This is an awesome and interesting post, and I think you articulate what I was trying to get across a lot better than I did! :) Some thoughts: - y y y y on the multiple disabilities bit and differing attitudes towards those disabilities!! I can't say I'd cure any of my disabilities in a heartbeat, but there is a large difference between how I would react if you gave me a pill to cure my autism (scream and take it as a death threat for the reasons you mentioned!) or my half-a-depression or if separable from autism the executive dysfunction (would seriously consider it).
- it occurs to me that this is really the main issue in terms of portrayal of disabled chars re cure - rather than that they want a cure (although it'd be nice to see some who don't but all that line of discussion seems to do is divide the community) that wanting a cure is such a big focus in their life. And in general even for people who really hate their disability, life goes on regardless and you can't put it on hold to wait for a cure. And I can't quite articulate it but I think there's something fascinating about your distinction between dreaming about a cure so you wouldn't be disabled anymore and dreaming about society changing so you wouldn't be disabled anymore. Because eg even if my stutter magically vanished tomorrow the world would still suck for other people with speech disorders, you know?
- also really like your point about not just you but also the people around you having been shaped by the disability(ies)!
Okay am becoming incoherent. Once again, I love this post, thank you for linking!
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-06-17 10:01 pm (UTC)- y y y y on the multiple disabilities bit and differing attitudes towards those disabilities!! I can't say I'd cure any of my disabilities in a heartbeat, but there is a large difference between how I would react if you gave me a pill to cure my autism (scream and take it as a death threat for the reasons you mentioned!) or my half-a-depression or if separable from autism the executive dysfunction (would seriously consider it).
- it occurs to me that this is really the main issue in terms of portrayal of disabled chars re cure - rather than that they want a cure (although it'd be nice to see some who don't but all that line of discussion seems to do is divide the community) that wanting a cure is such a big focus in their life. And in general even for people who really hate their disability, life goes on regardless and you can't put it on hold to wait for a cure. And I can't quite articulate it but I think there's something fascinating about your distinction between dreaming about a cure so you wouldn't be disabled anymore and dreaming about society changing so you wouldn't be disabled anymore. Because eg even if my stutter magically vanished tomorrow the world would still suck for other people with speech disorders, you know?
- also really like your point about not just you but also the people around you having been shaped by the disability(ies)!
Okay am becoming incoherent. Once again, I love this post, thank you for linking!