The idea of high functioning [insert disability] is potentially harmful at worst & useless at the very least. [A thread]

For one, which standards are we holding up to define someone as high-functioning or low-functioning? Usually, it is defined through ableist eyes of how people should act &/or should be. 2/8

Oftentimes, the idea of high-functioning is embedded in the capitalist notions of labour. One is high-functioning because one is able to participate in the productive force. 3/8

The implication of inserting capitalist and neoliberal notions is that disabled peoples are deemed "worthy" or "valued" only if they are "able" to participate in the present economic & political system. 4/8

Disabled people are sometimes excluded from bios (citizen's life) & reduced to zoe (bare life) - a life that can be discarded - if they do not meet the standards of society (i. e. not productive enough, not high-functioning). See Vita by Joao Biehl. 5/8

The dichotomisation of high-functioning/low-functioning is very harmful especially when we don't afford those who are considered low-functioning a good life that should be the right of everyone. 6/8

The high-functioning/low-functioning categorisation is also harmful to those who are considered high-functioning because often they are not afforded allowances & considerations because they look like they can keep up anyway. 7/8

We should just do away w/ categorisations of disability, which only reflect ableism & the violence of capitalism/neoliberalism. 8/8