Here we go.. in my 18 yrs of being one of & #39;those parents& #39;, one of the & #39;anxious& #39; parents, please let me translate.

This is not the first time we are dismissed as & #39;anxious& #39; as we butt up against a discriminatory system. Let me explain, it is too much, let me sum up 1/n https://twitter.com/j_mcelroy/status/1299113668538294272">https://twitter.com/j_mcelroy...

We are parents that are fiercely advocating for the rights of our disabled/chronically ill kids/family members.

What does that mean? What are their rights? In this case, their rights are the right to an equitable education along w/ their abled peers. 2/n

What would this look like - this would be a school re-opening plan that minimized transmission risk by maximizing physical distancing making it safer for everyone. It would have been a plan that recognized the right of *all* kids to be *in the building* in an equitable way 3/n

This language, dismissing our concerns as & #39;anxious& #39;, as if we don& #39;t know what we& #39;re talking about, as if our concerns arent& #39; real is something we are *very* used to. And frankly, it doesn& #39;t fly. We see it for what it is - gaslighting our experienc.. and why? 4/n

The why is simple, b/c the govt, *our* govt, has decided that educating *all* kids is too expensive & #39;in this time of pandemic& #39;, and would rather either..
a)take risks w/ those who are deemed lower risk, or,
b) ignore the needs of those who know their risk is too high 5/n

But here& #39;s the thing, Dr. Bonnie Henry, @adriandix & #bcpoli, we have been advocating for our kids& #39;, and our rights for a long time. Accessibility is more than a ramp, and our kids have a right to a *safe* and equitable education 6/n

Ignoring the needs of those with chronic illness/disability is creating a discriminatory education model & #39;in this time of covid.

This. Isn& #39;t. Good. Enough.
#DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights