So, I have been hesitant to respond to the AISH issue. Hesitant because I fear my head being put on a chopping block lol. I have that fear because, I am someone on AISH and I don't completely disagree with them looking at AISH. But they need to do it the right way 1/

and during a pandemic is certainly not advisable. However, on a general level I actually think it's not a horrible idea. For many people with disabilities, we have been fed a narrative our whole lives that because we have a disabilities we cannot work, we aren't capable. 2/

These ideas are simply not true, but they are so ingrained in our minds that it would be easier to convince us that the sky isn't blue. Because of that, some people that get AISH see no point in trying to get a job. This idea that they are not capable and AISH 3/

is as good as it gets is what they believe. And the onerous is not on them. The onerous is on society. The onerous is on the people that have told them that all their life. The onerous is on the employers that won't hire people with disabilities. A friend of mine 4/

said yesterday "If they don't want us on AISH, hire us." This is 150% true. So, @jkenney @RajanJSaw I implore you to look at the bigger issue here. Yes, there are people on AISH who do not have to be on AISH. The reason we are is because of society. 5/

The reason we are is because we were told a long time ago "You are disabled so you are not capable." And by employers? I use to live in @CityofLeduc I loved it there. I was forced to move to Edmonton because no one would hire me. 6/

And for people with mental health issues that are on AISH? Maybe the answer is to put policies in place like they have in the UK where you can't be fired as long as you have a doctors note saying you cannot work. 7/

I believe everything in life happens for a reason. Maybe it's time we raise the disability community up instead of forcing us to live off a monthly allowance that doesn't even allow us to window shop. 8/

@PanDisability is leading this change. @InclusionAB and @GatewayAssocAB are also moving us forward. But we also need society to help. We need families, friends, educators of people with disabilities to say "You are disabled but you ARE capable." 9/

And yes, yes. There are people with disabilities that need to be on AISH because the legitimately cannot work. That's ok. As long as the reason they can't work is because of their disability and not because of society's dangerous and misguided messaging. 10/

People with disabilities are capable. Every single human being is capable. We just have to stop telling people with disabilities that they aren't. 11 /11