Posts by Hilary Stace
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Who are these others?
People who don't get a say, because others in positions of power or judgement can't see beyond their own prejudices, and so have decided their life has no worth or quality.
I see this as possibly leading to the situation where murdering a disabled person (eg a child), or even withdrawing care as in the case of a disabled child in some societies is seen as less of a crime, than killing a so-called normal person.
It all comes down to what our view of people. I say that we are all equally human and no one has right to say one human life is more valuable than another. Others of course disagree.
And re disability language I hope Martin contributes to this discussion as he has written about this from an academic disability rights perspective.
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Granted if I'm describing deafness then deaf is just fine.
Well that depends on how individual deaf people like to describe themselves. Some use Deaf (with a capital D) as they consider themselves a cultural/linguistic minority. Others are happy with deaf, or maybe hearing impaired. Unfortunately, you can't make assumptions, but best to check with each person as you've done.
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Sorry, here is the link from scoop
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Tony Ryall has just dismissed the whistle blower
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Giovanni - I'm not suggesting that, but it is a thin edge of the wedge thing. There are a whole lot of ethical and philosophcal issues about what is quality of life and who decides when someone else (for whatever reason) doesn't have quality of life. It is relevant to disability because for hundreds of years disabled people have had other people make judgements about their quality of life, without consulting them.
So on these sorts of issues - like this case - we need to be aware that our own values and perspectives are our own and not universal. What seems straightforward to us, may actually have negative implications and repercussions for others.
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On the other hand, and getting back to disability, how disabled are you allowed to be and still live, and who decides?
Many in the disability community have not forgotten that disabled people were murdered in Nazi Germany in great numbers because they were seen as less than human. -
Russell is going to be on National Radio later this morning, just before 12 I think, talking about the blackout copyright protest thingey.
And I can't believe that toll road - you mean drivers who use wheelchairs have to get out of their cars to pay, and then can't access the toll booth because of the kerbing? In 2009 New Zealand!
And there are no big signs at the beginning of the road warning about this - or perhaps red wheechair forbidden signs?
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Craig, just wondering, does anything in the world make you cheerful?
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Something positive about disability. I've just received this through the US based AutisticSelfAdvocacyNetwork. On top of the Obama transition team asking for input from disabled people themselves, several top govt appointments of disabled people and Obama/Biden/Clinton and others making speeches about disability as a human and civil rights issue. Now the White House cares about their employment,
Hello,
At the request of the White House, we're looking for people with disabilities who are being hired or are returning to work, particularly if their new employment can be traced to the stimulus package in some way. Please feel free to distribute this message to your networks and tell people to respond with any stories they might have to aneeman@autisticadvocacy.org . -
what do people, who rely on meds to continue everyday living, do in the (likely) event of disasters?
That's a very good question, and one that I worry about too (for myself as a chronic asthmatic, and for family and friends). I don't have the answer.
Disability Services of the Ministry of Health has an enquiry line ph 0800 373 664 (www.moh.govt.nz/disability) There are also networks of Disability Information and Advisory Centres. Your local Civil Defence, local district council or DHB may have done some planning around such issues. There was a lot of Ministry of Health- led work a couple of years ago on government and community responses to an outbreak of bird flu - but that was the last government so that work has probably all been shredded.
I guess they will all say up to us to make sure we have enough supplies (but catch-22 as you can only get a certain amount at a time).
Even more of a worry is what do people who use wheelchairs or other assistive technology do? How many office blocks have those special chairs that go down stairs and people trained to use them?.