On alerting disabled people to disability issues online

You don’t only have to alert the disabled people you know about disability discrimination and accessibility issues.

I get SO many notifications a day from well meaning (usually non disabled) people, alerting me to the latest story about discrimination, or asking me to share info and articles to my networks.

Don’t just tag me. Tag your non disabled friends and followers – because they’re the ones who need to help dismantle the ableism by doing the work. They’re often the ones who hold the power.

Chances are your disabled friends are already across so many of these disability and accessibility issues – through the news, our friendship groups and social networks. And many of us are living and struggling with that exact issue you’re alerting us to.

We know.

And we’re tired.

Tired of being expected to do all the work, of non disabled people thinking they have done the work just by letting their disabled friends know. Tired of never seeing these people actually speak of disability and access issues publicly on social media or elsewhere, and not making a concerted effort to provide accessibility. Tired of the vicarious trauma through seeing discrimination and hare speech again and again.

While I’m at it, don’t tag me in your social media post to show me you’ve done an image description or captions – and then never create accessible content again.

Allyship is a verb. It takes work. Tagging a disabled friend and doing nothing further to improve disability rights, inclusion and access is just laziness.

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