"WE HAVE TO LOUDLY AND CONTINUOUSLY HOLD SOCIETY TO THE STANDARDS THESE CHILDREN DESERVE": my thoughts on our collective response to this story.
Some of you may have already seen this dreadful piece of ableism by a Tempest Photography school photographer - offering parents versions of class photos with disabled students removed. The school were horrified, the local council has publicly apologised... and Tempest say they have "spoken to the photographer" (and apparently they are "investigating the matter").
Some of you may have been as unsurprised as I was. Shocked and angry, but unsurprised.
But in situations like this where the harm has already been done, I can’t understate the importance of our collective response. And in my opinion, we can’t afford for our lack of surprise to become the main headline.
You see, ordinarily I like to respond to things calmly. But on this occasion, I’d like to say “stay outraged”.
Because the one encouraging thing in this sorry situation is the amount of shock it is causing, and how society is near-unanimously condemning it. And why is this encouraging? Because 30 years ago, there’d have been no shock or outrage at all.
One of the biggest dangers to disabled people is society’s casual acceptance of how they are treated. So even if we see pieces of news that are unsurprising to us, we need to respond as if it SHOULD surprise us.
In order for disabled children to have their dignity and equality correctly seen as indisputable human rights, we have to loudly and continuously hold society to the standards these children deserve.
Because make no mistake – there are people out there right now quietly thinking “this isn’t a bad thing, surely? I wouldn’t want disabled children in my child’s school photo!” but not daring to say it online because they know their position is morally reprehensible.
Good. Let’s keep talking about it in a way that keeps such people quiet. As we’ve seen in other areas (e.g. racism) in recent years, people with problematic beliefs will always be around, but they become emboldened when they see people expressing those beliefs without consequence.
Calmness, kindness and compassion are vital for human progress. But, just for once… let’s stay outraged. The disabled population are safer that way.
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#autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autistic #neurodiversity #neurodivergence #diversity #inclusion #diversityandinclusion #diversityequityinclusion
