Dear Able-Bodied People and Neurotypicals: Stop Telling Us to "Overcome" Our Disabilities.

You know, I absolutely LOATHE Forbes, but this particular writer gets it right when it comes to living disabled every day.

Slashing any benefits we need just to get by to the marrow isn't enough for the capitalist pigs and their idiot fluffers in the current Dipshit Administration. Now they wanna spy on us through "Social" Media.

A new policy proposal by the Trump administration calls for the surveillance of disabled people’s social media profiles to determine the necessity of their disability benefits. The proposal, which reportedly aims to cut down on the number of fraudulent disability claims would, monitor the profiles of disabled people and flag content that shows them doing physical activities. When it comes down to it, the policy dictates that disabled people shouldn’t be seen living their lives for fear of losing vital financial aid and, possibly, medical care.

The administration has been working closely with the Social Security Administration in an effort to reduce false claims believing that social media holds a cache of information regarding eligibility of Social Security Disability Benefits. They believe that by monitoring the social media accounts of disability benefit recipients, they can root out false claims and reduce the overall amount of money spent on the programs.

The proposal, like many of its policies regarding disabled people, shows a fundamental misunderstanding of disability and takes advantage of how social media operates in order to cut them off from the support they need. Disabled people don’t all function in the same way, and disability is not a set of stereotypes like taking selfies staring longingly at the world. They live lives while managing their energy for the activities they can handle and trying to make those they cannot more accessible.

Additionally, studies have shown that a majority of social media users show only the good in their lives, not the hardships or difficulties. Disabled people should be allowed to share the full scope of their existence without fear they’ll be accused of lying—and even fraud—by the United States Government which will likely reason that if a disabled person is seen going to the mall or taking time to swim or jog, they can be working.

Right. Because we're only ever allowed to be miserable unless some able-bodied douchebag sees the opportunity to film some Inspiration Porn (I'd like to thank the author of said article for the term). "Look at this guy. Despite his numerous disabilities and other adversity, he became a capitalist and imperialist, too. If you can't do it, you're just lazy."

Another thing that the general public does not understand about disability and the internet is that attention to disability issues often operates within an economy of "Inspiration Porn." Abled people often film, post, share and circulate photos and videos of disabled people doing extraordinary things as a litmus test to how “poor” life could be with a disability and how disabled people achieve “in spite of” their disabilities (quite often, this type of posting occurs without the disabled person’s permission). And, while many disability advocates disdain this type of media representation and are vocally calling for an end to inspiration porn, there’s a not-so-often talked about number of disabled people who play upon these stereotypes for their advocacy and to further their own quest for disability rights.

Here's yet another way the pigs deny us employment: Emotional Intelligence tests.

Nothing illegal exists in the use of EI during the hiring and on boarding process, as usually no disclosure of a non-apparent disability occurs before or during these stages by the prospective candidate. Like anything else containing protection under the ADA, disclosure is a must. No one can expect protection or accommodations at any stage of their careers without first having disclosed their condition with their employer, and then subsequently having requested reasonable accommodations. However, if a disclosure of any developmental disability should occur during these hiring stages, it stands to reason that this changes the legality of using EI during their interview process. By definition, EI discriminates against those with slower emotional development.

The article goes on to state that similar practices are used against disabled folks with tenure in a company. I also happen to agree that the pigs are still stuck in the "Golden Age" of the 1980s, when Ronald Reagan first set the capitalist gang bang in full swing.

So to members of the able-bodied community and members of the United States Capitalist Party who might be reading this (fat chance), stop trying to force us to change so that we can appear more 'normal' to you. Stop trying to make us fucking miserable for the sake of your own jollies. And lastly, don't use a potential job as a carrot just so we'll do some work for free for a couple of months while you hit us with the stick and then deny the carrot after the fact.

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I don't think people are urging you to overcome your disabilities. I think they are urging you to overcome your attitude. I know. Easier said than done, but it is the only thing you really can control.

I was told, I don't know if it is true, that a survival technique in the Jewish concentration camps was to take solace and power from the fact that the Nazis could control their bodies but not their minds. Buddhist monks have their own version of this.

If I or anyone else here offended you, I'm sorry. I'm sure it was not anyone's intent. Never judge another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

The Aspie Corner's picture

@dkmich But that isn't going to happen anytime soon, is it?

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

@The Aspie Corner

But I'm sure as hell going to enjoy any licks I can get it along the way.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

thanatokephaloides's picture

@dkmich

But I'm sure as hell going to enjoy any licks I can get it along the way.

edit: By which I mean when I vote, I vote to get my licks in against "The Man" as often as possible!

Wink

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

thanatokephaloides's picture

@The Aspie Corner

America needs to overcome its idiocy, greed and malice.

But that isn't going to happen anytime soon, is it?

Unfortunately, idiocy, greed and malice are baked-in parts of the human condition; as we haven't even made any real headway against cherished stupidity much less greed or malice, I'd have to answer "No".

Diablo

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

enhydra lutris's picture

guy who had his disability challenged for attending his prescribed physical therapy sessions. Sick shit.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Alligator Ed's picture

In my prior life, as a provider of Worker's Compensation insured health benefits, I saw many people with real disabilities getting shafted by government bureaucrats and insurance company "adjustors" (who adjust the injured out of coping with their infirmities by cutting benefits. In Californication, the state in which I dwell, the Terminator Schwartzenegger terminated many benefits from injured workers without concern--"I've got mine, now fucking get of of your asses and get yours". Even though many of the disabled were precisely unable to stand up or even walk independently. When the Terminator passed his workers' comp "reforms", the state legislature was Democrat majority then just as now. Neither party of the Neoliberal Cult wishes to help us serfs.

I could go on, but my ramblings won't be therapeutic for anyone.

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snoopydawg's picture

@Alligator Ed

People are told that injured workers are just faking their injuries and there is lots of fraud in the system. BS! Way less than one percent of workers rig the system, but looking at how many people get screwed when claiming an injury that number goes way up. The insurance companies spend more money on phony doctors who will tell them that there is nothing wrong with the person even though their MRIs and other tests show that there is lots of problems. Plus they spend lots of money on defense attorneys to fight the injured worker's lawyers in a court system rampant with fraud.

I was videod twice by someone who worked for my insurance company and both times it was during my walk where it was obvious that I was limping and had to use a walking stick to do it. I won't go into detail about my case, but it took 5 years from date of injury to when I had surgery and by then I had lost my career and lots of the damage was permanent.

As for the F'cking Terminator he ran on workers comp reform to help people who are injured. "People who are injured at work will be treated timely and fairly!" What happened when he got in? He passed legislation making it more difficult for people and easier for the insurance companies to screw them. He cost me lots of money in penalties and even though my case was settled every new law can take away the benefits I settled for.

Another thing. Lots of disabilities are hidden. No one can tell what another person is experiencing. I used to be able to hide mine, but not so much anymore. Congress just thinks that all money should go to the elite and not to we the people. Screw them too.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Alligator Ed's picture

@snoopydawg The vast majority of my TBI patient's looked ok. They weren't drooling, have a crooked semi-paretic smile, limping or peeing in their pants. But they aren't ok. Not by a long shot. Once again, numerous personal encounters could be delivered by yours truly, but I demur.

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mimi's picture

I just realized that my stupid imagination tricked me again to have been part of those media outlets, who feed the lawyers for their own media jobs good to avoid being jobless.

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