Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau
Vol #16
Hi friends,
We come to theme #2 with a bang. This month we read an important book that may have (to a certain extent) opened our worldview. It may have shown you things that you did not already know. It is WILD how we all can co-exist together but still fail to realise that everyone around us is experiencing a different reality.
I hope our discussions can bring a certain acceptance around disability. I hope it encourages us to redefine our understanding of how our history has taught us to fear it. And most of all, I hope that it reminds us that having a disability does not limit anyone from living a “full life”.
See you soon.
Love,
Miti
About the book and author (via goodreads):
Disabled people are the world’s largest minority, an estimated 15 percent of the global population. But many of us–disabled and non-disabled alike–don’t know how to act, what to say, or how to be an ally to the disability community. Demystifying Disability is a friendly handbook on important disability issues you need to know about, including:
• How to appreciate disability history and identity
• How to recognize and avoid ableism (discrimination toward disabled people)
• How to be mindful of good disability etiquette
• How to appropriately think, talk, and ask about disability
• How to ensure accessibility becomes your standard practice, from everyday communication to planning special events
• How to identify and speak up about disability stereotypes in media
Authored by celebrated disability rights advocate, speaker, and writer Emily Ladau, this practical, intersectional guide offers all readers a welcoming place to understand disability as part of the human experience.
Read more about Emily here.
Memorable Quotes:
So, how do I define disability? After years of existing in this body of mine, my definition is Disability: a state of being; a natural part of the human experience.
We’re each our own person, and everyone’s thoughts and experiences are different. Because disability exists in infinite forms, even people who share the same diagnosis (if they have one) don’t have identical experiences.
But the larger issues at play here are the beliefs that (1) helping a person with a disability is a moment worthy of recording, and (2) this private moment belongs on the news, with the focus on glorifying the nondisabled person for being a good person or doing a good deed.
Is this a positive representation of disability that humanizes disabled people, or does this media just use disability to play to emotions? Am I inspired because someone with a disability actually did something truly inspiring, or does this feeling stem from ableist ideas about disabled people?
But the association of violence with mental illness is largely a harmful myth, which studies have debunked. In fact, these studies have shown that people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.
So please, don’t speak for us, about us, or over us. Speak to us and with us.
it’s important to think about how we talk about disability, because the way we talk shapes how we think, and the way we think shapes how we talk.
We’re shut out or excluded because the world is not designed for us.
Questions that arose:
What is your biggest takeaway from the book?
How does the media portray disability? What are some examples you have come across and how does reading the book make you feel about them?
What did you think about Emily’s narration style and voice throughout the book?
How much does language around disability matter? (this question is asked from a perspective that some words are universally considered derogatory and we do not intend to push back on that).
In your reality, how often have you thought about accessibility?
Have you ever found yourself perpetuating certain stereotypes that come out of fear and learnt behavior around disability?
Do you have any personal experiences with Disability?
Where do you think India lies in this discussion about disability? Have we even reached the threshold of discussing policy changes
Recommendations: I am not your inspiration, thank you very much. 9 mins long Ted Talk by late Stella Young, a renowned disability activist who coined the term Inspiration Porn.
Special thanks to Tanushree Sarkar, a researcher on disability and inclusive education, who has kindly agreed to answer some of our questions and join us for our book club meeting this month. Woohoo!
Our theme for May-July is Body.
SHELF INDULGENCE PICKS:
May: Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally
June: My Body
July: The Elephant in the Womb
Happy reading and lots of love,
Miti and Tvisha
P.S. If you’re interested in being a part of Shelf Indulgence, write to us!