[THREAD] [1/8] To point out that society is ableist is not a "j'accuse" against people of being consciously ableist: it is rather a(nother) example of how binary descriptions of reality don't work, aggravate inequality, and can easily be deadly (literally). The measures taken as

[2/8] response to the Covid-19 outbreak by most Western countries do not protect disabled people - in fact, they may at times be as good as a bullet in their heads. First, there is no regard to the fact that the able-bodied/disabled divide is not binary: there are so many

[3/8] disabilities and to so different extent that we may want to finally revisit the concept of "handicap", as long as it's done in its proper form (taking into consideration the surrounding circumstances rather than one's condition - e.g. a sight-impaired and a non-impaired

[4/8] person in a dark room, or me against a walking person on a downhill road). Second, not every disabled person is vulnerable, until society makes them so by taking away channels to provide sustenance (e.g. occupying all delivery slots or amassing basic essentials), forcing

[5/8] them to interact with potential involuntary killers, and not replacing such channels with dedicated ones that would cost very little and would not enlarge the list of vulnerable people - but hey, God forbid we mess with the market's invisible hand. Third, not every disabled

[6/8] person is dependent on a carer, and assuming that every disabled person has one (or needs one) is nothing short, in times of crisis, of killing them: measures taken on the assumption that every disabled person has a carer suddenly make such carer a necessity

[7/8] and - you've guessed - there are far less carers around than disabled persons. Also, it is constantly forgotten by legislators and policy-makers that to take away one's independence is to take away one's dignity. You might be surprised how many people can live without

[8/8] walking, without seeing, without hearing, without talking, without understanding non-verbal signals: but nobody can live without dignity. [Fin]