as much as you do. This does not mean that we care less or dislike you—it simply means that we connect in ways that you may be unfamiliar with. Try not to make assumptions about eye contact or body language. Always ask before touching someone. Never force eye-contact. Value the contributions of shy, introverts—not just the extroverts!
–Avoid using stereotypes to ask about someone’s Disability. For instance, when I tell people I’m Autistic many folks think they’re trying to help by mentioning Temple Grandin or the Rain Man. Assumptions and stereotypes can be harmful and offensive. Never ever assume that it’s our role to educate you about our Disabilities.
–Avoid the “What do you do?” question. Recognize that not everyone can find accessible employment. This question often makes folks who are not employed feel left out. Many people deal with internalized classism & ableism b/c they do not work. Recognize the privileges that accompany employment—social connection, higher income, sometimes health insurance. Many folks who are on social security are paid very little—we’re talking around $650 a month. Folks on Disability are frequently surveillanced and punished when they try to find accessible employment. Just because folks are on Disability does not mean they’re lazy or unmotivated. It means the system is ridiculously complex and oppressive.
–Deconstruct the politics of desire. I will write more about this in terms of how it relates to dating in another post. However, deconstructing the politics of desire is completely necessary in building inclusive movements. The politics of desire shape who we include and who we exclude. The folks who are most usually in the “spotlight” in our communities benefit from white privilege, attractiveness (or “body”) privilege, able-bodied privilege, class privilege. Body/attractiveness privilege means folks more closely fit in to the dominant construction of attractivenenes/beauty. Though there are exceptions of course, we must constantly deconstruct the politics of desire in our communities so we can pay attention to who is excluded and determine if the folks we’re excluding are because they lack certain privileges. As I write this, I acknowledge that I also benefit from privileges that provide me greater access to spaces and communities. *The flip-side of desxualization is fetishization/tokenization which is not ok either. The politics of desire run deeper than just “sex” or “sexuality” and is about how we view folks as full people.
Desire is very complex and it is also socialized. The most “desirable”—often white, class privileged, thin, cisgender, able-bodied people are included while “less desirable” folks (folks who fall out of the normative construction of desire) are excluded. Disabled people are often still regarded as non-sexual beings. Classifying an entire group as non-sexual robs us of our humanity. Desexualization a form of dehumanization and cultural abuse.* Though desire is complex, it is important to recognize the ways in which we’ve been taught who is beautiful and who is not and how “beauty” is used to create hierarchies and oppress those who don’t “fit in.” Disabled folks , Poor folks, and Gender non-conforming folks (within Trans communities: Trans Women are excluded), & Fat folks are frequently left out of social & activist circles. Less “desirable” is so often equated with less “cool/hip.” We as a community need to deconstruct the ways in which we love and connect. Examining the politics of desire is crucial in creating a culture of inclusion.
*For more information on Desexualization as it relates to dating, check out “Dating from the Margins: Desexualizing and Cultural Abuse:” http://gudbuytjane.wordpress.
–Check your ableist language. Examples include: “She’s so Autistic!” (implying there’s something wrong with being Autistic). For more examples of ableist languge (& why we shouldn’t use it) check out this blog:http://disabledfeminists.com/
–Confront “social capital” mindsets. Social capital means that your “position” in society. It is most often associated with class privilege. People with more class privilege typically have access to more power and social connections because of their privileges. Disabled people are often poor and isolated and therefore have less social capital. Because of inaccessibility, we often do not have access to spaces where social connections are formed. We must work hard to include folks who do not have access to social spaces.
We have all been taught that more social connections=better. Who are we leaving out when we make social connections? What are these social connections based on? Capitalism tells us that the more people we surround ourselves with who have greater access to “power” (read: resources, social capital) the more “power” we will have. This mindset is oppressive, reinforces the capitalist mindset, and excludes the most isolated and marginalized folks in our communities.
–Redefine “Value.” People are no less “valuable” or important if they are not physically present in activist movements. It just means that society is inaccessible and sometimes it’s impossible for someone to be physically present. We can all work to undo this—accessibile, scent-free spaces, thinking beyond physical accessibility, offering rides, helping with bus fare. We can redefine “value” as something that is inherent–that we are valuable because of who we are, not what we do. This helps fight the oppressive Capitalist “value” system. We can work together to build more inclusive movements.
Republished with permission from http://cultureofinclusion.
Credit: Lee Lyubov
About Author
Lee Lyubov
I'm a Disabled, Autistic, Queer, Trans Activist & Artist living in Seattle. I'm currently in the process of directing a film on the power of accessible spaces for people with multiple marginal identities. I also write music about my Krip Queer experience and hope to make an album soon.
All this was so good, but the politics of desire knocked me out of my chair. This is something I have wanted to put into words for a long time. Thank you.
This was very educational, thank you. For all of my femme love of perfume, the more I read disability rights literature I am putting down the atomizer. I believe in inclusion. I really appreciate what you said here about removing “What do you do” from the getting to know you questions. It’s reductionist and puts disabled people in a position of marginalized awkwardness. I’m sick of making up half-truths and lies, or baldly admitting my disabled status to people who will not be kind to that confession.
This is so, so lovely! As a neuroatypical trans*/queer person I’m thrilled to see this, thank you.
This is great. Lots of things I hadn’t thought of before. Thank you for sharing.