From the Edge of the Map

[From the Edge of the Map]

Yowsers! That’s a lot of new followers!! Hello, all you people.

I’ve gotten more followers over the last month than I usually get in a year – and the biggest spike has come in the last three days (this is being posted on 15 July, 2020). The “About” section of my blog’s header was getting unwieldy, so I’ve trimmed it down, and am pinning this post at the start, instead.

My Biases:

Note: one of the original meanings of the word “Bias” is: a slope of the ground that affects how a ball rolls toward its target, and has to be compensated for. We all have them, because we all have unique and limited experience of the world. Biases are not bad, in themselves, as long as you account for them.

Here are some aspects of my identity that have the most weight when it comes to which directions my thoughts tend to swerve in:

• I was born with a physical disability that affects how I move through the world. The relative importance of this fact varies from day to day and hour to hour, but it’s the thing that I’ve been living with the longest, and it’s the thing new people notice first.
  
• Because I can’t take moving through the world for granted, I am almost always looking at the spaces between things, both literally, and metaphorically. I love the liminal spaces of fairy tales, dreams, and myths.
• I am White. I am Cis. I am American. My first language is English. I was raised as a Christian. If I get careless with my privilege in any of these areas, please remind me.
• I’ve reached the age where nearly everyone on the Internet strikes me as being young, tender babes. And I want to protect them all most of them.
• I’ve only recently discovered the language for my aromantic & asexual orientation, and through that discovery I’m also realizing that I’m polyamorous (without a polycule), and platonically pan attracted 
  
• All these complications make the identity of “Queer” fit most comfortably. If you feel the need to tag that identity with “slur,” don’t bother interacting. I tag my queer posts, and you are free to blacklist that tag, if the word is a trigger for you..
• I am a devout Atheist. I got there after being Neo-Pagan for many years. But I also believe that religion is a natural, and (potentially, at least) beneficial instinct in humans. In other words, I have a religion, but my religion has no gods. The reasons I left Christianity are different than the reasons I left Neo-Paganism.

What you’ll find here:

• This journal is random, overall. I generally post whatever is on my mind, especially contemplative and/or silly. Favorite topics include literature, discoveries in science and nature, writing that I’m working on (or should be working on), drawings I’ve doodled, etc.

What counts as “Good Manners” around here:

1. Don’t be mean. There’s no need to be mean. Remember, wherever you go, there you are.
2. Praise what you enjoy before criticizing what you don’t.
3. When you do give criticism, let it be reasoned (“It sucks!” isn’t reasoning).
4. Don’t belittle, or mock, people for the things they enjoy.
5. If you must post provocative things, aim for provoking laughter, and provoking thought.
6. If you feel an exchange between you and someone else in a discussion thread is becoming personal and heated, please take it somewhere else (DMs, asks, or make a separate post)
   
7. When in doubt: Puns!

Also: Rest Assured: I will Never never make a “Reblog, or else you’re a bad person,” or “Reblog, or else bad things will happen.”

(Though I may ask for reblogs for signal boosts, if someone is asking for specific help / advice, and needs to get their message out.

Also, be aware: I check every new blog that follows me. If I have reason to suspect that it’s a blog that exists solely for selling stuff, or is a business trying to masquerade as an individual person, I will block that blog.

[From the Edge of the Map]

Hey, so I changed my Tumblr icon, so that it shows my latest attempt at making a visually-safe version of the Disability Pride Flag.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Because I want to make sure people see it.

Will this work, do you think? I don’t want to guess, again.

[threadsledastray]

It’s fine I guess but it conveys neither the vibrancy or the detours-constantly-required of the original.

I am likely experiencing bias but I strongly disliked how the issue of visual access was presented as paramount for this flag and how much imo bullying went into getting changes above all other considerations or values - well that tainted things for me considerably. Once again I saw severe jumping on one issue among many largely by people unaffected by the access issue themselves.

So, personally, I feel the straight line-ness of this version is redolent of how people are snapped into line and made to tone down their politics - which is an unfortunate association.

I really miss the zig zag which was truly meaningful to me - It felt bold and queer and poetic - this version feels like it conveys normative values and constrained story telling

I regret my views being so negative but I guess you need honest feeback for design purposes @capricorn-0mnikorn

I thought the colour changes and taking out the black lines between the colour lines would have been sufficient.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Rest assured (the first): the trolling has stopped. (I really suspect it was just one anon who went quiet after The Bibliosphere voiced her displeasure).

All the discussions I’ve had since then have been polite, and kind, and have been with people who actually do have difficulty with my original design. This latest design was something I came up with based on several of those kind people’s  suggestions; more than one person said something along the lines [heh] of: “Hey, I think a simple diagonal might work. Could you try that?” So I’m trying that.

Rest assured (the second): My original design still exists. It’s already been hitched to flagpoles, and is fluttering in the breeze somewhere in the real world (the genie is out of the bottle; the tiger is out of his cage).  

These changes are not meant to replace that. They are suggested alternatives, for use in alternative spaces – especially for scrolling on social media (Multiple versions happen with nation flags, too, BTW – have you seen Norway’s War Flag?). 

Rest assured (the third): Although the lines no longer change direction, would it ease your mind to know that one of the first anti-fascist symbols was three parallel diagonal arrows?

Also, according to Ted Kaye, President of the North American Vexillological Association, and author of “Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag” (PDF; published in 2013):

Diagonal stripes are often used by former colonies as an alternative to the generally horizontal and vertical stripes of European countries

Which is why I made the zigzag of my original design move diagonally across the field, rather than straight across (like the stripes on Charlie Brown’s sweater); just as former colonies use a diagonal line to symbolize breaking free from foreign authority, I wanted to symbolize disabled people having autonomy in their own lives, and breaking free of normate authority.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

From @thegirlnoonetexts:

#i also liked learning that norway has an awesome war flag

I know! right? My first thought, when I saw that, was: “I’m glad they’re not in the Viking business anymore!”

[From the Edge of the Map]

[third-nature]

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

[Image description: Headline text above a color photo of the Earth, taken from the International Space Station, showing the curve of our atmosphere against the blackness of interplanetary Space: (quote) “Earth’s Atmosphere is the only thin blue line I support.” description ends]

[From the Edge of the Map]

So, I just got my second COVID Vax shot (Moderna, if you were wondering) a few hours ago. And I did get a few symptoms from the first one.

I’m expecting to feel really yucky and tired for the next couple of days. And I’m not planning on not be adding a whole lot more to what’s already in my queue (as of typing this, it’s loaded up until Friday at 10:30a).

So if you send me an ask, and I don’t reply, I might be (temporarily) ignoring you. But I’m not avoiding you.

Stay safe, people! And get a vax if you’re eligible. Feeling yucky is temporary, the worst side effect of catching COVID is not.

[From the Edge of the Map]

hauntedprettything asked:

Just wanted to say thank you so much again for all your work on the new (and the old) Disability Pride flag! It looks great and from the comments I’ve seen is now pretty well optimized for accessibility and safety. Would it be okay to post the flag on its own, with credit obviously, and/or to use it now?

Thanks. It’s been fun.

Seriously – both designing the first version and the second version; I love collaborations, and this has been the biggest (and most important) collaboration I’ve been a part of.

The question I now have (now that I’m fairly certain that the straight diagonal version is safe/safer), is how should I decide on the precise colors, and color order, of the stripes to strike the best balance between the needs low vision people and people who are visually sensitive (the only thing I’m sure of is that the white stripe – which represents invisible and undiagnosed disabilities – should stay in the center).

I’m thinking some sort of Tumblr poll-like thing (of maybe 4 or 5 options? A couple for color order, and a couple for luminosity/saturation variation?). And then I could put the one that reaches consensus with the most people in the Public Domain, like I did with the first one.

But should I do that with one post? Or should I make a separate post for each option I come up with?

[From the Edge of the Map]

[thebibliosphere]

I really want to reblog all the alternative disability pride flag ideas people are coming up with, but that would also mean reblogging the original post again (source), and seen as how the original flag design has caused some people to have seizures (!!) I’m really hesitant to do so.

Would creating a separate post help? (With credit to the creators, obviously.) 

Are there specific tags we should use? I know it’s bad to tag epilepsy triggers as just #epilepsy. It’s like when someone tags flashing gifs as #migraine and suddenly you’ve got a migraine because it’s popped up in your tracked tag.

I also know it’s unlikely we’ll find a single design that works for everyone with visual triggers. Some of the suggested designs were fine for me at first, but during my migraine attack were too painful to look at. But that’s the nature of disability. One size fits no one. Which is why I feel it’s important to have multiple alternative versions. Disability Pride is supposed to include everyone. Adaptability is how we thrive. And having a flag that endangers members of the disabled community or worsens visual disturbances is something that needs rectifying. 

I don’t know how or where to even begin. But I’d be willing to help facilitate a dialogue over it. Might as well do something useful with the infamy of that one post that shall not be named :P

[queerspacepunk]

Looking at some of the suggested designs showed (for me at least) the the narrowness of the stripes, the little gaps in between them, and the intensity of the colours we big factors to the eye issues.

I love the lightning, both because of its symbolism, and because it sets the flag apart from pride flags. Speaking of which, there are a lot of those around in lots of different colours and palettes – perhaps hearing from folks about which of those are the least likely to cause issues/are easiest to look at could be a good start?

[thebibliosphere]

Yeah, when I was in the worst of my migraine, the colors felt like they were searing my retinas off. The narrowness also made my eyes jump around a lot, too, which I imagine is way worse if you suffer from seizures or vertigo. 

I did like @vampire-crimson’s suggestion to lower the contrast by using an off-black background. Along with the many other suggestions to make the stripes of the lightning bolt wider and less saturated. While I love the meaning ascribed to the colors, the shades of red, blue, green, white and yellow are really vibrant. Which I suspect would work well on a material flag with less issue, but online where everything is back lit by blue light it’s a bit of a sensory nightmare. 

[hrhthebirthdayprincess]

A less vibrant version of the flag from the original creator can be found here:

https://capricorn-0mnikorn.tumblr.com/post/186380630371/disability-pride-flag-some-corrections-and

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

H! Original creator, here. *waves*

Yes, as I said in this recent post about the flag – I’ll quote, so people won’t have to click through and have to navigate past the problematic design at the top: 

I originally designed it with bright colors in mind, so that it would be visible from a distance in the physical world (on a flagpole, or picket sign in a parade/march), and designed it with straight lines so that it’s easier to make and sew.

But none of those conditions need to come into play when it’s displayed on a computer screen. In terms of symbolism, the important elements are the zigzag (to represent navigating barriers), the five stripes running parallel (diversity/solidarity), and the lighter stripe in the middle (invisible disability).

I think (hope) that as long as those things are consistent, this design can be altered and adapted to be used comfortably by as many people as possible.

I also tried to follow good flag design principles so that the flag would be recognizable without any color at all. Even the width and shape of zigzags are flexible. Would rounded corners, instead of sharp ones (an S-like shape, rather than a Z-like one), be better?

A flag with many different “official” versions may be unusual, but then again, the Disability Community is unusual.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Hey, there. It’s the Original Creator, again!

First: I’ve been told that the most common tag for avoiding visual triggers is “Flashing” or “Flashing tw” (I think Tumblr’s filter system stops reading after the first word, so ‘tw’ should come second).

Second: A bunch of people have been kind enough to talk about this with me over on my own blog. And the number one suggestion has been: “Try just a simple diagonal.” So that’s what I’ve tried (along with muting the colors).  I’ll put what I’ve done so far under a “keep reading,” just to be safe.

[Image description: a charcoal grey flag bisected diagonally bi a band of five stripes: yellow, green, cream, red, and blue, above the dividing line. Description ends]

[From the Edge of the Map]

Hey, so I changed my Tumblr icon, so that it shows my latest attempt at making a visually-safe version of the Disability Pride Flag.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Because I want to make sure people see it.

Will this work, do you think? I don’t want to guess, again.

[threadsledastray]

It’s fine I guess but it conveys neither the vibrancy or the detours-constantly-required of the original.

I am likely experiencing bias but I strongly disliked how the issue of visual access was presented as paramount for this flag and how much imo bullying went into getting changes above all other considerations or values - well that tainted things for me considerably. Once again I saw severe jumping on one issue among many largely by people unaffected by the access issue themselves.

So, personally, I feel the straight line-ness of this version is redolent of how people are snapped into line and made to tone down their politics - which is an unfortunate association.

I really miss the zig zag which was truly meaningful to me - It felt bold and queer and poetic - this version feels like it conveys normative values and constrained story telling

I regret my views being so negative but I guess you need honest feeback for design purposes @capricorn-0mnikorn

I thought the colour changes and taking out the black lines between the colour lines would have been sufficient.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Rest assured (the first): the trolling has stopped. (I really suspect it was just one anon who went quiet after The Bibliosphere voiced her displeasure).

All the discussions I’ve had since then have been polite, and kind, and have been with people who actually do have difficulty with my original design. This latest design was something I came up with based on several of those kind people’s  suggestions; more than one person said something along the lines [heh] of: “Hey, I think a simple diagonal might work. Could you try that?” So I’m trying that.

Rest assured (the second): My original design still exists. It’s already been hitched to flagpoles, and is fluttering in the breeze somewhere in the real world (the genie is out of the bottle; the tiger is out of his cage).  

These changes are not meant to replace that. They are suggested alternatives, for use in alternative spaces – especially for scrolling on social media (Multiple versions happen with nation flags, too, BTW – have you seen Norway’s War Flag?). 

Rest assured (the third): Although the lines no longer change direction, would it ease your mind to know that one of the first anti-fascist symbols was three parallel diagonal arrows?

Also, according to Ted Kaye, President of the North American Vexillological Association, and author of “Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag” (PDF; published in 2013):

Diagonal stripes are often used by former colonies as an alternative to the generally horizontal and vertical stripes of European countries

Which is why I made the zigzag of my original design move diagonally across the field, rather than straight across (like the stripes on Charlie Brown’s sweater); just as former colonies use a diagonal line to symbolize breaking free from foreign authority, I wanted to symbolize disabled people having autonomy in their own lives, and breaking free of normate authority.

[threadsledastray]

This is all very reassuring and I have loved how much cooperative effort and mutual aid has gone on. I do really appreciate the reply and yes the associations of diagonals with antifascism and anti-colonialism is helpful in reducing my bias.

Thanks @capricorn-0mnikorn

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

You’re welcome. :-)

I’m also chuckling to myself because “bias” originally meant “sloped ground,” and to cut fabric “on the bias” is to cut it diagonally.

(And I thought of something else: if some clueless normate says: “How can that be a Disability flag? There’s no wheelchair on it!!” We can shut them up by saying: “It’s a ramp!”)

“I have loved how much cooperative effort and mutual aid has gone on.”

Yeah, me too.

[thebibliosphere]

“There’s no wheelchair on it!!” We can shut them up by saying: “It’s a ramp!”

I was already going to comment and say I really like the diagonal design/muted colors but that comment sent me!

Also, just to chime in the vast majority of people I was talking to were not needlessly hating on the flag. They were raising extremely valid accessibility and safety concerns, which @capricorn-0mnikorn responded to with nothing but consummate grace and understanding once the risk of seizures was made apparent. There might have been a few bad faith actors (it’s Tumblr, there always are) but speaking from my corner of the community, the discussion that was going on was about creating alternate versions for online use that kept the initial spirit of the flag as much as possible, but also wouldn’t put members of our community at risk. Goodness knows we deal with enough non-disableds trying to hurt us without accidentally hurting each other as well.

This wasn’t a case of some young folks rocking up and going “ew gross” this was literally “oh, this is a safety concern, let’s brainstorm how to deal with that” which is exactly what has happened. And also, now we have a lot more people who are aware that we have both a flag and a pride month of our own! Win!

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

“oh, this is a safety concern, let’s brainstorm how to deal with that” which is exactly what has happened.

Exactly!

Though I gotta say: when I first read that, my brain saw “terraform” (as in terraforming). And that works, too: take a toxic world, and make it safe for humans.*

Disability is a social construct. So let’s get social, and do some de- & reconstructing!

And also, now we have a lot more people who are aware that we have both a flag and a pride month of our own! Win!

Would you believe, on June 30, I was worried I’d never reach beyond my usual circle of Disabled!Tumblr,. and I’d run out of new things to talk about before the month of July was out?

SMH.

I’m no longer a theist. But back when I was a polytheist, I always had a hunch my patron god was one of the tricksters. I think they’re all high-fiving each other, right now.

[From the Edge of the Map]

Hey, so I changed my Tumblr icon, so that it shows my latest attempt at making a visually-safe version of the Disability Pride Flag.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Because I want to make sure people see it.

Will this work, do you think? I don’t want to guess, again.

[threadsledastray]

It’s fine I guess but it conveys neither the vibrancy or the detours-constantly-required of the original.

I am likely experiencing bias but I strongly disliked how the issue of visual access was presented as paramount for this flag and how much imo bullying went into getting changes above all other considerations or values - well that tainted things for me considerably. Once again I saw severe jumping on one issue among many largely by people unaffected by the access issue themselves.

So, personally, I feel the straight line-ness of this version is redolent of how people are snapped into line and made to tone down their politics - which is an unfortunate association.

I really miss the zig zag which was truly meaningful to me - It felt bold and queer and poetic - this version feels like it conveys normative values and constrained story telling

I regret my views being so negative but I guess you need honest feeback for design purposes @capricorn-0mnikorn

I thought the colour changes and taking out the black lines between the colour lines would have been sufficient.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Rest assured (the first): the trolling has stopped. (I really suspect it was just one anon who went quiet after The Bibliosphere voiced her displeasure).

All the discussions I’ve had since then have been polite, and kind, and have been with people who actually do have difficulty with my original design. This latest design was something I came up with based on several of those kind people’s  suggestions; more than one person said something along the lines [heh] of: “Hey, I think a simple diagonal might work. Could you try that?” So I’m trying that.

Rest assured (the second): My original design still exists. It’s already been hitched to flagpoles, and is fluttering in the breeze somewhere in the real world (the genie is out of the bottle; the tiger is out of his cage).  

These changes are not meant to replace that. They are suggested alternatives, for use in alternative spaces – especially for scrolling on social media (Multiple versions happen with nation flags, too, BTW – have you seen Norway’s War Flag?). 

Rest assured (the third): Although the lines no longer change direction, would it ease your mind to know that one of the first anti-fascist symbols was three parallel diagonal arrows?

Also, according to Ted Kaye, President of the North American Vexillological Association, and author of “Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag” (PDF; published in 2013):

Diagonal stripes are often used by former colonies as an alternative to the generally horizontal and vertical stripes of European countries

Which is why I made the zigzag of my original design move diagonally across the field, rather than straight across (like the stripes on Charlie Brown’s sweater); just as former colonies use a diagonal line to symbolize breaking free from foreign authority, I wanted to symbolize disabled people having autonomy in their own lives, and breaking free of normate authority.

[hrhthebirthdayprincess]

Good to know there are several designs for different purposes. While I missed the zags at first on seeing the icon, the way I thought about the change is that it can represent the easier path we have when access needs are met. Both versions are good and meaningful to me and I have been enjoying seeing your posts on this process, @capricorn-0mnikorn.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

*Nod* I often have the same feeling, when I listen to a new cover of an old favorite song. … Even when the “new cover” is actually the original.

“I have been enjoying seeing your posts on this process.”

And I’ve been enjoying the process!

#still loving the superhero vibes of the zags and bright colors best

Hey, there’s your Halloween costume (or sci-fi con costume) idea: Anti-ableism Superhero! Wear the zigzag pattern across your chest and on a cape; if you make them out of different colors of reflective tape, they could also be a safety feature, when walking along at night.

[From the Edge of the Map]

Hey, so I changed my Tumblr icon, so that it shows my latest attempt at making a visually-safe version of the Disability Pride Flag.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Because I want to make sure people see it.

Will this work, do you think? I don’t want to guess, again.

[threadsledastray]

It’s fine I guess but it conveys neither the vibrancy or the detours-constantly-required of the original.

I am likely experiencing bias but I strongly disliked how the issue of visual access was presented as paramount for this flag and how much imo bullying went into getting changes above all other considerations or values - well that tainted things for me considerably. Once again I saw severe jumping on one issue among many largely by people unaffected by the access issue themselves.

So, personally, I feel the straight line-ness of this version is redolent of how people are snapped into line and made to tone down their politics - which is an unfortunate association.

I really miss the zig zag which was truly meaningful to me - It felt bold and queer and poetic - this version feels like it conveys normative values and constrained story telling

I regret my views being so negative but I guess you need honest feeback for design purposes @capricorn-0mnikorn

I thought the colour changes and taking out the black lines between the colour lines would have been sufficient.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Rest assured (the first): the trolling has stopped. (I really suspect it was just one anon who went quiet after The Bibliosphere voiced her displeasure).

All the discussions I’ve had since then have been polite, and kind, and have been with people who actually do have difficulty with my original design. This latest design was something I came up with based on several of those kind people’s  suggestions; more than one person said something along the lines [heh] of: “Hey, I think a simple diagonal might work. Could you try that?” So I’m trying that.

Rest assured (the second): My original design still exists. It’s already been hitched to flagpoles, and is fluttering in the breeze somewhere in the real world (the genie is out of the bottle; the tiger is out of his cage).  

These changes are not meant to replace that. They are suggested alternatives, for use in alternative spaces – especially for scrolling on social media (Multiple versions happen with nation flags, too, BTW – have you seen Norway’s War Flag?). 

Rest assured (the third): Although the lines no longer change direction, would it ease your mind to know that one of the first anti-fascist symbols was three parallel diagonal arrows?

Also, according to Ted Kaye, President of the North American Vexillological Association, and author of “Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag” (PDF; published in 2013):

Diagonal stripes are often used by former colonies as an alternative to the generally horizontal and vertical stripes of European countries

Which is why I made the zigzag of my original design move diagonally across the field, rather than straight across (like the stripes on Charlie Brown’s sweater); just as former colonies use a diagonal line to symbolize breaking free from foreign authority, I wanted to symbolize disabled people having autonomy in their own lives, and breaking free of normate authority.

[threadsledastray]

This is all very reassuring and I have loved how much cooperative effort and mutual aid has gone on. I do really appreciate the reply and yes the associations of diagonals with antifascism and anti-colonialism is helpful in reducing my bias.

Thanks @capricorn-0mnikorn

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

You’re welcome. :-)

I’m also chuckling to myself because “bias” originally meant “sloped ground,” and to cut fabric “on the bias” is to cut it diagonally.

(And I thought of something else: if some clueless normate says: “How can that be a Disability flag? There’s no wheelchair on it!!” We can shut them up by saying: “It’s a ramp!”)

“I have loved how much cooperative effort and mutual aid has gone on.”

Yeah, me too.

[From the Edge of the Map]

[arctic-hands]

I love talking about this so here's another instance of me talking about it: during the 504 Sit-Ins, wherein disabled activists occupied federal buildings in 1977 demanding better protections from the US government as they delayed enacting the regulations set forth in 1973's Rehabilitation Act, specifically the section entitled 504, which was supposed to provide better access to education and employment for disabled people, and the accommodations needed for such.

The activists, disabled or sick in a variety of ways, occupied multiple federal buildings across the the USA. The occupation of 50 United Nations Plaza Federal Office Building in San Francisco lasted 26 days, the longest of the protests, and I believe the longest occupation of a federal building in the USA's history.

The protest was spear-headed and led mostly by disabled women, many of them queer disabled women.

The length of the occupation was only made possible by the support of the Black Panthers, who brought food to the activists daily and stood their ground against the FBI when the feds tried to stop them from entering the plaza in an attempt to starve the protesters out. The Black Panthers then proceeded to bring hot meals every day for the rest of the protest, which ended with the enactment of the 504 regulation

Moral of the story: mass movements and protests work better when you have solidarity among various movements who, while initially fighting for different people, are all fighting for a common goal--rights, safety, empowerment, etc--and the Black Panther Party was demonized by the federal government and individual authorities not only because they were they fighting for the rights, safety, and empowerment of Black people, but because they were fully capable of and did bring unity among the many civil rights groups fighting for the individual causes, in a way that would have enacted great change in this country had they not been infiltrated and destroyed from within, arrested on bs charges, or flat out murdered by the federal government.

Anyway the history of disabled rights are unknown even among the modern disabled, the involvement of the Black Panther Party is even less known, and without the 504 regulation laying down the base foundation we probably wouldn't have the ADA so here's your history lesson informing you about all this. And thank you Black Panthers ✊🏿♿✊

[arctic-hands]

Bummed you were unable to participate in this momentous occasion of disability rights history? You can still make history now.

There's an act proposed by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio called the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act. Social Security is seriously broken in this country. The max amount one can receive from SSI is seven hundred and seventy-one dollars a month, and you have a max asset limit of two thousand total. This is below the federal poverty levels, and with very few exceptions you cannot earn any money or even receive any as gifts without reporting it to SSI and risk docking your monthly payments. Even giftcards are dicey.

Also, people on SSI can't get married without losing their benefits. We can't even symbolically call someone our wife, husband, or partner without SSI penalizing us

It's enforced poverty. And it's an ordeal to even get on it, because as abysmal as it is it's the only option for people who cannot work. I believe the statistic is only one in ten will be approved first time applying (I believe legal blindness is an automatic approval). And it's nearly impossible to appeal or reapply without a lawyer. I was rejected three times before I had the resources to lawyer up, and I had to pay a third of my earnings. Also, when I first applied and was rejected in Indiana, I lost my life-saving Medicaid, thanks to a new law by then-governor mike pence, who enacted that only those on disability can receive Medicaid. I had had Hoosier Healthwise since I was a child and had been grandfathered in, but upon my inevitable rejection I was disqualified from Medicaid. I didn't get back on it until I moved to Maryland. I was never informed by the people helping me apply about the risk to my Medicaid.

Disabled and chronically ill people are never educated on our rights, resources, and what we can do for ourselves. My high school econ class would have been better served teaching us about Social Security (or even how to pay taxes) instead of telling my school where sixty percent of us were in poverty that our only way to success was in the stock market (during the Great Recession, no less). I didn't know anything about what I posted above until I was an adult and advocating for myself. Disability rights were never covered in Social Studies, and in fact in the years leading up to the Affordable Care Act, the right to medical coverage was forced to be a topic of debate in that class, as well as the right for wellfare. A good chunk of my classes genuinely argued against my right to have access to medical care.

Because of this lack of education, many people needing SSI have no knowledge or resources on how to find a lawyer, so they face the appeal in front of a judge alone and inevitably lose. Their only options then are to either give up, or try again and again and again.

But the legislation proposed by Sen. Sherrod Brown is called "Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act. Without linking (so it will show up in the reblogs), here's what the Washington Examiner says about it:

A coalition has begun pushing policymakers to update and simplify SSI. Changes they seek include:

raising cash benefits, at least to the poverty line;

updating asset limits of $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple) that have not budged since 1972 to at least $10,000 and $20,000, along with overly complex and strict income limits;  

simplifying and “humanizing” SSI by easing or removing penalties for working and saving.

Not mentioned in the article, but I've heard from others in the Disability community that it will allow us to get married.

I know with disability and life long illness tend to have anxiety, I get it believe me, but now is the time to start making our presence known. We need to call our reps and let them know we exist, we're voters, and we need this legislation passed. If you know of any groups mobilizing for physical protests, join up with them and do as much as you are safely and physically able. (And if you know of any such groups in Baltimore, let me know).

Not only that but we call upon our allies to help us.

This is life saving legislation proposed to a government that largely doesn't care about our lives. So it's time for action. Let's raise hell like the disabled activists before us.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Signal boost for the history

And the present Day Fight that is Still going on!

And to share my favorite tidbit about that protest.

Remember, this was before cell phones existed. And only cops and authorities had things like walkie-talkies.

So to try and force the protestors out, the police cut the landlines, so they couldn’t use the telephones to communicate with the outside world.

What they forgot was: There were sign language interpreters in the building. And in the crowd outside. So messages were passed back and forth through the windows.

*snirk*

[From the Edge of the Map]

capricorn-0mnikorn asked:

Hey -- Ann Magill, here. Your recent posts about the Disability Pride flags has an inaccuracy. I *Started* designing a pride flag in 2016, but I didn't finish it until 2019. It has also come to my attention that, for some people, that zigzag design can cause seizures and migraines if it shows up online while they are scrolling. So a bunch of people are trying to make further adaptions. In the meantime, could you please tag it with #flashing? Or put it behind a read more? Thanks!

annoyedlord answered:

Hello!! Thanks for reaching out and correcting me! I’m gonna edit the post!

I added few trigger warnings variations already, but I will too add the #flashing so it can be easily blocked! As for read more, if I get access to a computer, I’ll do it (but for now as I’m from my phone only)!

I hope you’ll have a great day!! ♥️

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Damn! I wish Tumblr mobile had all the same features as Tumblr Desktop (and so say we all!)

Anyway, I’m learning a lot about this as I go, too; apparently, “Flashing” And “Flashing tw” are preferred (Tumblr only blocks tags based on the first word, apparently, so putting “tw” first doesn’t tell people what the warning’s for). As I understand it, tags with things like “Seizure” and “epilepsy” are used for talking about those things, so they don’t get put in many people’s block list.

[This has been your Tumblr Tag PSA] 📢♥♥♥ Stay safe, people!