I think calling it harmful might be an exaggeration.
Hey, great news everyone, you can continue to exclude and/or ignore the existence of disabled people, Metaright here doesn't think it's really that harmful!
The fuck outa here..
The tweet in question is specifically referring to verbal expressions, yes? It doesn't reference public policy, or people's actions, or even people's actual convictions. It just seems to be taking umbrage at the fact that people don't add a disclaimer to whatever they say for whoever might not fit the norm. I can see how that would be irritating, sure. But to say it's "harmful" just dilutes the way we conceptualize harm.
That's just a pretty bad encourgment in general. It implies that you are behind of everyone else, not normal, or anything negative if you can't do this.
What is even a better alternative to those statements? I have no idea what they are trying to suggest.
"Everyone can do this, unless you can't move your legs!"?
"Everyone who isn't disabled can do this!"?How is that not ableist? Is that somehow more inclusive, or encouraging for disabled people? I genuinely don't understand.
How about consider what you say before you say it and if it isn't something everyone can do simply don't say "everyone can do this"?
Ok, so give me an alternative then.
Let's say I'm running a workshop to teach children to paint. Some children will be apprehensive about painting due to thinking they don't have the ability or creativity to do so. To encourage them, I say "Everyone can learn to paint!".
But uh oh, some people have severe learning disabilities and may not be able to learn to paint. Some people lack the ability to move any part of their body and can't paint in a way that I would be equipped to teach them. Some people are comatose or otherwise completely non-responsive and obviously can't paint.
What do I say instead? "Some people can paint!"? "Everyone except X, Y, Z can paint!"? Is that encouraging to anyone?
Discussion about this meme seems to not have landed on an answer about how to be disability-inclusive when making statements. I tend to not make blanket statements or motivational statements for a variety of reasons, but I'm also not an organization. This sounds like a very valuable skill.
Image of post by Hannah @lxzianna:
I can't believe I have to keep saying this but
STOP FORGETTING DISABLED PEOPLE in your shitty ass blanket statements. Don't say "Everyone can do this" or "No one has an excuse".
Fuck off with that. Stop forgetting us until we remind you that we're here. We are people. We matter.
