Able-Bodied Privilege

SuperFemme · 04-11-2010, 03:11 PM

Able-bodied privilege checklist:

1. I can easily arrange to be in the company of people of my physical ability.

Sometimes. It's getting better.

2. If I need to move, I can easily be assured of purchasing housing I can get access to easily - accessibility is one thing I do not need to make a special point of looking for.

Yes.

3. I can be assured that my entire neighborhood will be accessible to me.

Yes.

4. I can assume that I can go shopping alone, and they will always have appropriate accommodations to make this experience hassle-free.

Not always, but often.

5. I can turn on the television or open a newspaper and see people of my physical ability represented.

Yes, though not as much as I'd like.

6. When I learned about history, people of my physical ability were well represented.

It's hard to say.

7. I was given curricular material which showed people like me as a role model.

Yes.

8. I can be assured that assumptions about my mental capabilities will not be made based on my physical status.

It's actually the opposite, unless I need a wheelchair.

9. I can swear, dress sloppily, or even be in a bad mood without people attributing it to my physical disability.

Yes, then they make classist assumptions.

10. I can do well in challenging situations very often without being told what an inspiration I must be to other able-bodied people.

Yes.

11. I have been asked to speak for all physically challenged people.

No.

12. Almost always, when asking to speak to the person in charge, will find someone of the same physical status.

Again, unless I am in my wheel chair, no. But sometimes they do seek out a man.

13. I can buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, children’s magazines featuring people of the same physical status.

Yes, but it's a niche market.

14. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having someone suspect I got my job because of my disability.

I've not tried.

15. If I am fired, not given a raise, or not hired, I do not have to question whether it had anything to do with my appearing physically incompetent..

I resigned because my different ability was a liability to my company.

Addition:

I can be assured that assumptions about my sexuality and sexual needs and desires as well will not be made based on my physical status.

Honestly? It's not come up as I am pretty up front about everything erasing the need for assumption.

ETA: The HUGE problem I have with the substitution of race for disability in this checklist is that many many disabilities are invisible. These questions seem geared to a population that has highly visible disabilities and/or mobility issues. Which is important of course, but what of those of us who are disabled AND invisible?

Let us look at THOSE as well.

Autoimmune disabilities

Scleroderma
Rheumatoid arthritis
Crohn's disease
Primary immunodeficiency
Lupus
Sjögren's syndrome
Interstitial cystitis

Chronic pain disabilities

Fibromyalgia
Injuries
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Arachnoiditis
Temporomandibular joint disorder

Dietary disabilities

Coeliac Disease
Diabetes
Fructose malabsorption
Hypoglycemia
Inflammatory bowel disease
Metabolic syndrome
Lactose Intolerance
Lactulose Intolerance
Hereditary Fructose Intolerance
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Food allergies (the most common are peanut, milk, egg, tree nut, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat)
Ulcerative Colitis

Neurological disabilities

Multiple Sclerosis
Transverse Myelitis
Lyme Disease
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Hyperhidrosis
ADHD
Autism
Asperger syndrome
Epilepsy
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
Intracranial hypertension
Fibromyalgia
Brain Injury
Dyslexia, dyscalcula, and other specific learning disabilities

Psychiatric disabilities

People with psychiatric disabilities make up a large segment of the invisibly-disabled population covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Examples include:

Major depression
Bipolar disorder
Anxiety disorders
Schizophrenia
Personality disorders (when discussing mental impairments)

04-11-2010, 03:11 PM	#9
SuperFemme Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Permanently Banned 10/24/2010 Preferred Pronoun?: She. Relationship Status: Married (one of 18,000) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 4,933 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,309 Thanked 7,108 Times in 2,327 Posts Rep Power: 0	Able-bodied privilege checklist: 1. I can easily arrange to be in the company of people of my physical ability. Sometimes. It's getting better. 2. If I need to move, I can easily be assured of purchasing housing I can get access to easily - accessibility is one thing I do not need to make a special point of looking for. Yes. 3. I can be assured that my entire neighborhood will be accessible to me. Yes. 4. I can assume that I can go shopping alone, and they will always have appropriate accommodations to make this experience hassle-free. Not always, but often. 5. I can turn on the television or open a newspaper and see people of my physical ability represented. Yes, though not as much as I'd like. 6. When I learned about history, people of my physical ability were well represented. It's hard to say. 7. I was given curricular material which showed people like me as a role model. Yes. 8. I can be assured that assumptions about my mental capabilities will not be made based on my physical status. It's actually the opposite, unless I need a wheelchair. 9. I can swear, dress sloppily, or even be in a bad mood without people attributing it to my physical disability. Yes, then they make classist assumptions. 10. I can do well in challenging situations very often without being told what an inspiration I must be to other able-bodied people. Yes. 11. I have been asked to speak for all physically challenged people. No. 12. Almost always, when asking to speak to the person in charge, will find someone of the same physical status. Again, unless I am in my wheel chair, no. But sometimes they do seek out a man. 13. I can buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, children’s magazines featuring people of the same physical status. Yes, but it's a niche market. 14. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having someone suspect I got my job because of my disability. I've not tried. 15. If I am fired, not given a raise, or not hired, I do not have to question whether it had anything to do with my appearing physically incompetent.. I resigned because my different ability was a liability to my company. Addition: I can be assured that assumptions about my sexuality and sexual needs and desires as well will not be made based on my physical status. Honestly? It's not come up as I am pretty up front about everything erasing the need for assumption. ETA: The HUGE problem I have with the substitution of race for disability in this checklist is that many many disabilities are invisible. These questions seem geared to a population that has highly visible disabilities and/or mobility issues. Which is important of course, but what of those of us who are disabled AND invisible? Let us look at THOSE as well. Autoimmune disabilities Scleroderma Rheumatoid arthritis Crohn's disease Primary immunodeficiency Lupus Sjögren's syndrome Interstitial cystitis Chronic pain disabilities Fibromyalgia Injuries Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Arachnoiditis Temporomandibular joint disorder Dietary disabilities Coeliac Disease Diabetes Fructose malabsorption Hypoglycemia Inflammatory bowel disease Metabolic syndrome Lactose Intolerance Lactulose Intolerance Hereditary Fructose Intolerance Irritable Bowel Syndrome Food allergies (the most common are peanut, milk, egg, tree nut, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat) Ulcerative Colitis Neurological disabilities Multiple Sclerosis Transverse Myelitis Lyme Disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Hyperhidrosis ADHD Autism Asperger syndrome Epilepsy Circadian rhythm sleep disorders Intracranial hypertension Fibromyalgia Brain Injury Dyslexia, dyscalcula, and other specific learning disabilities Psychiatric disabilities People with psychiatric disabilities make up a large segment of the invisibly-disabled population covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Examples include: Major depression Bipolar disorder Anxiety disorders Schizophrenia Personality disorders (when discussing mental impairments)

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