This has been playing in my mind for quite a while, and I’ve wanted to say something but been concerned about how to express it as it could be taken the wrong way (either accidentally or deliberately).

I’m really starting to notice how when it comes to diversity and equality...

...issues disability gets the raw end of the deal.

Though disability impacts on me more directly than other equalities areas, I try to take an interest and fight for equality against any characteristic, as inequality affects everyone and we are all fighting the same fight...

... If a see a person or group of people being treated unequally because of who or what they are it hurts me, and I do what I can to show support and spread the word. It strikes me as the decent thing to do.

But I see so many who don’t take that approach. They beat their...

... own drum and it appears to be a case of “sod that other people are treated unfairly too, I’ll stick to my own...”. I really don’t understand that approach.

If you fight your fight, but turn a blind eye to the fight of others then that weakens your position, and by turning...

... that blind eye you become part of the problem. It’s particularly ignorant given that different diversity areas are generally oppressed by the same people.

It’s not like by raising awareness of disability issues it’s at the expense of other areas, it’s just ensuring that...

... disability is part of the conversation. Nobody loses out as a result.

A huge example that came up very recently was EasyJet’s policy demanding that disabled passengers travel accompanied and charging for the additional seat. If their policy had been to charge another....

... protected group doublectl hse their services then there would have been an absolute Twitter storm, as it is there was very little. I did my bit as did a couple of lovely friends, but the wider abled community did sod all. That’s just one example but it seems to happen...

... a lot. It’s our problem, not everyone’s, yet pretty much every other diversity area is taken more seriously across the board. It’s like there’s this ingrained view that we are lesser, and deserve less equality. As I’m sure you can imagine that’s infuriating and...

... heartbreaking.

I’ll finish off by saying that I do know very good abled friends who do take disability issues seriously, so this isn’t a case of me calling out everyone. I also know that I’ll likely upset people with this thread. To them I say this.

If you are upset by...

... it ask yourself why. If you genuinely try to spread the word on disability ialongside other issues, then the thread doesn’t refer to you and I’m not calling you out, if however you feel your ARE being called out then maybe look at your own attitudes rather than my words.