Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Americans, how do you feel about this? (self.Blind)
submitted by KingWithoutClothes
Hello everyone,
This question is particularly directed at progressives/liberals, though others can share their opinions too, of course.
I'm not American but I've always been extremely interested in American politics (I'm generally a bit of a politics and political science nerd). Due to this, and the fact that I'm a Social Democrat (basically a progressive in American terms), I follow the different campaigns of the Democratic Presidential Candidates very closely. I stayed up for the whole night to watch the first two debates live and plan to do the same for the upcoming debates.
Anyway, here's the issue. The Democratic Party and its candidates talk a whole lot about diversity and inclusivity. Especially the LGBTQ-community is mentioned literally every 30 seconds. The candidates also spend a lot of times talking about racial minority issues such as white cops shooting innocent black folks and latino immigrants getting treated horribly by the Trump administration. Now, all of this is great and commendable in my opinion. Just to be clear: I have zero problem with candidates advocating the rights of these various minority groups. However, there is something that really bugged me when I watched these debates and the more I thought about, the more I realized that it's exactly the same in my home country. Not a single word was uttered by *any* of the 20 candidates regarding disabled individuals. They spent several minutes discussing transgender issues. For context: transgender people are estimated to make up 0.6% of the US population - that's about 2 million people. By comparison, there are over 1 million blind and legally blind individuals alone in the US. And this is not counting the ones who are visually impaired but over legal blindness, let alone deaf people, paralyzed people and all the many, many other disabled folks. Yet... nobody EVER talks about us. Yes, gay rights and black rights are very important but don't our rights count for something too? Don't we blind and disabled folks also experience discrimination, some of which is systemic? Don't we too need our issues to be brought to the public eye, so that awareness can be raised and a national debate can be had? I feel this way about both the US as well as my home country. Here in Switzerland, disabled people don't even have a genuine legal code of protection. You know how the US has its civil rights code from the 1960s? Well, we don't have that. Technically, I can be discriminated by anyone for any reason and there's nothing I can do about it. Again, this Switzerland, one of the richest and most highly developed countries in the world, not the Congo or Papua New Guinea or something like that.
Meanwhile in the US, the *only* occasion where disabled people and their issues are ever brought up in public debate is when it's in relation to war (veterans who've become disabled as a result of their service). It seems like the US government is telling disabled people: "You're only worth something if you've killed a bunch of Iraqis. If you were simply born with your vision problems, too bad. We don't give a rat's ass about you. Shut up and take it."
Now, some people may argue that I'm painting things too bleak. But let's keep it real: the situation can definitely be improved. Even with the protections in place, discrimination of disabled people still happens in America. Also, the welfare state is a complete joke in the US and many disabled people suffer from this because it means they never get a real chance in life. At least here in Switzerland, university education is practically free and I get quite decent financial support from the government during my studies. Without these things, my situation would be much more dire.
Anyway, apologies for the lengthy post. I'm very curious what y'all think about this topic.
This question is particularly directed at progressives/liberals, though others can share their opinions too, of course.
I'm not American but I've always been extremely interested in American politics (I'm generally a bit of a politics and political science nerd). Due to this, and the fact that I'm a Social Democrat (basically a progressive in American terms), I follow the different campaigns of the Democratic Presidential Candidates very closely. I stayed up for the whole night to watch the first two debates live and plan to do the same for the upcoming debates.
Anyway, here's the issue. The Democratic Party and its candidates talk a whole lot about diversity and inclusivity. Especially the LGBTQ-community is mentioned literally every 30 seconds. The candidates also spend a lot of times talking about racial minority issues such as white cops shooting innocent black folks and latino immigrants getting treated horribly by the Trump administration. Now, all of this is great and commendable in my opinion. Just to be clear: I have zero problem with candidates advocating the rights of these various minority groups. However, there is something that really bugged me when I watched these debates and the more I thought about, the more I realized that it's exactly the same in my home country. Not a single word was uttered by *any* of the 20 candidates regarding disabled individuals. They spent several minutes discussing transgender issues. For context: transgender people are estimated to make up 0.6% of the US population - that's about 2 million people. By comparison, there are over 1 million blind and legally blind individuals alone in the US. And this is not counting the ones who are visually impaired but over legal blindness, let alone deaf people, paralyzed people and all the many, many other disabled folks. Yet... nobody EVER talks about us. Yes, gay rights and black rights are very important but don't our rights count for something too? Don't we blind and disabled folks also experience discrimination, some of which is systemic? Don't we too need our issues to be brought to the public eye, so that awareness can be raised and a national debate can be had? I feel this way about both the US as well as my home country. Here in Switzerland, disabled people don't even have a genuine legal code of protection. You know how the US has its civil rights code from the 1960s? Well, we don't have that. Technically, I can be discriminated by anyone for any reason and there's nothing I can do about it. Again, this Switzerland, one of the richest and most highly developed countries in the world, not the Congo or Papua New Guinea or something like that.
Meanwhile in the US, the *only* occasion where disabled people and their issues are ever brought up in public debate is when it's in relation to war (veterans who've become disabled as a result of their service). It seems like the US government is telling disabled people: "You're only worth something if you've killed a bunch of Iraqis. If you were simply born with your vision problems, too bad. We don't give a rat's ass about you. Shut up and take it."
Now, some people may argue that I'm painting things too bleak. But let's keep it real: the situation can definitely be improved. Even with the protections in place, discrimination of disabled people still happens in America. Also, the welfare state is a complete joke in the US and many disabled people suffer from this because it means they never get a real chance in life. At least here in Switzerland, university education is practically free and I get quite decent financial support from the government during my studies. Without these things, my situation would be much more dire.
Anyway, apologies for the lengthy post. I'm very curious what y'all think about this topic.
ojioni 17 points 4y ago
They don't talk about disabled people because it's not a hot-button issue so won't get them votes.
KingWithoutClothes [OP] 2 points 4y ago
I understand that but would you agree with me that it should be a hot-button issue? Some people here are of the opinion that many helpful structures are in place but as an outside, as far as I'm able to judge it, there is still room for improvement. There are so many disabled people and I find it problematic that nobody seems to care about them. Maybe the disabled community would have to do more to advocate for itself.
ojioni 2 points 4y ago
By law, businesses must make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees. Also, a certain percentage of parking spaces must be reserved for the disabled. Ramps are required for wheelchairs. Braille is on all ATMs. TV shows have closed captions (text) for the deaf.
The US does quite a bit for the disabled. Apparently, a lot more than the \*cough\* more enlightened Swiss. I'm not sure what more we can do on that front. Yes, discrimination will happen. There's always going to be assholes. But a business that discriminates against a disabled employee (or customer) is asking for a whole lot of legal trouble.
The US does quite a bit for the disabled. Apparently, a lot more than the \*cough\* more enlightened Swiss. I'm not sure what more we can do on that front. Yes, discrimination will happen. There's always going to be assholes. But a business that discriminates against a disabled employee (or customer) is asking for a whole lot of legal trouble.
solar-cabin 9 points 4y ago
I think the difference is those groups you mentioned all tend to vote as a bloc so if you get the leaders on board you get a bloc of voters.
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I don't think there is the same political bloc in the blind and disabled since that often happens to people later in life after they have already established their political views.
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I would think all disabled and visually impaired people would have a common interest in making SS and Disability funding secure and sustainable and promoting access and equal rights for the disabled since that effects them personally.
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I agree that disabled people are a large group of voters and it may be that they need to organize and get their political will known to the candidates and show support for candidates that support those policies and agenda.
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I don't think there is the same political bloc in the blind and disabled since that often happens to people later in life after they have already established their political views.
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I would think all disabled and visually impaired people would have a common interest in making SS and Disability funding secure and sustainable and promoting access and equal rights for the disabled since that effects them personally.
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I agree that disabled people are a large group of voters and it may be that they need to organize and get their political will known to the candidates and show support for candidates that support those policies and agenda.
noeinan 6 points 4y ago
And then there's me over here being trans and disabled lol.
For real though, I only hear about this from disability activists, or news coverage of shitty things being done to disability funding in the US. Never hear a candidate bring it up, despite roughly 20% of folks having some kind of disability.
We have the ADA, but still most buildings don't comply because there's a million ways to get an exception. Literally, right in my town someone opened an LGBT+ clinic (for profit, most folks don't take Medicare/Medicaid) where the main entrance is up several flights of stairs, sidewalks are beat to shit from giant tree roots...
Because the person who opened the clinic thought the aesthetic of an old home in the historic district was pretty and that's more important than accessibility... In a *medical clinic*. And they were complaining that government regulations were restricting them from certain medical designations (tax something) because their doors/hallways weren't wide enough and there's no lift. Apparently that's unfair lol.
I went out political canvassing in my wheelchair and they sent me to the neighborhood with the best accessibility. Out of over 60 houses, I could only reach the front door of two because of steps. Which, after research, I found there's literally no reason almost all homes have steps to the door-- not even to keep dirt out, they literally do it just because it's tradition. And even in new homes that's somehow okay. (Not to mention our HOA fought us for months over our wheelchair ramp because it "disrupts the aesthetic of the neighborhood".)
Shit is fucked for disabled people in the US. I could keep going, like about violence, domestic and random, financial bullshit, doctors, and more, but I'll be here all day. Shit is fucked and this really should be more of a priority, but I feel often like things are so bad most moderately-severely disabled folks have a hard time even getting out of the house and folks use that to pretend we don't exist.
And the fact that most people will gain some type of disability through their life, it's a marginalized group that anyone could suddenly find themselves in, etc. should make people pay attention*more*, instead the idea that it could be them makes them distance themselves to deny the possibility. It's a mess.
For real though, I only hear about this from disability activists, or news coverage of shitty things being done to disability funding in the US. Never hear a candidate bring it up, despite roughly 20% of folks having some kind of disability.
We have the ADA, but still most buildings don't comply because there's a million ways to get an exception. Literally, right in my town someone opened an LGBT+ clinic (for profit, most folks don't take Medicare/Medicaid) where the main entrance is up several flights of stairs, sidewalks are beat to shit from giant tree roots...
Because the person who opened the clinic thought the aesthetic of an old home in the historic district was pretty and that's more important than accessibility... In a *medical clinic*. And they were complaining that government regulations were restricting them from certain medical designations (tax something) because their doors/hallways weren't wide enough and there's no lift. Apparently that's unfair lol.
I went out political canvassing in my wheelchair and they sent me to the neighborhood with the best accessibility. Out of over 60 houses, I could only reach the front door of two because of steps. Which, after research, I found there's literally no reason almost all homes have steps to the door-- not even to keep dirt out, they literally do it just because it's tradition. And even in new homes that's somehow okay. (Not to mention our HOA fought us for months over our wheelchair ramp because it "disrupts the aesthetic of the neighborhood".)
Shit is fucked for disabled people in the US. I could keep going, like about violence, domestic and random, financial bullshit, doctors, and more, but I'll be here all day. Shit is fucked and this really should be more of a priority, but I feel often like things are so bad most moderately-severely disabled folks have a hard time even getting out of the house and folks use that to pretend we don't exist.
And the fact that most people will gain some type of disability through their life, it's a marginalized group that anyone could suddenly find themselves in, etc. should make people pay attention*more*, instead the idea that it could be them makes them distance themselves to deny the possibility. It's a mess.
KingWithoutClothes [OP] 3 points 4y ago
The thing you wrote about the unnecessary stairs and people refusing to build a ramp or an elevator for "aesthetic" reasons exists here in Switzerland too. For example there's a really long flight of stairs right outside my university building. The stairway is very dangerous for visually impaired people because it's made of grey concrete and there's zero contrast. Even on sunny days, you can't see the edge of the steps. One time before I had my cane I almost fell down there. The flight of stairs is also a popular place for non-disabled students to sit, talk and hang out. They usually don't make space if I want to pass and that makes the whole thing even more dangerous. For years blind and visually impaired students have been requesting the university to put some of those white, slightly raised lines and/or spots on each step, so it's easier to see the edges. So far the university has been refusing to do this, arguing that it would destroy the "historical nature" of the structure, which should be protected. Like, seriously. It's a freaking staircase and it's not even inside the building. Just because they built this in the 19th century visually impaired folks now have to fall down there and break their necks? It pisses me off.
Anyway, thank you so much for your very insightful response! It was interesting to read your post, also because your opinion is different from some of the others here.
Anyway, thank you so much for your very insightful response! It was interesting to read your post, also because your opinion is different from some of the others here.
vwlsmssng 3 points 4y ago
> the fact that most people will gain some type of disability through their life
This should interest you.
http://www.lifetimehomes.org.uk/pages/lifetime-homes.html
This should interest you.
http://www.lifetimehomes.org.uk/pages/lifetime-homes.html
CloudsOfMagellan 3 points 4y ago
Here's some relivent articles
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-war-on-people-with-disabilities
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-asked-to-have-braille-removed-from-elevators-in-early-1980s-executive-says/2018/09/12/67d97548-b6a6-11e8-a7b5-adaaa5b2a57f_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.16bf448c09bf
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-war-on-people-with-disabilities
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-asked-to-have-braille-removed-from-elevators-in-early-1980s-executive-says/2018/09/12/67d97548-b6a6-11e8-a7b5-adaaa5b2a57f_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.16bf448c09bf
vapidvision 2 points 4y ago
I think that they do not talk about the disabled community because it is more of a "solved" issue. There is a relatively robust system to support the blind or otherwise disabled. Strong legislation that protects the educational rights of children with disabilities, employment rights, health care rights, etc. (ADA and IDEA are the two biggins). Depending on the state, there are different programs that do cover community college or four year university for persons with disabilities for free. It's not a single federal system like in European countries, but individual program run by or within states.
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The welfare system is not really broken; America is a Corporate Welfare State, not a Social Welfare State. We have plenty of money when corporations need tax breaks or incentives, but when it comes to the citizens our coffers run dry. The welfare system works in America exactly how it was intended to: steal from the poor to give to the rich so the rich will make jobs to pay the poor so the poor will have more money to be given to the rich.
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The welfare system is not really broken; America is a Corporate Welfare State, not a Social Welfare State. We have plenty of money when corporations need tax breaks or incentives, but when it comes to the citizens our coffers run dry. The welfare system works in America exactly how it was intended to: steal from the poor to give to the rich so the rich will make jobs to pay the poor so the poor will have more money to be given to the rich.
KingWithoutClothes [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Completely agree with your last paragraph. As for your first paragraph: would you say, then, that no big issues remain to be solved? I recently read that 70% of blind people in America are unemployed. If this number is even close to correct, it would be a huge problem. Do you feel like enough is being made to integrate the blind and visually impaired into the job market? And by that I don't just mean crappy, exploitative jobs. I mean, do you have a real chance of becoming a professor of mathematics as a blind person, granted that you're smart?
vapidvision 1 points 4y ago
I am familiar with the $1 you are referring to, and it is "full time employment." Keep in mind that some of the social benefits that the disabled or visually impaired take advantage of (food stamps, social security, Medicare/Medicaid, housing) precludes full time employment. The leap to full time employments cuts off benefits when replacements cannot be afforded by the difference in salary.
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By the same source 60% of blind or visually impaired adults (though unlike the 70%, this number includes those over 65) receive public insurance that is income-restricted. I think that the primary thing that needs to change for the disabled to be more fully integrated is full access to public health care.
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I am having trouble verifying the source without a paywall/list serve login but the HS graduation rate for students with disabilities is nationally on pace with general education students at 82% and 85% respectively. I also can't find the 2016 source cited by this study to see why the number for the blind and visually impaired is slightly lower than the special education population at large; I hadn't realized that was an occurrence. Blind individuals are pretty well represented in higher education as well, with regards to disability statistics.
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Well, I will say that I am a visually impaired learning specialist and have been involved with my state's commission for the blind since high school, so my knowledge of the resources and programs as well as the inner working of the systems and processes may bias my opinion on their availability. The problem is not the availability of the programs so much as the knowledge of their existence.
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Every time I am at the commission it is hustling and people are receiving services, taking classes, learning about resources. They really helped with with interview preparation and connected with a visually impaired teacher for a job shadow.
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Edit: I realized you asked direct questions which I did not address:
• No, I don't think there is enough education and information outreach about the network of programs which exist for the disabled.
• Yes, assuming a blind person was capable and driven to be a professor of mathematics or achieve any form of meaningful employment they desire, they could so do, with relatively the same likelihood an individual without visual impairment. I don't even know why you would ask that question. There are designated commissions in every State in the Union with employees whose sole job is to counsel and help find meaningful employment and educational opportunities for people with visual impairments
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By the same source 60% of blind or visually impaired adults (though unlike the 70%, this number includes those over 65) receive public insurance that is income-restricted. I think that the primary thing that needs to change for the disabled to be more fully integrated is full access to public health care.
​
I am having trouble verifying the source without a paywall/list serve login but the HS graduation rate for students with disabilities is nationally on pace with general education students at 82% and 85% respectively. I also can't find the 2016 source cited by this study to see why the number for the blind and visually impaired is slightly lower than the special education population at large; I hadn't realized that was an occurrence. Blind individuals are pretty well represented in higher education as well, with regards to disability statistics.
​
Well, I will say that I am a visually impaired learning specialist and have been involved with my state's commission for the blind since high school, so my knowledge of the resources and programs as well as the inner working of the systems and processes may bias my opinion on their availability. The problem is not the availability of the programs so much as the knowledge of their existence.
​
Every time I am at the commission it is hustling and people are receiving services, taking classes, learning about resources. They really helped with with interview preparation and connected with a visually impaired teacher for a job shadow.
​
Edit: I realized you asked direct questions which I did not address:
• No, I don't think there is enough education and information outreach about the network of programs which exist for the disabled.
• Yes, assuming a blind person was capable and driven to be a professor of mathematics or achieve any form of meaningful employment they desire, they could so do, with relatively the same likelihood an individual without visual impairment. I don't even know why you would ask that question. There are designated commissions in every State in the Union with employees whose sole job is to counsel and help find meaningful employment and educational opportunities for people with visual impairments
LeviathanStarShip 1 points 4y ago
Regarding your first paragraph, this can be applied to most minority groups, so I think the OP still has a valid point. The issues surrounding racial minorities aren’t involving any sort of legal rights (or lack there of). They are mainly societal and implicit.
vapidvision 1 points 4y ago
You are joking, right?
Racial inequity in policing and the judicial system is a major issue campaign issue. There is no racial equity in the American legal system. Arguably, this is as central to platforms as immigration reforms or LGBT rights. My first paragraph does not translate to race.
Racial inequity in policing and the judicial system is a major issue campaign issue. There is no racial equity in the American legal system. Arguably, this is as central to platforms as immigration reforms or LGBT rights. My first paragraph does not translate to race.
LeviathanStarShip 2 points 4y ago
I think you misunderstood my point. I said that these things are implicit. There currently isn’t anything written in law that explicitly discriminates against racial minorities. That’s not to say the legal system doesn’t act unfairly, but these inequities aren’t codified.
vapidvision 2 points 4y ago
Oh, I thought you were implying the benefits and the rights were implicit, not the lack there of.
SpikeTheCookie 2 points 4y ago
My Take: At any given time, a country is dealing with cultural and political issues that are NEW and the ground toward understanding and rights is rocky.
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Right now, the issue needing understanding and rights (at least one of them) is LBGT issue.
Disability was an issue decades ago. We've had laws on the books for discrimination, hiring, housing, etc, for a long time. There are places on forms to indicated if you're disabled. Hotels have rooms for those with disabilities, etc.
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So this issue is not new.
And while disability issues absolutely come up for individuals, there are laws and ways to seek justice, remediation, and help.
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And our culture--speaking generally--has accepted that those with disabilities should be considered equal and have the same rights as everyone else. And that's a very good thing.
:-)
And I'll add that in politics, those running tend to focus on polarizing topics, because that helps them differentiate from other candidates plus appeal to their demographic.
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Right now, the issue needing understanding and rights (at least one of them) is LBGT issue.
Disability was an issue decades ago. We've had laws on the books for discrimination, hiring, housing, etc, for a long time. There are places on forms to indicated if you're disabled. Hotels have rooms for those with disabilities, etc.
​
So this issue is not new.
And while disability issues absolutely come up for individuals, there are laws and ways to seek justice, remediation, and help.
​
And our culture--speaking generally--has accepted that those with disabilities should be considered equal and have the same rights as everyone else. And that's a very good thing.
:-)
And I'll add that in politics, those running tend to focus on polarizing topics, because that helps them differentiate from other candidates plus appeal to their demographic.
vapidvision 2 points 4y ago
I like your framing. Disability issues aren't "in vogue," they aren't bright an shinny like LGBT+ rights are today. While there have always been people of both group in the thick and the outskirts of society, disabled people definitely face less day-to-day discrimination or fear for their lives.
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Not saying we aren't important, but it is time to shine a spotlight on the needs of other marginalized groups.
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Not saying we aren't important, but it is time to shine a spotlight on the needs of other marginalized groups.
codeplaysleep 1 points 4y ago
As a blind American and the parent of a teen who ticks several LGBT boxes, currently I'd much rather they focus on equal rights and protections for the LGBT community.
Sure, the state of things for people with disabilities could be better, but a lot of those problems are social problems (healthcare sucks here for everyone). Disabled persons currently have way more protection under the law and a much stronger legal ground to stand on than many other minorities.
My boss is required by law to provide accommodations for me to do my job. Meanwhile, my kid doesn't even get choose which bathroom they want to use.
Sure, the state of things for people with disabilities could be better, but a lot of those problems are social problems (healthcare sucks here for everyone). Disabled persons currently have way more protection under the law and a much stronger legal ground to stand on than many other minorities.
My boss is required by law to provide accommodations for me to do my job. Meanwhile, my kid doesn't even get choose which bathroom they want to use.
Clavast 1 points 4y ago
A few thoughts for comparison as i fall into three minority groups. I'm blind, Latino, and a gay man.
As a blind man i can donate blood.
As a gay man i cannot.
As a blind man who can perform the duties of my job i do not fear for being fired due to who i happen to fall in love with or what i do in my bedroom.
As a gay man i am not afforded this right in every state of my country.
As a blind man i can get social security to help me survive when i don't have a job just because I'm disabled and because my country allocates money for this.
As a gay man this is not an option.
As a blind man i never have to worry about my right to marry or my ability to request a wedding cake from the best bakery in town.
As a gay man the right to marry is relatively recent and i can still be refused service from that bakery because of who i marry.
As a blind man i am not automatically assumed by police to be a problem of any sort.
As a man of color i have a built in anxiety with police despite not being guilty of anything in my entire life because innocent people of color are killed by police officers regularly.
As a blind man i can walk the streets holding the hand of someone i love without worrying about someone pulling over in a fit of rage to beat me to death.
As a gay man this isn't always the case.
I could go on, but i think that illustrates it enough.
This doesn't need to be an us versus them scenario, because the disabled population are made up of people in all of the other minority groups. When minority groups work together to build up one another, the hand is always then extended in the future to bring other minority groups to the spotlight. Don't try to take the spotlight from the lgbt community just because you feel disabled people should have more visibility. That way of thinking makes it so that no one gets the spotlight and everyone languishes.
Yes, of course disability rights need an overhaul in the United States. But this minority group is fighting to get rights at all.
Also, one reason that the disabled aren't brought up more is because of the money that is piped into the programs that support us at one time or another. People don't like it when you tell them you're going to dip into their pay check and take money for other people who aren't working for a living to use. Now you're advocating to take more of their money to improve the lives of those people? The folks on the right aren't ever going to be happy with that as a collective whole and i get the feeling that there are those on the left who would be upset about it as well. That's no way to win voters. Instead those fights can be fought at a later time when victory is already won.
Another thing to consider: who is voting? The people who are empowered to live their lives and the minority groups who have been helping get them to that point. Disabled folks aren't as active when it comes to voting days because of the hassle it is to vote at a ballot box, the technical ability it takes to request a ballot online, and general apathy toward the government while trying to get by day to day.
TL;DR don't make this an us versus them scenario. The disabled minority group are largely made up of various other minority groups so it's a false comparison. Politicians play to their voters to win. Minority groups are only helped when other minority groups are elevated to later help bring awareness to the plights of minority groups. Just be cool and enjoy seeing history change for the better. Everyone will get a turn in the spotlight.
As a blind man i can donate blood.
As a gay man i cannot.
As a blind man who can perform the duties of my job i do not fear for being fired due to who i happen to fall in love with or what i do in my bedroom.
As a gay man i am not afforded this right in every state of my country.
As a blind man i can get social security to help me survive when i don't have a job just because I'm disabled and because my country allocates money for this.
As a gay man this is not an option.
As a blind man i never have to worry about my right to marry or my ability to request a wedding cake from the best bakery in town.
As a gay man the right to marry is relatively recent and i can still be refused service from that bakery because of who i marry.
As a blind man i am not automatically assumed by police to be a problem of any sort.
As a man of color i have a built in anxiety with police despite not being guilty of anything in my entire life because innocent people of color are killed by police officers regularly.
As a blind man i can walk the streets holding the hand of someone i love without worrying about someone pulling over in a fit of rage to beat me to death.
As a gay man this isn't always the case.
I could go on, but i think that illustrates it enough.
This doesn't need to be an us versus them scenario, because the disabled population are made up of people in all of the other minority groups. When minority groups work together to build up one another, the hand is always then extended in the future to bring other minority groups to the spotlight. Don't try to take the spotlight from the lgbt community just because you feel disabled people should have more visibility. That way of thinking makes it so that no one gets the spotlight and everyone languishes.
Yes, of course disability rights need an overhaul in the United States. But this minority group is fighting to get rights at all.
Also, one reason that the disabled aren't brought up more is because of the money that is piped into the programs that support us at one time or another. People don't like it when you tell them you're going to dip into their pay check and take money for other people who aren't working for a living to use. Now you're advocating to take more of their money to improve the lives of those people? The folks on the right aren't ever going to be happy with that as a collective whole and i get the feeling that there are those on the left who would be upset about it as well. That's no way to win voters. Instead those fights can be fought at a later time when victory is already won.
Another thing to consider: who is voting? The people who are empowered to live their lives and the minority groups who have been helping get them to that point. Disabled folks aren't as active when it comes to voting days because of the hassle it is to vote at a ballot box, the technical ability it takes to request a ballot online, and general apathy toward the government while trying to get by day to day.
TL;DR don't make this an us versus them scenario. The disabled minority group are largely made up of various other minority groups so it's a false comparison. Politicians play to their voters to win. Minority groups are only helped when other minority groups are elevated to later help bring awareness to the plights of minority groups. Just be cool and enjoy seeing history change for the better. Everyone will get a turn in the spotlight.
KingWithoutClothes [OP] 0 points 4y ago
I'm not trying to take the spotlight away from anyone. In fact, I explicitly said that I support those other minority groups fighting for their rights. I just feel troubled by the fact that nobody seems to care much about disabled folks. You've now listed a bunch of situations that are discriminating for you as a gay or latino man. But aren't there also discriminating situations for blind people? I have heard of blind folks being kicked out of movie theaters because of their guide dogs. I've heard of uber drivers refusing rides.
Also, the reason why a blind person without a job receives governmental support but a gay man does not seems fairly obvious to me. Blindness is a condition that impairs your daily living in many ways. Being gay doesn't make it harder for you to cook a meal or perform certain tasks in a job. Employers know this and many are scared to employ disabled individuals. Thus it's far harder to find a job and there are also less possibilities. For example you can't become a surgeon as a blind guy. As a gay person, you don't have to bother about such limitations. Meanwhile, the governmental support that disabled people do receive is pretty crappy in most cases. You'll almost certainly end up as a member of the working class. But what makes the situation even worse is that the entire society hates you because you're supposedly "leeching off" everyone else. Disability is directly linked with poverty and we all know the kind of contempt the poor have to suffer in the US.
Also, the reason why a blind person without a job receives governmental support but a gay man does not seems fairly obvious to me. Blindness is a condition that impairs your daily living in many ways. Being gay doesn't make it harder for you to cook a meal or perform certain tasks in a job. Employers know this and many are scared to employ disabled individuals. Thus it's far harder to find a job and there are also less possibilities. For example you can't become a surgeon as a blind guy. As a gay person, you don't have to bother about such limitations. Meanwhile, the governmental support that disabled people do receive is pretty crappy in most cases. You'll almost certainly end up as a member of the working class. But what makes the situation even worse is that the entire society hates you because you're supposedly "leeching off" everyone else. Disability is directly linked with poverty and we all know the kind of contempt the poor have to suffer in the US.
Clavast 1 points 4y ago
Anytime I've been discriminated against for being blind there have been clear paths to seeking justice set forth by laws in the United States. Almost 100% of those discrimination situations have been because of my guide dog. I now have the option to decide in the future to not get a guide dog when mine retires and will thus face far less discrimination for being blind.
Similarly, if a potential employer says something to tip me off that fear of my blindness is why I'm not being hired, i have options to pursue justice for outward discrimination.
As a gay man i can't just decide to not be gay anymore. Not everyone can hide it easily. If I'm kicked out of a movie theater for holding a significant other's hand and they cite religious freedom as the reason for kicking us out, then there's no clear path to justice because that's not a protected right afforded to the lgbt.
The same discrimination can occur in job interviews and people can whip out the same religious freedom crap.
Again, the disabled are not the only ones who fall into poverty. People of color and the lgbt community also fall into that classification of being poor too, so it's not something that only the disabled face.
What is it you would prefer to hear the candidates say about the disabled? Does that supersede the importance of an entire community fighting for basic rights?
In my last job i heard a hiring authority say that a transgender candidate had all the perfect qualifications and skills as well as having more than they were looking for. However, in her words, "she's clearly a woman trying to be a man and that will make our customers very uncomfortable."
And what could i do? Nothing because that person wasn't a protected citizen. If the comment was made regarding a disability i could have reported it.
If you don't notice the imbalance there and don't think that the lgbt community deserves the attention they're getting right now, then I'm not sure what else can be added.
They're playing to their voters. Who have been actively protesting and making themselves visible over the past few years? The lgbt and racial minority groups.
Not the case for the disabled community, right? So who would the politicians be speaking for in that situation?
It's not an us versus them situation. It's an everyone deserves equality situation.
Similarly, if a potential employer says something to tip me off that fear of my blindness is why I'm not being hired, i have options to pursue justice for outward discrimination.
As a gay man i can't just decide to not be gay anymore. Not everyone can hide it easily. If I'm kicked out of a movie theater for holding a significant other's hand and they cite religious freedom as the reason for kicking us out, then there's no clear path to justice because that's not a protected right afforded to the lgbt.
The same discrimination can occur in job interviews and people can whip out the same religious freedom crap.
Again, the disabled are not the only ones who fall into poverty. People of color and the lgbt community also fall into that classification of being poor too, so it's not something that only the disabled face.
What is it you would prefer to hear the candidates say about the disabled? Does that supersede the importance of an entire community fighting for basic rights?
In my last job i heard a hiring authority say that a transgender candidate had all the perfect qualifications and skills as well as having more than they were looking for. However, in her words, "she's clearly a woman trying to be a man and that will make our customers very uncomfortable."
And what could i do? Nothing because that person wasn't a protected citizen. If the comment was made regarding a disability i could have reported it.
If you don't notice the imbalance there and don't think that the lgbt community deserves the attention they're getting right now, then I'm not sure what else can be added.
They're playing to their voters. Who have been actively protesting and making themselves visible over the past few years? The lgbt and racial minority groups.
Not the case for the disabled community, right? So who would the politicians be speaking for in that situation?
It's not an us versus them situation. It's an everyone deserves equality situation.
KingWithoutClothes [OP] 1 points 4y ago
It's interesting that you say "it's not an us versus them" because that is exactly what you seem to advocate for. Like I said, I'm fine with the candidates mentioning the LGBT community as well as racial minorities. That's all good. I just wish they could also throw in disabled people too, every now and then. If you're going to name a list of minority groups anyway, why not include the disabled? Now, you seem to argue that the candidates should NOT talk about disabled people, which would in fact constitute an "us versus them". It would be disabled people getting told to shut their mouths and sacrifice their happiness so the other groups can get the stage all by themselves. I don't agree with that. I believe the disabled community deserves to be on that stage too. And it's not just about discriminations, it's also about social attitudes in general. I feel like a lot of able-bodied people still hold little empathy for disabled folks. Just remember when Trump made fun of that disabled journalist a few years ago... all the people in his crowd laughed and cheered. Maybe a public debate about the disabled community could raise awareness. You're saying that the candidates are speaking to their voters. That's true and a fair point. And yes, the disabled community hasn't been protesting. But I don't know... maybe it should? Maybe disabled people have been to apathetic?
Anyway, I'm not trying to corner you here. I appreciate your replies and I actually agree with most of what you say.
Anyway, I'm not trying to corner you here. I appreciate your replies and I actually agree with most of what you say.
LeviathanStarShip 1 points 4y ago
I’m not a liberal or progressive, really. More center-right with left leaning sympathies. But I completely agree. And it really comes down to trends. Also, I don’t think disabled rights are divisive enough to be politically advantageous. Most people (I hope) would be in favor of helping out the disabled community when asked, but the community is not a very vocal group. People aren’t protesting in the streets whenever a disabled person is discriminated against. I think more people should be concerned about this issue, but our priorities are very limited, we tend to become passionate about a few things and run with it until the trend dies down. This is purely conjecture, but it’s the best I have.
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