PSA: Communication about accessibility

[sonia]

If you know someone with a disability, and you think they're not "nice" or "gentle" or "understanding" enough when they communicate their accessibility needs, you might remember:
1) They deal with this every day. Perhaps they've given it a bit of thought.
2) They deal with this every day. Perhaps they're tired, and would like to be cut a little slack.
3) Accessibility needs are not optional. Perhaps being "nice" is not the highest priority.
4) The tone argument is a classic tool used by people with more power to silence people with less power. "If only your tone were better" effectively derails the conversation from the original topic, which is oh-so-convenient for the person being asked to improve accessibility.

This PSA brought to you by the daily struggle to communicate about fragrance-free environments.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

Yes.

To my surprise and dismay, many people don't recognize sarcasm. Which means that when I next use this excellent formulation, I'll delete every instance of perhaps.i

[sonia]

I was being "nice"!

And yes, I entirely get your point.

[untonuggan]

I am out of word and really tired and I really like the thing that you wrote.

[sonia]

Thank you!

[lilysea]

Yes, this.

And oh, how I hear you about fragrance-free environments. I'm constantly having to move on the train station platform / inside the train carriage to try and get away from someone's migraine-trigger body spray.

One woman sprayed her armpits with body spray INSIDE the train carriage! with windows that don't open!

[sonia]

Yikes! Sounds like the time someone dosed themselves with essential oils right next to me without warning. Yeah, I do a lot of moving away too.

[lilysea]

Would you be ok with me reposting this on my DW?

[sonia]

Sure, post away. The more people who clue in, the better!