Payal, Nidhi and others: 1. I'm not known for saying things that are politically correct (in fact I was banned once from this group for my comments about a politician that was construed as an insult). 2. I agree with Stella that mere disability doesn't make anyone inspirational, but as honest people we know when exactly to put a lid when things go overboard. There's a couplet in Tamil that's relevant to each of us: "A king without a critic will perish without an enemy". That critic must within each of us. 3. On the contrary, if we think others getting inspired (genuinely) by a true disabled achiever like Ehric Weihenmmayer the man who touched the summit of Everest, we will be guilty of masochism and not 'inspiration porn. (to avoid any controversy, by masochism I mean getting pleasure or pride out of cutting ourselves from making others feel positive about something we do or the way we live) 4. I wouldn't like to be a hypocrite to say that we should not seek appreciation or adulation where it's due, but at the same time, if each of us are honest enough, we would know where to say no to such things. 5. On an entirely different perspective from Stella, who happens to live in a country where environment for the disabled is quite friendly, I'd say that even a seemingly mundane thing like crossing the road on a busy intersection (where at least a hundred sighted or able bodied folks suffer fatal traffic accidents) is a miracle if not an achievement. A disability puts us in a terrible disadvantage in places that are not designed for us. Now, it's all fantastic to say that the place needs to be redesigned for our sake, which I absolutely support, but we know that the mindset of people in this country is so hopeless that we can't expect utopia to arrive on our street corner for the next century and a half (that's as far as I could foresee). So, please do not forget that disability is still a huge challenge for us here in India and with this perspective we should listen to Stella, who, by the way, has a different perspective of truth that need not necessarily apply to everyone.
Subramani On 8/4/14, nidhi goyal <nidhigoyal...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello all > it was interesting to hear Stella's talk. > she has highlighted a much needed point of disability is not an exception > and of course the way it is used to portray inspiration. the girl without > the hands is objectified to inspire and push the child who perhaps has both > hands but not the patience or temprament to paint or write his lessons > etc. > in this process the child is subconsciously given the message that he is > not > only lucky but also superior to the other girl in a fashion. > > I too ascribe to the social model of disability defined by Mike Oliver > which says that it is not the disability itself but the environment which > is > disabling the individuals with an impairment. with hostile infrastructure, > constant struggle for basics like education etc, the nondisabled world > makes > simple usual things in a life an achievement and the hell they are... but > rather than them lauding us and our everyday struggle they should be > ashamed of the disabling conditions they dish out. i would like to share > an > example here. when i topped the postgraduate media course the head of my > department told everyone with great pride that i had topped and you know > what without any extra favours from them. the favours she referred to was > simple accommodations like accessible study material etc. they had > practically made my life hell with their non cooperation and they were > proud > of me overcoming all those challenges. well kudos to me for facing the > challenges but shame on them for their behaviour. so the point is that > sometimes we are forced to combat ordinary situations which are made into > extra ordinary hurdles and then made out to be exceptions having achieved > the ability to live life, learn, work, grow. > on the other hand if we were to consider the disabled and the nondisabled > world together, whoever has achieved something should be appreciated > irrespective of their disability. so when a politician, a CEO of a MNC, a > sports person etc can be my inspiration, i do not know why a disabled > person > who has achieved something in life should not be marked as an inspiration! > the only difference is these people will be looked up to and definitely not > with the condescending idea with which the girl without hands was being > considered. > > lastly, something i have noticed happening in reality- we as disabled > people sometimes live in a dualism. We want to be the norm but at the first > chance of receiving special treatment, or a word of praise, or the title of > an inspiration or a celebratory award, we jump like school children do on > free ice cream. Like Stella said it is for us to decide if we really have > achieved something or are we being complimented for existing and > remembering > our name. if latter is the case and we allow this to happen simply because > we love the attention and awards etc, then we would play a major role in > perpetuating a deeply embedded discriminatory attitude. so it is not all > about them changing, it is about us mending our ways as well. > > Just my thoughts, thanks for reading. > Regards, > Nidhi Goyal > disability and gender rights activist > MSC Development Studies, LSE > twitter @saysnidhigoyal > > -----Original Message----- > From: AccessIndia [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf > Of payal > Sent: Monday, August 04, 2014 4:34 PM > To: 'AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issuesconcerning > the disabled.' > Subject: Re: [AI] I am not your inspiration- Stella Young on > deglorifyingdisability! > > Yes Avinash. Often it is the easiest thing to do. give them a consolation > prize of being right up there, an ispiration and then grumble about the > idol > having feet of clay. > If only they could just accept us for who we are, life would be a better > place for all of us! This video was fantastic! > > -----Original Message----- > From: AccessIndia [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf > Of avinash shahi > Sent: Monday, August 04, 2014 3:45 PM > To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerningthe disabled. > Subject: Re: [AI] I am not your inspiration- Stella Young on > deglorifyingdisability! > > Wonderful. Enjoyed listening. > > agreed, people with disabilities are not the 'objects of inspiration'. > On 8/4/14, payal <payal.thereside...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Hi, >> >> >> >> This is a fascinating video posted on Ted talks and is of course >> available >> on youtube as well. However as some of us have had trouble being able to >> access it from Ted, I am posting a youtube link here as well. Take your >> pick. Stella young tries to bring home the truth that disability does not >> make us exceptional through this talk. >> >> Stella Young: I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much >> >> http://t.co/zVZfvoGIYV >> >> >> >> youtube link: >> >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K9Gg164Bsw >> >> >> >> Stella Young is a comedian and journalist who happens to go about her >> day >> in a >> >> wheelchair - a fact that doesn't, she'd like to make clear, automatically >> >> turn her into a noble inspiration to all humanity. In this very funny > talk, >> Young breaks down society's habit of turning disabled people into >> "inspiration porn." >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >> of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessind > ia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please >> visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the >> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > -- > Avinash Shahi > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessind > ia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessind > ia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- L. Subramani, Snr. Subeditor, Deccan Herald, Bangalore, M: 91-7204322451 Facebook: Subramani Lakshminarayanan Twitter: lsubramani60873 Linkedin: L. Subramani website: http://www.lsubramani.com If you are someone who need personal help to cope with blindness, a little friendly chat about things that bother you or just an ear to listen to your fears and frustrations, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I've been through that and I can help. Just leave your questions and if you don't want to give your name, that's fine. Are you an HR exec, a volunteer, a friend/relative of someone going through blindness or do you want to understand disability because it's part of something that you are working on?... Pl get in touch for volunteer help. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
