[badly edited image of johnny’s head edited onto a stock photo of a person holding up a stop sign]
Hi, it’s me, a disabled person.
Here’s some basic info because of some worrying things I see in the JJBA fandom in regards to Johnny and other disabled characters.
Reblogs are very much encouraged and appreciated, by anyone of any group (meaning, yes, you can reblog this if you’re not disabled).
Image text:
ABLEISM
a-ble-ism \ ‘ābə-,li-zəm \
noun
A system that places value on people’s bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normality, intelligence, excellence, desirability, and productivity. These constructed ideas are deeply rooted in anti-Blackness, eugenics, misogyny, colonialism, imperialism and capitalism.
This form of systemic oppresion leads to people and society determining who is valuable and worthy based on a person’s language, appearance, religion and/or their ability to satisfactorily [re]produce, excel and “behave.”
You do not have to be disabled to experience ableism.
a working definition by Talila “TL” Lewis*; updated January 2021
*developed in community with Disabled Black & other negatively racialized people, especially Dustin Gibson
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These are some ableist slurs: crippled/crippling, retarded, demented, deranged, diffability, handicapped, handicapable, cretin, moron, inane, mental (as a non-medical adjective)
Some ableist language: wheelchair bound / bound to a wheelchair / confined to a wheelchair, lame (in reference to a disability), invalid (as a noun), psychotic (as an adjective), autistic (as an adjective), mute (to describe a nonspeaking person)
More ableist slurs & language usage, and more about ableist language:
Some disabled people not being bothered by some of these words/terms doesn’t mean these words are less harmful or dehumanizing for other disabled people.
Just because abled people have normalized this usage of language doesn’t make it okay.
Getting rid of ableist slurs & ableist language usage isn’t the most important thing & it’s not gonna get rid of ableism, but it’s important & helpful to think about.
Some disabled people prefer identity-first language and find it empowering (i.e. I’m disabled / a disabled person). Some strongly prefer person-first language (“person with a disability”).
Being disabled is not a tragedy. It’s ableist to pity a disabled person solely because of the fact they’re disabled.
Disabled people do have sex. – Also, when it comes to talking about ableism & the infantilization / dehumanization of disabled people in regards to sex, the term is “desexualized,” not asexual. Asexuality is an identity. Desexualization is to talk about someone in a dehumanizing way that suggests a lack of sexuality, in contradiction to the person’s own sexual identity. (I.e. suggesting a disabled person does not have sex or does not experience sexual desire on account of the fact they’re disabled).
Disabled people are not objects. You need our consent before you touch us or our belongings and mobility aids (i.e. wheelchair, cane).
Some disabled people need to use diapers, catheters, colostomy bags. Some disabled people can’t shower/bathe/generally look after their hygiene as often or as well as some people’s standards. Making fun of this is ableist.
Disability is not privilege, it’s the opposite. (Yes, even if you can’t work and get to fight with the government so they can give you some pennies every month while graciously restricting you from being able to get married or afford a house or even a 1bedroom apartment if you want them to keep throwing pennies at you).
A disabled white supremacist / fascist / bigot is still a white supremacist / fascist / bigot.
Do not compare marginalizations. As in, don’t compare ableism & racism (i.e. this [ableist thing] is like when [racist thing]). Unless you yourself are part of all the marginalized identities you’re comparing. Otherwise, doing this is exploitive to the marginalized groups you’re comparing to.
If you’re not disabled, you don’t get to speak for us or decide what’s ableist and what isn’t.
We have a big community on Twitter if you want to know more. We post under the hashtag “#DisabilityTwitter”
