https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl2GwLtMX7s&feature=share

As you may well have realised by now some of these posts have Tiktok videos attached. This is because I occasionally do a Tiktok that inspires me to write a post. So I wanted to talk about my Tiktok username.

My Tiktok username is Spazticallydoingthings in reference to my disability Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Pasly.

Now someone pulled me up the other day on this username and particularly the use of the word Spaz. Particularly in reference to the way this word has in the past been used as an insult towards disabled people, not least those with Cerebral Pasly.

I’m very aware of this. I have been called a spaz as an insult by many people including family.

Side note: The literally only reason I spell Spaz with a Z is because as a child I thought it looked cool.

So instead of letting this word upset and aggravate me I often use it to describe both myself and things my disability effects in my life. I will either use this in a neutral or positive way, I try very hard not to use this in a negative way. And I NEVER use this word to describe any other disabled person. I am very clear about that. It is a choice I have made about myself and the way to describe myself, not other people.

But it is my Tiktok username, and as I have started sharing my Tiktoks on other social media platforms, people have a face and a name to put to this use of the word. I am therefore not surprised that someone has objected to my use of it.

But honestly none of this is going to stop me using the word for myself. I don’t think it’s a bad word. It is simply a word that’s been used in a bad way.

The objection I received to my use of the word said that able bodied people may see me use that word and think that they should use that word for other disabled people. This is not something I’m responsible for.

I am not responsible for the generalisations made of able people. I am not responsible for the fact that able people think once they’ve met one disabled person, they’ve met them all. Especially when I go out of my way to remind them of the contrary. Check my Tiktok bio and you’ll see what I mean.

Able people need to own there actions towards disabled people. Other disabled people and the way they choose to live there lives are clearly not responsible. We should not be made to feel like we carry the weight of the entire community simply by just existing.