We were going to meet friends for lunch, Joe wanted to pop up to the room to drop off stuff we didn't need. I pulled over and waited, not realizing that I had backed into place beside a luggage cart. As soon as I saw it I fled and parked much further away. I sat there with my heart beating in my chest. Panic.
I noted that beside the luggage cart was a popular place for the non-disabled to wait for each other. Three or four people did so in the time I waited for Joe. I knew that with the conference in the hotel the elevators caused a bit of a wait time. So I watched them stand there, no anxiety. No fear.
But.
I have been mistaken for luggage.
I have been treated like luggage.
I have been transformed into a thing to be moved.
I know what it's like to assume my humanity when others do not.
I have had my chair grabbed and shoved, against my will.
I have been made to move to get out of the way when I was already out of the way.
I have been referred to as a tripping hazard by overzealous security guards.
But.
I am not luggage.
Here's the thing. Ableist privilege is being able to stand by a luggage cart with the surety that passers by can see the difference.
The. Difference.
Hi Dave...I got pointed to your blog today. I have a brother who is blind. I understand the concept of ableism. In his case , people say, oh... his other senses must be so much better than our mainstream senses....Yeah, I think...he can smell your farts 100 times more than you can because he can't distract himself with his vision...... I know this has little to do with this particular post of yours, but I look forward to reading more of your blog.
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