The more I post, the less legalities matter.

On 4th May 2023 By Katy DalyIn Blog2 Comments

So as I’ve said I’ve been posting online about issues of pavement access inaccessibility and poor parking. But the my post the more people seem less concerned with the law that I used to back the things I say in the posts and often the things I post about. Apparently if you simply have an opinion people don’t like, whether it is backed up by law doesn’t matter.

Today I posted about a vehicle parked in a bus stop. Vehicles parks in bus stops restrict access for the bus to park close enough to the curb so that’s a ramp can be used by those who need it. It is also generally not allowed by any vehicle except for in specific circumstances legally speaking. After posting this vehicle alert that they were apparently part of a company that maintains bus stops. However I could not find anything that legally supported that vehicles right to park there, as long as the bus stop was still in use, witch it obviously was as at the time I was waiting for a bus.

Despite supporting my post with research and doing further research when questioned. Many people think me having a different opinion and perspective on the issue makes me wrong, despite the fact I am able to support mine with evidence and they can’t.

It is just interesting to me that no matter how much I back up my opinion, legally or with other valid sources. There are people that will still think I’m wrong because of a social acceptance of a matter.

For example if I post an obvious working vehicle the assumption is that they have the right to block access, restrict a pavement or park inconsiderably are even illegally, simply because they maybe working. I would like to add that I’ve never knownly posted the vehicle of someone who is obviously working in the moment in which I post it.

If something is accessible it is inaccessible it is inacessible whatever your reason maybe for making it inaccessible. And the law is the law.

Frankly if you think I’m wrong for following or asking about a law on something I don’t really care about your opinion on the matter.

Resulted to this is something I may talk about at a later date. Someone once questioned why I was so interested in the law, and suggested that I might be Autistic because of it. I honestly found this very offensive but it is something to return to in a different post.

I posted again on Facebook.

On 12th Mar 202315th May 2023 By Katy DalyIn BlogLeave a comment

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.

Truma top trumps

On 5th Mar 20235th Mar 2023 By Katy DalyIn BlogLeave a comment

I’ve had a fair few people tell me I could have it worse, and I should be greatful I woke up. But I really don’t understand this mindset. I really don’t understand why we can’t just accept that everyone has truma, that we all have problems, and they are all valid. Instead of deciding that some peoples problems seem worse than others.

Out of context and with little understanding of the bigger picture, some of the areas of innaccessiblity that I’ve been posting about may seem minor. But a post about pavement parking is about a lot more than pavement parking. It’s really about the awareness and consideration society has for disabled people. So many people have never even considered how parking incorrectly can make a journey dangerous for a disabled person. And unfortunately some disagree when you raise the issue.

They think they’re bigger problems and I don’t really understand where that idea comes from. Why can’t we just accept everyones problems are valid. Without making them feel like there problems don’t matter.

Just because you don’t understand why a problem is a problem doesn’t make it not a problem.

Unfortunately because of the inherent ableism and inaccessibility of society, many of the problems disabled people raise can often seem minor to those who have never experienced them. In a world where a step isn’t a problem for most people, it can be hard for some to understand why it’s such a problem, why it’s more than an inconvenience for others.

I guess I just wanted to say that all problems are valid, no matter how big or how small it may seem to others. If you are facing inaccessiblity you are entitled to complain about that. It is not your fault and you’re allowed to be annoyed by it. No matter what others are dealing with. That doesn’t make your issues any less valid. And don’t let anyone try to convince you otherwise.

I’d have to have a job to be abe to answer this question.

On 3rd Mar 2023 By Katy DalyIn Writing PromptsLeave a comment

Do you enjoy your job?

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.

Explaining my Tiktok username.

On 25th Feb 202325th Feb 2023 By Katy DalyIn BlogLeave a comment

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.

I was restricted on Facebook for fighting for equality for disabled people.

On 23rd Feb 202323rd Feb 2023 By Katy DalyIn BlogLeave a comment

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.