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Disabled community - how do we feel about people who wear glasses (and have no other conditions) claiming it's technically a disability?
When a person in my class did this is made me uncomfortable personally. But I've heard arguments otherwise.
When a person in my class did this is made me uncomfortable personally. But I've heard arguments otherwise.
I wonder if my discomfort comes from the concept of disability as an identity. Do I know any glasses-wearers w/o any other conditions who would just... call themselves disabled? Claim that label? No, I've never seen one internalize it like that.
Under a medical model of disability, needing glasses to function is an impairment and therefore technically a disability.
Under a social model... eh idk I'm not an expert in disability theory. But I believe the accessibility of society to glasses users makes it less so.
Under a social model... eh idk I'm not an expert in disability theory. But I believe the accessibility of society to glasses users makes it less so.
Nobody is going to kick you out of a store for your glasses. There is not wide scale oppression of people wearing glasses. You won't get to a destination and then realize you can't use the building because you need glasses.
BUT - that's looking through a lense of privilege.
BUT - that's looking through a lense of privilege.
I could not go to school one day because I lost my glasses.
It's coming from a place of privilege if we assume everyone who needs glasses has access to them. Because they don't. Glasses are expensive. And they are an accessibility device. What about when you can't afford them?
It's coming from a place of privilege if we assume everyone who needs glasses has access to them. Because they don't. Glasses are expensive. And they are an accessibility device. What about when you can't afford them?
Maybe I'm not uncomfortable that they claimed glasses were technically a disability. Instead, that they used that fact to say they were in the "target" category (target vs agent of oppression) for the identity "disability" w/o addressing or acknowledging their privileges there.
Like, my guess is that they & other people in a similar position wouldn't call themselves "disabled"
So it rubs me the wrong way I think as a disabled person when people seem to be getting around acknowledging privilege with "well, *technically* I'm a target"
So it rubs me the wrong way I think as a disabled person when people seem to be getting around acknowledging privilege with "well, *technically* I'm a target"
I think of how I addressed my bisexuality in class (we were having discussions of privilege)
I talked about how I'm a target, yes, but also have privilege in that I'm currently in a straight passing relationship. It means I'm being misgendered but also means I'm not harassed.
I talked about how I'm a target, yes, but also have privilege in that I'm currently in a straight passing relationship. It means I'm being misgendered but also means I'm not harassed.
I talked about that dichotomy w/ a friend when we broke out into smaller groups. She pointed out how she's a target for gender because she's a woman, but that she also holds a lot of privilege because she's a cis woman.
I wish we were seeing the same nuance with needing glasses.
I wish we were seeing the same nuance with needing glasses.
And I don't mean to pick on that person in my class. They're super sweet honestly and I think it was was more of a well intended "woah, I never thoght of it this way - I technically am a target?"
But it's a topic I've had come up a few times before & usually lacking in nuance.
But it's a topic I've had come up a few times before & usually lacking in nuance.
For context:
I am disabled
I also wear glasses
My vision is about 20/600
I do not currently consider this to be an additional disability
If I could not afford glasses, this would absolutely be an additional disability.
I am disabled
I also wear glasses
My vision is about 20/600
I do not currently consider this to be an additional disability
If I could not afford glasses, this would absolutely be an additional disability.
