Being an Unperson

The words here are from a presentation I gave to staff who work for people with developmental disabilities. It's about the dehumanization inherent in the system they worked in, the results of which they were likely to encounter in the people they worked for. It's drawn from my experiences and the experiences of other self-advocates I have known in the system. The experiences of dehumanization are universal enough that most of them apply far beyond the target audience.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• disability
• dehumanization
• self-advocacy
• autism
• developmental
• mrdd
• retardation
• autie
• autistic
• institutions
• training

[10thousand1blossums6]

Sorry, but people make me sick. The way they treat those with disabilities. Like trash, as invisible people, or as freaks.

My only regret is that I seem powerless to make people see the error of their ways. Sadly, I cannot open their eyes.

[silentmiaow]

I'm reading a book called The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo. One of the scariest aspects of the book is it gets into the general human potential for extremes of evil, which exists in all of us. He says that he'll get into how we also have the potential to do a lot of good, but he is going through the evil stuff first and it makes for disturbing reading.

[homeat2]

When I saw your video, it struck me as one of the most powerful testaments I have seen to the lives of people who have been silent for centuries. The daily horror people with disabilities must face is beyond the strata of human conditioning. It's an ugly truth that festers in the midst of a culture obsessed with an illusion of "perfection".

[PippiBernstein]

Everything you say is the truth. I am sorry for your sufferings and those of all the "non-persons". It is wrong to the core. I wish I could make it better, but I believe God will make these injustices right in the end somehow. You are an artist and beautiful. jesus loves you!

[chumkiu62]

The cost of conforming us, "fixing" or unfixing us, (Very high).

The value of growth, hard work, and introspective expertise, (Incomprehensible). The look on the other persons face when, if, or ever we are able to engage one another beyond the perimeters

set by ignorance, foolishness, or intolerance, (Priceless).

chumkiu62 for a more harmonic contiguity, pre and post interaction.

[chumkiu62]

The cost of "fixing" or unfixing us,(very high). The value of hard work, and introspective tenacity, (Incomprehensible).

The look on an other persons face when, or if they are finally able to engage us as individuals, (Priceless).

chumkiu62 for more harmonic contiguity.

[11krage]

This reminds me of learning about genocide in psychology class. A state of mind had to be created first to be able to treat people so badly. They had to first believe that the people they were going to kill were very different to themselves and were not human, only then could they kill men women and children with no remorse.

Part of what makes this video so striking to me is that it made me realise that some of the worse cases i know have one thing in common. The victims were not seen as humans.

[manysons]

God bless you. Keep it up.

[conduirty]

My six year old is going to kindergarden next year. I wish I could go to school with him daily. I'm a stay at home mom and I don't see why I can't be his personal assistant. I want to protect him from the kinds of things you've discribed!

[homeat2]

When I saw your video, I was struck at first, with a deep sadness, but as I watched you, I felt your power, your voice. I thought, here is a person who refuses to die, no matter what the circumstances are.

I will pass on your mirror to anyone who will look. Long live the resistance!

I will pass on your mirror to anyone who will look. Long live the resistance!

Respectfully, a friend ~ Homeat2

[homeat2]

Amanda:

There is a Chinese proverb that says "Persistence is wisdom." I feel this applies to you. I have struggled all my life for a voice, for my own personal issues, as well a voice as an active advocate for my child. Because of my own experience, I know what you have to tell us is absolutely the undeniable truth. I have seen it, heard it, and been a victim of it...

[rhondadbe]

You continue to amaze me, I totally agree with you. I can't say I understand from your side of things, but I do know what some staff can be like. I'm not proud of that : (

I am always trying to communicate with my students, not in MY way, but in THEIR way and I love it when they decide to communicate even if it's only a small thing to begin with. Educators truly need to see this and hear what you have to say!

Thank you so much for educating us! : )