firecat

This is about how the word "disablism" makes more sense to describe "oppression against people who are labeled as disabled and/or the idea that disabled people are not as good as to non-disabled people."

The main way it speaks to me is in the bit about the continuity of life as ability changes. I still go back and forth about whether to call myself disabled because I didn't have a sudden change in what I am capable of; I feel like the same person except in certain "metrics" (how far I can walk, how much of certain meds I need to take, etc.).

http://still.my.revolution.tao.ca/node/68

ableism implies that this oppression is somehow related to ability – which it is not. Disability is a social category and its label is imposed on certain groups of people because of their perceived characteristics as un(der)productive.
...
using ableism makes it really easy for people to equate ableism with discrimination based on ability.
...
Words like "paralysis" and "disabled" are often used in disablist ways to talk about full stops but this is far from the way disabled people live our lives. If someone becomes disabled, their life continues and their body, while different (and possibly even painful or frustrating) is what allows their life to continue.
...
We all have able bodies. If we don't have able bodies we are dead.

http://www.fatnutritionist.com/index.php/food-and-exercise-are-not-matter-and-anti-matter/
or
http://fatnutritionist-feed.dreamwidth.org/23501.html
( about movement/exercise, mostly positive )

I went to a talk on Sunday by Toni Bernhard, the author of How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers. The book is available through Wisdom Publications.

Toni Bernhard is diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

When I typed "How to be sick" into Google, the second book result that popped up was something called Never Be Sick Again: Health Is a Choice, Learn How to Choose It. I felt angry, because I believe it's a lie that a person's choices can always bring them to full health, and I believe it's a lie that harms people.

Toni Bernhard said at one point that this culture "worships at the altar of wellness." I think that sums up an appropriate response to the "health is a choice" concept.

I'm writing up my notes from the talk here.
( Read more... )
I went to this talk because I have chronic health conditions that affect my mobility and energy levels, and I am a caregiver for my mother, who has Alzheimers. I'm a Buddhist and my study of Buddhism has helped me work through grieving over these things and building a life around them, and I wanted to hear a talk that specifically addressed how Buddhism can help a person deal with chronic illness. I figured that I already knew a lot of what she was going to say, but I thought I'd learn a few things and find out that I'm already doing a lot of what there is to do, and that would help me feel more confident.

I especially liked the phrases "Am I sure?" and "don't know mind." I think I will find those useful.

There was some discussion of envy. I've experienced envy when the OH goes to social events such as cons without me. I want to enjoy cons but I mostly don't unless I plan very carefully. It's not because of mobility issues, it's because I get mentally/emotionally exhausted. (Introversion certainly, but also sensory stimulation.) I realized that the reason I experience envy around this is that I don't accept my social limitation. I think I should be able to fix it or get over it. If I can let go of that belief then I might not feel so conflicted around the issue.