Too often, days of political action and agitation for reform become feel-good photo opportunities for allies wanting kudos, and International Day of People with Disability is no exception.
In a passionate and unapologetic stream of tweets she has adapted for Croakey, #CripCroakey‘s El Gibbs explains why these platitudinous PR stunts miss the mark.
El Gibbs writes:
International Day of People with Disability rolled around again last week, and I despaired a little at what it has become. Originally started in 1992, the day was intended to be about the “rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.”
Instead, it has morphed into an often infuriating series of platitudes and utterly meaningless gestures that do nothing to actually change the very real barriers that people with disability face. Organisations put on morning teas, and hold awareness-raising events, and nothing changes. Media stories highlight how inspirational disabled people are and ask intrusive, ghastly questions about their personal lives.
This year, the Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Alastair McEwin, released the results of the consultation he has been doing for the last 18 months around Australia, with people with disability from all parts of the country.
Disabled people told him what they wanted him to work on; the barriers they faced to having the same kind of ordinary life that everyone else has; where the discrimination was and what they needed.
These structural problems — responsible for the significant levels of disadvantage people with disability face — were in education, housing, employment, the justice system, the NDIS and an epidemic of violence. Each one of these areas could have driven good stories to tell on IDPWD; each one could have been a starting point for something more than another fucking morning tea.
So I had a rant on Twitter about it all, with a significant amount of swearing, because I am angry, and depairing that we keep saying this, over and over, and nothing ever changes. And because disabled people keep saying the same stuff – that this is what keeps us in poverty, that this is what we want changed, that this is unfair and wrong.
Disabled people are very clear about what we want and how to fix it. IDPWD must be about those aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life that exclude us and how to start fixing that.
If it is about anything else, it is an utter fucking waste of time.
Right, it’s #idpwd, that annual day where non-disabled people do fuck all about fixing structural barriers for disabled people, and hold a fucking morning tea instead.
This year’s theme is “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”. Hahahahahahahahahaha— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
The last few years, I have done work to try to get better media coverage/events on #idpwd, to try to shift the focus on disabled people being fucking inspirational, and on to broader structures.
Failed utterly.
So, this year, I am just going to have a spray, then go back to bed.— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
The disability discrim commissioner, @almcewinddc, has been going around for 18 months, and asking disabled people all over Australia, what they want him to work on, what needs to change, what they want the focus to be on.
Hint: there’s not a fucking morning tea in sight.
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
Disabled people want changes to education, housing, employment, the justice system, the NDIS and an end to violence.https://t.co/SHgQ5goM61
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
On housing, disabled people what to live in our communities. Not in institutions, or group homes. Did you know that it’s not mandatory to build accessible housing?
And yes, there are still progressive politicians and groups who advocate that we live in institutions.
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
On employment, disabled people work. Only half of disabled people have a job. Half.
There is significant discrimination at work as well.
Here’s an #idpwd idea – hire a fucking disabled person and support them at work.https://t.co/2FCdb6qNgf— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
On education, disabled people want to be able to go to school, TAFE and uni. To be able to learn like everyone else, free of discrimination and violence.
Read this from @CDA39 and @AllMeansAllAus.https://t.co/PgOLZiWKwX
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
On the NDIS, disabled people want the supports they need, and advocacy services.
But also for all other services not to be taken away as the NDIS rolls out.And give the poor, neglected National Disability Strategy some teeth.https://t.co/awXcuG6hGX
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
On the justice system, fuck so much. Big changes so that disabled people are not half of the people in prison. Change so that disabled people’s behaviour is not criminalised.
Read this: https://t.co/X8UtkohStC
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
On violence, hold a fucking Royal Commission into the appalling rates of violence and abuse of disabled people. Into why, into what needs to change, into how we can have a voice to stop this.
[all the CNs for this @4corners]https://t.co/cAcjTcDBxq
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
This is what disabled people what on #idpwd. This is what they asked their Commissioner to work on. This is what months and months of consultation said.
No inspiration, no fucking face painting or morning teas, no fucking hint of awareness raising.
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
So go and do this. Go and make THIS happen. Put your energy and your money and your corporate feel good annual report photo ready event into actually fixing something.
Or you are doing nothing at all. And don’t give a flying fuck about disabled people.
Happy fucking #idpwd
— El Gibbs (@bluntshovels) December 2, 2017
