Blogging against Disablism

Disablism? What's that, then? It's not big, and it's not clever, that's what. Why should someone have the right to disciminate against, tease, ignore, stare at, beat up, ostracise or otherwise make someone else's life a misery, just because they're "different"? Or even kill them? We're all different, aren't we? Even identical twins must have traits one doesn't share with the other one. So why is it so bad to be "different"? I'm an individual, so I'm different from everyone else. For the best part of a day, I have wheels underneath me; when I'm not in my car, I'm in my wheelchair. In my car, nobody knows I'm not "like them", unless they're really nosey and peer into my car to see my wheelchair. But the moment I get out of my car, I'm "different" again, and people feel they can talk to me as if I'm a kid. Pram mentality I call it: because I'm only about 3 feet off the ground, I get the kiddy treatment. People don't expect so much from me because I'm disabled. Well, FYI, I can act, sing, play musical instruments, I work and I live alone. How's that for starters? Defensive? Moi? People think it's OK to stare at me in the street, or make remarks because they think I can't hear them. Well, it's not. And it should stop. Now. And not just for me; for anyone who's "not like you". Think about it. Pity doesn't help us. Understanding does.