Columnist – Ciara Lawrence
In late September, the Authorities launched a brand-new marketing campaign, ‘Ask, Don’t Assume’, encouraging individuals to speak to disabled individuals about their lives, and my coronary heart sank. I’m fairly open about speaking about my studying incapacity as a result of I would like individuals to know extra about my life. I need to use my experiences to advertise change for the higher and problem attitudes, however that isn’t the case for everybody.
I do know that a lot of my associates with a studying incapacity don’t need to share particulars of their non-public lives, and so they shouldn’t have to take action to be handled equally. Everyone seems to be totally different – and it’s the precise of individuals with a incapacity to determine whether or not they need to be requested questions which might be usually insensitive and triggering.
These associates additionally informed me how a lot they recognize having the ability to discuss different points of themselves, with out even mentioning their studying incapacity in any respect. They need individuals to see previous the educational incapacity and deal with them as an entire individual. I can completely empathise with this. Whereas, as I stated, I like talking out about my life and I’m happy with the challenges I’ve overcome, these issues don’t outline me, and I’d favor to have the ability to select what I share about my experiences and when.
By specializing in asking disabled individuals to, primarily, educate the general public, the ‘Ask Don’t Assume’ marketing campaign sadly fails to handle the issues which might be actually affecting individuals with disabilities. For instance, continued cuts to the advantages system, holding individuals with a studying incapacity in psychological well being items for years in opposition to their will and even the closure of ticket places of work that may have an effect on the best way so many individuals like me journey.
The marketing campaign is a well-intentioned try to unfold consciousness about incapacity – regardless that individuals with a studying incapacity don’t characteristic very prominently. It may be good to have conversations, so long as everybody concerned is comfy partaking.
As an alternative, ‘Ask, Don’t Assume’ has promoted widespread criticism from incapacity activists and paved the best way for individuals to ask intrusive questions on disabilities – one thing they actually wanted no further encouragement to do.
About Ciara Lawrence
Ciara Lawrence is a widely known studying incapacity campaigner and a Shaw Belief Energy 100 influencer. She has written for The Guardian, The Huffington Put up, and The Unbiased.
Search ‘Ciara’s pink sparkle podcast’ by way of Google.
There are at the moment 1.5 million individuals within the UK dwelling with a studying incapacity, Mencap is right here to assist them stay life to the fullest: www.mencap.org.uk
Columnist – Ciara Lawrence
In late September, the Authorities launched a brand-new marketing campaign, ‘Ask, Don’t Assume’, encouraging individuals to speak to disabled individuals about their lives, and my coronary heart sank. I’m fairly open about speaking about my studying incapacity as a result of I would like individuals to know extra about my life. I need to use my experiences to advertise change for the higher and problem attitudes, however that isn’t the case for everybody.
I do know that a lot of my associates with a studying incapacity don’t need to share particulars of their non-public lives, and so they shouldn’t have to take action to be handled equally. Everyone seems to be totally different – and it’s the precise of individuals with a incapacity to determine whether or not they need to be requested questions which might be usually insensitive and triggering.
These associates additionally informed me how a lot they recognize having the ability to discuss different points of themselves, with out even mentioning their studying incapacity in any respect. They need individuals to see previous the educational incapacity and deal with them as an entire individual. I can completely empathise with this. Whereas, as I stated, I like talking out about my life and I’m happy with the challenges I’ve overcome, these issues don’t outline me, and I’d favor to have the ability to select what I share about my experiences and when.
By specializing in asking disabled individuals to, primarily, educate the general public, the ‘Ask Don’t Assume’ marketing campaign sadly fails to handle the issues which might be actually affecting individuals with disabilities. For instance, continued cuts to the advantages system, holding individuals with a studying incapacity in psychological well being items for years in opposition to their will and even the closure of ticket places of work that may have an effect on the best way so many individuals like me journey.
The marketing campaign is a well-intentioned try to unfold consciousness about incapacity – regardless that individuals with a studying incapacity don’t characteristic very prominently. It may be good to have conversations, so long as everybody concerned is comfy partaking.
As an alternative, ‘Ask, Don’t Assume’ has promoted widespread criticism from incapacity activists and paved the best way for individuals to ask intrusive questions on disabilities – one thing they actually wanted no further encouragement to do.
About Ciara Lawrence
Ciara Lawrence is a widely known studying incapacity campaigner and a Shaw Belief Energy 100 influencer. She has written for The Guardian, The Huffington Put up, and The Unbiased.
Search ‘Ciara’s pink sparkle podcast’ by way of Google.
There are at the moment 1.5 million individuals within the UK dwelling with a studying incapacity, Mencap is right here to assist them stay life to the fullest: www.mencap.org.uk
