Able-Bodied Privilege
 

There is certainly able-bodied privilege present here (and all over) and I especially see it poke it's ugly head often in threads about sex & sexuality. We seem to have no problem recognizing our racial or class privilege, and face our denial quite often, but I don't see this much when it comes to able-bodied privilege. Don't see much consideration about it much at all. Of course, someone could be a POC, poor, female, etc. and disabled... Disability can range in severity and impairment as well as age of onset. Going from able-bodied status to one of disability is quite different than for people that have always lived with a disability.

Please post your thoughts....

Able-bodied privilege checklist:

This list is based on Peggy McIntosh’s article on white privilege. These dynamics are but a few examples of the privilege which able-bodied people have.

On a daily basis as an able-bodied person…

1. I can easily arrange to be in the company of people of my physical ability.
2. If I need to move, I can easily be assured of purchasing housing I can get access to easily - accessibility is one thing I do not need to make a special point of looking for.
3. I can be assured that my entire neighborhood will be accessible to me.
4. I can assume that I can go shopping alone, and they will always have appropriate accommodations to make this experience hassle-free.
5. I can turn on the television or open a newspaper and see people of my physical ability represented.
6. When I learned about history, people of my physical ability were well represented.
7. I was given curricular material which showed people like me as a role model.
8. I can be assured that assumptions about my mental capabilities will not be made based on my physical status.
9. I can swear, dress sloppily, or even be in a bad mood without people attributing it to my physical disability.
10. I can do well in challenging situations very often without being told what an inspiration I must be to other able-bodied people.
11. I have been asked to speak for all physically challenged people.
12. Almost always, when asking to speak to the person in charge, will find someone of the same physical status.
13. I can buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, children’s magazines featuring people of the same physical status.
14. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having someone suspect I got my job because of my disability.
15. If I am fired, not given a raise, or not hired, I do not have to question whether it had anything to do with my appearing physically incompetent..

Addition:

I can be assured that assumptions about my sexuality and sexual needs and desires as well will not be made based on my physical status.

sorry don't know how to quote this right
 

not sure how to do this but my replies are in CAPS

What does it look like when able body privilege pokes it ugly head up in conversations about sex and sexuality? Because I'm differently abled (HATE the word disabled) and I have not seen it.

Can you give me some examples?

For me, primarily in clinical settings (of which there are many in my life, unfortunately). I am loath to discuss such personal details in a public forum but it is an issue for me. It's an extremely sensitive issue, obviously, and I can answer a general survey (such as above) but that's about it. But are you asking AtLastHome? Not clear. Sorry if this is overstepping. You may have gotten that answer already while I'm typing.

I really have no specific agenda about how the thread can or should go. I know that there are some things I would not be specific about just because, unfortunately, sometimes members post in very insensitive and.. well, ignorant ways. I just wanted to call attention to this as I feel all other kinds of privilege get talked about. And since I really have read some totally able-bodied privileged remarks about sex here and on the dash site, I feel a little enlightenment is needed. Also, many people are really not aware of what they are saying.. and not really in a mean way. They just don't have any perswonal experience with the subject.

Yes, I get the differently-abled idea.

OK, on the infidelity thread, there was a post that bugged me in that it made a reference to illness and disability as a reason for someone to seek sex outside of the relationship. Obviously, the person was talking about a partner not having these issues at the start of their relationship.

What bothered me was 1) viewing someone with a disability or chronic illness as sexually defective.... Hello, there are many ways to have sex and I felt this was predicated on the able-bodied place of privilege that sexual activity can only be one way, the able-bodied person's way. 2) an inability to explore adjustments and adaptations for a partner. 3) Using a disability issue as an excuse to seek sex outside of the relationship. People are different about fidelity, so please do not think I am speaking about poly folks in a negative manner, I'm not. This is just one example.

I also have a close femme friend that has run into the other side of this- having people believe they are doing her some kind of favor as an able-bodied person having sex with her. She can see this sort a mile away and smacks their privilege right down, but this is not true for many other differently-abled women. She has also had more than one incident of drivers of Para-transit buses hitting on her, mostly with this pity-fuck attitude. All old farty men.. she's in her 20's and this is during the course of their work hours. Yes, she reported this. She is very attractive and quite severely disabled and has been since birth. She is also an extremely bright and articulate woman.. and enjoys sex. She has been sexually active in the same age ranges and frequencies as the rest of us. LOL.. I admit, I have to be careful and not try to intervene for her if it is not invited. She can take care of herself and does.

And oh yes, she deals with what One is talking about…. The complete denial of disabled people having a normal and healthy libido!

Does this help?

I'd just like to interject something here....

Middle-aged, my ASS!

Carry on. :blink:

NO! City planners all over need to get it together to provide access! People that don't deal with disabilities are the one's with the privilege... the whole damn world is built for them. Yet, here in the US as the masses of baby-boomers age, more acess is needed. And more awareness. This is a huge population that has paid into various systems like social security.

Hummm.. just thought of something else, the belief that disabled people do not work and thus don't pay taxes that are used for public building, and buy homes, shop in stores... you know, consume goods and services that we all need in order to have a working economy!

Maybe it is two different reading on one thing. I read and then re-read the post in question. I didn't read it the same way you did. I read it as an unfortunate fact that chronic/severe illness can cause so much stress in a relationship that intimacy goes by the wayside. It happens, and I am not sure that is able bodied privilege as it takes TWO to work on intimacy. Perhaps in some cases. I have more than a fair share of differentabilities. I have traumatic brain injury and have seizures. I've done a few years of chemo. It hasn't affected me too much. I have a great relationship with the hubby and we use humor to get through. (like i am a life sized vibrator).

I went to a Winter Ball recently and wow did they go out of the way to accommodate my wheelchair. I even had my own personal valet push me up the wheel chair ramp, and Toughy danced with me a did a strip-tease. My hubby sat on my lap and we slow wheeled rather than slow dance.

I have NEVER had the impression that a person was doing me a favor, but I have thought to myself that some people LOVE to pat themselves on the back for being so accepting. It makes me smile inside because they have no clue how transparent or asshatish that is.

We're all sexual creatures, no matter the ism we carry. Woof!

eta: i don't so much believe that able bodied *privilege* is a systemic problem. I think for the most part people don't know what they don't know. I try to educate whomever journeys into my path, and usually when I do we have a wonderful series of A-Ha moments OR they bury their head in sand deeper because it scares them in a *but for the grace of god go I* kind of way.

Being disabled sucks,u bet thats not even strong enough word to use or will theire be one.Some of u know I have an issus with my back and need something done to releave the pressure on the nerves so I can walk normaly without limping or useing my cane.This back issue had goten my spine out of alignment and its hurting in a couple of other places in my neck and left shoulder.Im able to work if the ppl I work for will allow me the priviledge to sit or take a stretrch break to loosen the tight musels in muy back now and then.
Sofar I havent found one job that would even give it a thought muchless do it..forget giveing me a try out and see if will work out for us as employee and employer.I know there are laws to help us get jobs and protect our rights but in the real world it aint so, cause no one pays any attention to them.Im on ssi and medicaid but still want to live a real life as I can and not be hidden in the corner and forgoten about.Im still puting out apps weekly hopeing something will work out,cause if I stop it means giveing up for me.
As for a relationship,I gave up on them a long time ago,its not that I would turn one down if the lady was understanding about how things work with the injury and all.But dam very fue take the time to deal with less abled ppl.I will no longer be anyones meal/drink ticket or used for a ride if ur car is busted.Since this happened on 2007 I have lost friends and aquantences,been broke more than any time of my life as well as lsot near everything I had.Now im on an even keel but only by the skin of my teeth.
Im in hopes that this year I can get things fixed and move on but I also realise I will always have some physical issues to deal with just not as bad as before.

Typically, differently-abled people are viewed as a drain on society's resources, rather than contributors to it. I DO pay taxes with ever dollar I spend. But when I shop at a market and discuss access issues with management, they look at me like I'm a three-headed goat. They talk at me, but not to me. They say conciliatory words but somehow it's always "corporate" who's responsible for the lack of accessibility in the locality, never the locality's management. Never having been asked to speak on the behalf of differently-abled people, all I can do is try to make inroads where I see there is a lack, by speaking to management. This is a challenge in itself, the very act of speaking. In body and mind, I may be a little on the humpty dumpty side, but not in heart. That is intact. And is fully functioning, and capable of feeling every facet that one who is "able" can feel. But I'm talked down to, like a pre-verbal infant. Or people who shout, as though hearing is a problem (it's not). Then, there are people who finish my sentences and have no fucking idea what they are talking about because it's MY SENTENCE DAMMIT LET ME FINISH IT. Uh oh. I feel a rant coming on. I have a longer list than I thought. Better stop.

I don't even bother with management. I report report report and send a letter threatening a lawsuit for failure to comply with ADA law. I have not had to sue yet, it has always been handled by the proper authorities.

SO out of style not to be accessible these days, and SO not a choice. It's law.

I would really like to know how to take action with the ADA and get results. I have their numbers and an address in... hmm where is it, somewhere in federal offices... have not mailed any letters because: after talking to the people on the ADA line they suggest speaking to management. So what should I do?

At the same store a couple of years ago, I raised another issue and it was righted immediately, AND a $50 store gift certificate given to me for bringing it to their attention. THAT'S a manager who knows how to avoid a lawsuit. Now it's a new manager and he leans heavily on the "corporate excuse". Just waiting to get sued I guess.

slight derail but fabu information
 

Arriving in inconspicuous plain white envelopes, attorney Scott Johnson’s letters have some local businesses working frantically to avoid lawsuits.
And the letters are no scam.

Johnson, a quadriplegic, is an attorney focusing on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) since 2004.

That’s the same year California raised the minimum fine per infraction from $1,000 to $4,000, Johnson said.

The attorney has sent letters to businesses in Sacramento, Roseville and Auburn during that time, according to news reports, and now Lincoln.
Johnson said he sends letters to businesses “wherever I go.”

Pete Alcala, owner of Ace Body Shop and Towing on G Street, received one of Johnson’s letters on April 13.

“I have really no clue why I got this,” Alcala said.

It is a form letter, stating that Alcala’s business is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and asking that it be brought into compliance within 90 days. It also states that business owners “should not rely on city or county building inspectors, state lottery inspectors or non-existent grandfather clauses.”

The letter is signed by Johnson, with a contact address in Carmichael but no phone number.

Alcala said that at least two other area businesses also received letters.
A similar letter was sent about the same time as Alcala’s to Scott Swenson at American Home Realty, next door to Alcala’s shop.

“I didn’t know if it was a scam but my building was remodeled eight or nine years ago and I thought it was just a letter that had gone to every business in Lincoln and didn’t apply to me,” Swenson said. “I’m going to look into it a little further.”

Alcala didn’t wait.

Within days of receiving the letter, he contacted city of Lincoln Building Official Todd Cunningham, who pointed out some areas that were out of compliance.

Cunningham has no authority to enforce Americans with Disabilities Act codes as it is a national civil- rights act.

“We have no statutory rights to enforce it,” Cunningham said. “It’s (the business owners’) responsibility to know and comply with it.”

Even when new buildings go up, Cunningham said, they are typically only inspected for California’s set of laws regarding disabled access.
Cunningham said he is not currently qualified to pass any businesses on federal ADA guidelines.

That will all change in about a year with SB1608, a state law passed last year that will require specialists at local jurisdictions to know the federal guidelines and inspect businesses for compliance by sometime in 2010, Cunningham said. The time delay is meant to give inspectors time to get certified – a process Cunningham is currently going through.

“Essentially what this law is designed to do is you would call me, I’d come out and do an analysis of the building and could put a sticker on the window,” Cunningham said. “It’s designed to give you time. It’s just getting its legs.”

Cunningham said stickers issued by certified inspectors on the window would show that work to come into compliance is in progress and it would fast-track any lawsuits that arise.

“I voted for that bill last year,” said Assemblyman Ted Gaines (R-Roseville). “It allows for corrective action before litigation.”

After painting a disabled-parking spot and installing a new, wider door with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant hardware, Alcala said he has spent about $700.

“If we don’t comply, I’m going to get sued,” Alcala said. “I can’t afford it. I firmly believe the city should be backing us. If we’re not in compliance, someone should let us know.”

Alcala, whose building was built 60 years ago, has been in business in the same location for 17 years. He said he wants to comply but he’s not sure who to turn to for help.

Johnson said his letters are not required and that he could file a lawsuit anytime he sees an infraction.

In response to questions over why his letters don’t include a list of the infractions, Johnson said he sends generic-form letters because, if he identified specific infractions, that would be all the business owner would fix and there may be more than he identified.

“Any time period that they need to do the modifications, that’s fine with me,” Johnson said. “They just need to keep me in the loop.”

Johnson said his intention is to bring businesses into compliance, despite some businesses’ claims that he is making a living off of it.

When asked how many letters he had sent to Lincoln businesses, Johnson merely replied, “several.”

“They’re the ones breaking the law,” Johnson said. “The ADA came in 1990. Why are they still in the Dark Ages? It’s unacceptable.”

Judy Guiraud, a Lincoln resident who uses a power chair, said that she appreciates the businesses that are in compliance and enjoys shopping in Lincoln.

With that said, Guiraud also understands what Johnson is doing.

"As a person who can’t get myself into most of the buildings in Lincoln, I have no problem with him," Guiraud said. “What Scott’s doing seems odious, but if people abide by the law, he would be out of business.”

Guiraud added that most businesses “probably want to be compliant and that the changes to come into compliance usually aren’t very expensive.”
Next week, Brandon Darnell will have a story about what steps should be taken to avoid a lawsuit on disability issues. He can be reached by e-mail at brandond@goldcountrymedia.com.

more info: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publicat...arprogress.htm