Blind Girl Inc.

Yesterday was #worldmentalhealthday. I tend not to buy into the capitalization of these types of days because they’re exploitative, unhelpful, and only uphold the system that creates the mental health issues to begin with. However today is a new day and so here is my time to share my learning. Three years ago in therapy I had one of the biggest and most challenging break throughs I’ve ever had. That break through was realizing my younger self still very much lives inside m...e and often times becomes the controller of my brain. What I learned was instead of fighting her I need and can be the adult she needed and deserved all those years ago. In my mind I can crawl into the blanket fort in the closet with her to hold her and create a safe space. Or if that’s too much, I can sit just outside the closest and let her peek out at me whenever she needs to know that I’m not leaving her alone with her feelings. And on those horrible, wave drowning emotion days I can be the adult who refuses to let her go, to let her hurt herself because that’s the only way she knows how to make the drowning stop. I can also then watch Inside Out with her, and help her name and construct the zones in her brain. I can help her choose who gets to push and pull the levers. As a rationale 30yr old human it’s so nice to have the framework to be the kind supportive human I have grown into and to recognize that from being that scared 4yr old, has come the empathy and humanness I hold so dearly as core values. ID: image is black and white and is of a hand holding clear square that looks like a post it note. On the note in black marker is written dear younger self, I see you. I am here for you now. I love you. The quote is attributed to a.e. See more

YES!!!! Disability representation the right way

It is so important then we are doing community organizing and activism work that we remember to include everyone which also means those with disabilities. Making change work accessible doesn't mean the focus has to shift from the issue at hand, it just means more people can show up for the cause, in whatever way suits them best. I hope to see some of you here on Thursday evening!

In our @shopsofetchstore Scooby Doo collar, and our Easily Adored @sweetlegs_courtice_kathleen, we bravely tackled the GO train and the subway independently. This was a first in months and with the fearless help of @lfcdogguides CVC Sir Liscio, we were successful. Feels good to be back, feels good to be safely independent

This is the problem when we fail to educate employees and fellow citizens about disability and access. Young people get made to feel like they are less then because of a piece of their identity. As someone who struggles with C-PTSD, masks are hard for me. I’m 29 though and logic my way through the possible consequences and benefits of mask wearing. I also have the language and education to back up my position if needed. I feel heartbroken for this little girl and I hope that magic of Disney hasn’t been lost because AODA training wasn’t properly given or updated during the current pandemic.

And now you know! :D :D * * Image Description - image is of a blue and white poster with 6 boxes of text, and three large accessibility symbols. ... The title reads: ABLEISM, AUDISM AND SANISM 101 * Text block 1: - Forcing students to disclose their disability in front of the class - Buildings without wheelchair ramps or elevators - Not getting as many employment offers as able-bodied people - Believing doctors and the medical system are the experts of people with disabilities’ experiences * Text block 2: THIS IS ABLEISM Ableism is social prejudice and oppression against people with disabilities. It can manifests in many forms, from institutional barriers and policies to everyday microaggressions. Those who do not have disabilities can be referred to as able-bodied. * Text box 3: - Saying terms like crazy, psycho, and insane to insult or saying That’s so OCD/Bipolar - Forcing therapy and treatment - Believing mental disorders makes someone evil or unable to be intelligent * Text box 4: THIS IS SANISM Sanism is a form of ableism against individuals whose experiences aren’t considered sane or neurotypical by society. Those who do not have mental disabilities can be referred to as sane or neurotypical. * Text block 5 - Ignoring a Deaf person in a conversation - Speaking with your back turned to a Deaf person - Refusing to learn sign language to communicate with a Deaf family member * Text box 6: THIS IS AUDISM Audism is prejudice and oppression against individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Those who do not have hearing disabilities are referred to as having hearing privilege. * [Image Visuals] Three blue circles with white images. The first circle is a person in a wheelchair image. The second circle is a block person. The third image is an earlobe with a line through it.