humanity
Advocates, icons, influencers, and more. All about humanity.
Are You in Pain or Suffering?
Is it pain or suffering? Pain in the Physical Arena: In the early to mid-1970s, one of my aunts developed a terrible case of kyphosis (often confused with scoliosis). She began to hunch over badly and, from what I understand, the doctors predicted that it would eventually lead to organ failure. She was average height but for most of my life stood no more than four feet high, due to the curvature of her spine.
By Robert Spencer8 years ago in Longevity
Empathy, Or Em...Pity?
In March 2018, upon invitation through a LinkedIn message, I attended a seminar entitled “Human-Centered Technology: The Human/Tech Paradox” in New York City. The keynote speaker was Concepción Galdón, PhD, Social Innovation Director/Academic Lead at IE (Instituto de Empresa) University in Spain.
By Sebastian Peter, Jr.8 years ago in Longevity
Fight the Good Fight
Ableism means that somebody is not taking into account a disability. It is like telling somebody in a wheelchair to get up and walk when they can’t. Or pointing out a person with diabetes’ need for insulin, to tell them they are a waste of space. Great. Such a swell comment, because sometimes people will slip up and tell those of us with knee injuries to kneel in certain situations when we can’t. Ableism makes people feel ashamed of themselves. I have an enormous shame complex of mine that I’m working on ridding myself of. I spent my entire childhood sleep deprived.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Longevity
'Celebrating' Autism Awareness Month
April has long been known as Autism Awareness Month and April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day. Since my daughter’s diagnosis years ago, I have been involved in many online support groups, read many blogs, and participated in a number of discussions about what exactly this month should be about, or if it should even be a thing at all.
By Jennifer Arnold8 years ago in Longevity
On the Eve of April 1st
Welcome to abelism awareness month. Let me refresh some of your disability etiquette. Nobody thinks to treat disabled people as a whole person. They are too busy staring at the wheelchair, the medical device, or the hearing aid. Asking about somebody’s disability directly is quite rude in our community as is blatantly running into a medical device like a woman who ran into my device in yoga class once, nearly dislodging my infusion set. Abelist thinking is not always talked about. If you know a wheelchair person, asking them how they wound up in a wheelchair is just plain rude. Yes, you are curious. Don’t point out disabled people’s stuff.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Longevity
"His Autism Is in Your Head"
When we shared my husband’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis with his parents, they sat there in silence. Slow-motion minutes passed by as my father-in-law, whom I’ve come to learn is all about the control and conformity (he frequently tells my one year old to use his right hand), continued to stare down at his hands, stunned. Finally, he looked directly at my husband and said:
By Abellona T8 years ago in Longevity
Why Abelism Is Not Called For
Ableism sucks. Do not throw your abelist nonsense around. I can multi-task at home. I can multi-task elsewhere. But I cannot work full-time until I sleep the whole night properly. Really, if my family expects me to jump into full-time work, well, that is dangerous. No, thank you. I have to start part-time and work my way up. I applied at a nutritional supplement store within walking distance from home at a mall. So yes, I need to work part-time. There is an insurance gig coming for me that I have to pay up $200 for, so if you read my work on this website, please donate. The insurance gig can be very part-time.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Longevity
Autism Does Not a Killer Make
In a million years, I did not think I would have to start another bloggy message about mental health, other than Autism information. Yet, here I am. Why? Because we have had another shooting. Worse yet, a school shooting. The politicians are asking for gun control. The students, God bless them, want gun control. Those who are connecting the dots in all these horrible crimes, however, are seeing another issue, mental health.
By Jenna Logan8 years ago in Longevity
The Time of a Disabled Person Is Not Yours to Waste
Despite the many disabilities there are out there because of this polluted, godforsaken, hell-hole, and wretched planet of a world that sits on the Orion Arm in the Milky Way Galaxy, disabled people’s time is not yours to waste. Sometimes we have bad days. Those of us with chronic illness intimately know that we have bad days and goodness knows that happens. Just sleeping through the night for me is a huge accomplishment. I don’t think I know what that’s like, period. I had symptoms of pediatric schizophrenia since I was a one-year-old.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Longevity
Weathered Down
Pain is a feeling triggered by the nervous system. One may feel it as a prick, tingle, sting, burn, or ache. Everyone experiences pain at some point or another, yet everyone experiences pain differently. Sometimes pain can’t be shown, leaving those around us unaware of what one is actually experiencing.
By Hannelore Gruber8 years ago in Longevity
