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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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! : )

[autismtookmickie]

A speech therapist told me that my sons did not have real communication and she denied him speech, so I had her removed from his case.

[24KZone]

This reminds me of one thing, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." It is so easy to be ignorant and in ignorance act foolishly. If only some day, some way we would all evolve into more respectful, tolerant, and understanding beings. Be well.

[oysterrock]

This has been eye opening. Thank you for this.

[caubani]

Hi,

I would just like to say that I was really amazed at ur material n'that maybe u should send it to some international movie festivals, particularly documentary ones.

It's really a remarkably powerful material, n' I think that everybody that does videos wants them to be seen. In this case I would like ur videos to be seen! =]]

Well anyway just wanted to say congratulations real good material.

all the best

cesar m.