At the (often invisible) margins…
Many of you know of my commitment to issues of justice- JPIC is the current acronym: Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. You know that this has been a life-long passion and is truly a fundamental part of who God creates me to be.
If you follow this blog, you also know that I often share about the realities of cross-cultural relationship, racism, and even the “colonial-ist” world view so common where Indigenous cultures overlap with dominant white-European rooted cultures and the reality of white supremacy.
You may be less aware that I am also a strong advocate for disability rights- the equal human rights of people with disabilities. PWD is the common shorthand. “able-ism” is the related “-ism”.
Across the globe, and even in the US (where some could certainly argue conditions are much more equitable for PWD than in most other countries), PWD remain so far on the margins that we aren’t even “counted” or noticed as a “minority group.” However, we’re here.
I say “we” because I have been included in this “minority group” for many years because I am deaf. For the past couple of years, I have also been living with CIDP, and so have also joined the ranks of PWD who have mobility limitations. You may also be part of the group of PWD. If not, I’m going to suggest it’s really “not yet.” Disability is the only minority group any human can enter at any time.
One in four (26%) of adults in the US have some type of disability. This doesn’t mean all 61 million of us are “on disability” (i.e. qualifying for subsidy payments, a “safety net,” from public tax funding.) Many of us (including me) work full time (plus), earn income, pay taxes, and use no public benefits other than those that “TAB” people do. (“TAB” means “temporarily able-bodied” since most adults will, through aging or accident, join the ranks of PWD as they get older.)
(Want more info on this? Click here.)
(Want to see a this <<< cool infographic? Click here.)
So… why am I chattering on and on about this?
I came across the following links from a blog called “Words I Wheel By.” I encourage you to take a few minutes and explore some of these. I suspect you’ll see the “systemic” aspect of able-ism. You might even see your own life through this lens.
Racism. Climate Justice. Disability Rights.
What if this is yet another area in which God could be inviting you to work for justice?
What do you think?
==== the following are from Emily Ladau’s blog “Words I Wheel By” found at https://emilyladau.com/ and other writers (Not me) ==========
