Disabled Zines and Zinesters

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Comment by incurable hippie on November 20, 2009 at 8:41am

Hi Laurathelorax, I'm sure you're right that I'm not understanding the intricacies and history with the 'person with a disability' language too. It's very political here - and there too of course - but very cultural too, which is where the main issue seems to be :)

Comment by Laurathelorax on November 20, 2009 at 4:41am

also, I'm debating about making a disability zine...From working with people with disabilities extensively and myself having one, I'd really like to do something in regards to this. I think I'd like contributors, so once I get a more clearly defined goal in mind, I'll let you know, but start thinking of what you'd like to write for a zine in regards to the topic of disabilities and how others view your disability, issues you have faced in regards to acceptance and accessibility, government regulations or funding that effects your ability to thrive, etc. I want this to be more geared to people who may be unfamiliar with the problems people with disabilities face, and provide disability awareness, rather than a sort of disability insiders zine where a lot of things are assumed we know, if you get what I mean, so keep that in mind.

Comment by Laurathelorax on November 20, 2009 at 4:34am

@incurablehippie: I think you are also not understanding what we mean by "person first language." In the US at least, the most acceptable way to refer to "disabled people" as you have been stating is what you prefer, is actually "persons with disabilities" it isn't intended to downplay what you've brought up, that society is really, well, fucked up in terms of disability acceptance and accessibility, it's instead supposed to emphasize that we are people first, and not our "disabilities." I think maybe the language is what is making our discussion confusion, but not any of the concepts discussed here. I think most of us would agree we are not defined by our disabilities and that actually society imposes much of the problems we face by them. But person first language means that we are a person first. At least in America, saying "The Disabled person" is not acceptable language to use. I suppose we could use "The person who is disabled" but personally, I prefer "the person with a disability." For some reason the word "disabled" just really offends me and I don't know clearly why.

Comment by Bradley Adita on November 19, 2009 at 11:43am

@IncurableHippie: This is an interesting topic. I guess my response to what you wrote most recently would be that of course, we are all "disabled" by society, society involves compromise, we can't truly be our individual selves while in society. But more specificially to the issue, Yes, society needs to change and that change, especially in America has come in part of making people view those with disabilities as fully human and deserving of all of the rights and priviledges that others without disabilities enjoy. - Again, I'd really recommend checking out WBBHH! - Here's a link. Its probably the second best documentary of the 90s. watch parts of the movie here: http://www.wbbhh.com/

Comment by incurable hippie on November 19, 2009 at 11:30am

I don't think you're getting what I'm saying. I am a person first, and I do not have disability. Society disables me.
But don't worry, I don't know if you read the last two links I sent, but the medical model language seems common in the States and Canada, the social model language more prevalent in the UK, though I know more and more Americans are shifting to the social model lately. It's as much a cultural issue as a political one, and I'm not saying you're wrong, or I'm right. This is just how I define the world around me. You define your world in a different way. And that's all good :)

Comment by Bradley Adita on November 19, 2009 at 11:22am

@IncurrableHippie & all other Disabled Zines and Zinesters: have you seen the 1995 film, WHEN BILLY BROKE HIS HEAD (& other tales of wonder)?

Comment by Bradley Adita on November 19, 2009 at 11:20am

My zine might have lots of spelling errors and mistake in it, but I dont think of my zine as being disabled. Also I am not perfect, I have made and will continue to make a lot of mistakes and errors but I dont think of myself as disabled either. Even after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder (after a manic episode in Minneapolis in June of 2008) I think of myself as a person first and my abilities and disabilities second. Therefore, I am a proponent of person-first language. I choose to focus on the person, not the abilities or disabilities of the person (not that they are unimportant, just secondary to the fact that this (any given) person is fully human.

Comment by Bradley Adita on November 19, 2009 at 11:14am

"Thats exactly why priviledged folks (fucks) like me (and everyone else),
should feel obliged to whine and kick and scream,
yeah 'til EVERYONE has EVERYTHING they NEED."
- Propagandhi

Comment by incurable hippie on November 19, 2009 at 10:50am

"But applying the Social Model means that the world can get better. If disability is understood as a purely medical phenomenon then our position must remain the same, and the only strategy must be to attempt to normalise ourselves as much as possible, to accept manmade boundaries and prejudices as natural and somehow come to terms with the tragedy of such an existence.

The Social Model means we can look at our lives, and decide for ourselves what is and is not possible and demand the right to fulfil our real potential as opposed to the low expectations we may have had dumped on us."

from here

Comment by incurable hippie on November 19, 2009 at 10:49am

This is a good post about the different terminologies.

Basically, being a 'person with a disability' makes my difficulties, say, getting around into something wrong with ME, when it is in fact something wrong with the places which are not accessible, or which are unsuitable.

I have impairments which may or may not change. The level of disability I experience does not depend on my body and mind, but rather depends on whether society fixes itself enough to let me live my life.

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