While I’ve been posting less on here, as I’ve been very busy, I’ve still been continuing my Facebook campaign which sparked this blog. As I try to get back into this blog they’re a few updates I want to share with you about this, and I will try to do so in the next few days. Bare with me though please.
As for the luck of this blog the blue black grounds I previously used for the post have become more difficult to add from my phone, so I’ve decided to stop doing these. That said if this in any way makes anything I post less accessible to anyone please let me know as I will figure something out.
Thanks for sticking with me, more subject specific update will come tomorrow 🙂.
So I went down a dead end today, and I posted about it and some of the comments asked me why I went down that road.
I don’t understand why I need a reason to go down roads. Why only certain parts of the world are supposed to be accessible to me. It’s frustrating and annoying.
I just want to go where I want to go.
Why is it not that simply for everyone else to get?
So apparently the posts I’ve been sharing in my local Facebook group are apparently derailing the whole group. And honestly I find how dramatic everyone is being hilarious.
But also at least they’re talking about accessibility. That’s a win in my book and literally a large part of why I decide to tacle this over social media.
I’m tired of being told disabled spaces are the only places we can talk about disabled issues. And I guess that has now changed. And honestly I like that. For however long it lasts
Image description: A white van on an open empty road, entirely blocking a pavement, next to a lamp post and an open patch of grass.
So I posted again on my local Facebook group. This post is now a few weeks old, but I still think it’s important to share.
I shared the above picture of a vehicle parked blocking the pavement with a patch of grass next to it. Explaining that if the space left by a vehicle is grass this doesn’t mean they have left accessible space for a wheelchair user to pass. Now I’m happy to discuss this issue further in a seperate post if anyone would like but what I really want to talk about here is two of the comments I received on that post.
Image discription: Facebook comment reads “Go argue with yourself. Have a good day! I’m going to block you, you’re boring the living shit out of me!”
This comment annoys me, because it is very clear to me why I’m posting, and why I continue to post, to educate others, not to argue. Not to entertain them.
I also don’t understand why people need to announce the fact they’re going to block me. If they really want to clock me why can’t they just do it without announcing it.
The final part about me being boring, I really don’t honestly just tells me that I need to keep posting, because people obviously find inclusion boring. So I need to keep educating and pushing for it.
Image description: Facebook Comment reads “If your not happy now work is constructed in your area move. Your only here for the Schools. I meet your type all the time but drive 4×4 to protect our Children. Hmmm.”
Firstly this persons comment highlights that they really didn’t read my post, as the post was on why leaving space next to a vehicle when it’s grass, does not mean that the space you’ve left is accessible.
Secondly the reason I wanted to talk about this comment is that it insinuates a lot of choices that I as a non disabled person do not have. Now taking this person at there word it seems they really believe that people have this level of choice. Which means they really don’t understand that not everyone does. And while this isn’t only specific to those with disabilities. It speaks to a complete lack of understanding of the lack of control that other people have in there lives.
While I recognise that I am looking to have the housing that I have, it’s far from a choice that I’ve made. I live where I live because it was where I was told to live. I didn’t choose this. And even if I did choose where I live, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to complain. We are allowed to say when we don’t like where we live.
I also found they comment on me being in the area simply for the schools particularly difficult as someone who is Childless Not By Choice. But this is something I can talk about in other posts if anyone would like me to. Just remember before leaving comments like this on someone’s posts that you don’t actually know a what people are dealing with, so you shouldn’t assume anything, or you could really end up upsetting someone.
All this to say that no matter whether others don’t like my posts, and continue to leave comments like this. I’m going to keep educating people, on my experiences whether they like or not. As I am part of society and my voice deserves to be heard.
Edit: Upon reflection on this post I have cropped the photo.
I think I would enjoy my job. I certainly enjoy my area of study that I hope and had planned would lead to a job. I am qualified enough for the job I want, but lack the experience.
When you have no experience in an area and are more complex for people to take on, in other words disabled.
They often find excuses not to take you. A small problem that was easily explained in my birth certificate, was given as the reason I didn’t get a job with an agency highering as students a few years ago. Later I realised this reasoning made no sense, and that they probably didn’t want to take me on because realistically it would be very difficult for them to find me any work.
I want to be able to work, and despite being overqualified for many jobs in my area those I have gone for often seem to critique me for this lack of experience. Jobs in other areas are still often reluctant to higher me, due to my general lack of work experience.
It is so important that as I disabled individuals I have to make sure that any work I would actually get would not put my benefits at risk, or increase my contribution to my own care. As these elements are important for now I live in my day to day lives.
If I were able to find work that I could do, whether the actual setting of the job and the work I would conduct, would only be the first level of inacessiblity that I need to consider. I would also have to consider how different jobs world impact me. For example, part time work for example may be inaccessible to me depending on how many hours I work, due to the effect it has on my overall income. But full time work may be to much for me to physically handle.
What is clear is the inacessiblity of work, and living on benefits as a disabled person in society, makes the task of finding work a lot more complex for me as a disabled person; as already part of a very complex system. This is all before I have even discussed the social value and status that is awarded to those who work, and often denied to those who are on benefits, particularly disabled individuals.
A lot of ignorant opinions view disabled people as looking for not having to work, when the reality is for various reasons they are not able. This makes up what can be seen as two very different sides of the same coin.
The truth is I really just want my own income, I want to be able to earn my own money, be responsible for my own income, and at least somewhat support myself.
Though I’m not sure if this will ever happen, I try to have hope, and on the good days it’s easy to believe that it will be true.
Screenshot reads “You have been temporarily blocked from performing this…”
Yesterday I received a 24hrs ban from commenting on Posts in Facebook groups. This is because someone reported something on the posts I have been making.
I’m actually less annoyed that I was reported and more annoyed that Facebook allowed that report to be turned into a restriction on my account.
This is not fair, as I have been restricted from fighting for equality and equity of disabled people in my local area. This is shameful ableism from Facebook and I have contacted them to demand not only is the restriction removed, but also and more importantly, an explanation for how fighting for disabled rights can result in a restriction. I want to know exactly what I said that they didn’t like.
Screenshot of Facebook Restriction Notices. The screenshot reads “You account is restricted at the moment. You’re temporarily restricted from commenting in groups until tomorrow at 22.50. If you think that this doesn’t go against our Community Standards, let us know.”
I am also aware that it is almost certainly a bot of some description that decides whether an individuals account is restricted. But this is not an excuse. Facebook are still responsible for the restriction of Disability activism on there platform. And I will fight this.
I am aware that the restriction is not very long, the issue is that I’ve been restricted at all for activism, not for how long I have been restricted.
Quote reads “Courage means going against the majority opinion in the name of the truth” By Václav Havel.
My Inaccessible Life 