Changé: Dance and movement after becoming disabled *** this originally published in the 2022 fall print issue of Thiiird Magazine. Ballet dancer Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter’s personal experience navigating dance, blindness and chronic pain. Etendre (to stretch) A reach back into the past I remember when my body flowed in graceful arcs, pirouetting towards a distant point. My limbs a… Continue reading Changé: dance and movement after becoming disabled
Tag: ablism
Believing something doesn’t make it true
Since the beginning of Covid, we have seen cases of people wanting to believe something that just isn’t true. Covid was out-right denied. Despite thousands dying, its severity was denied. Public health safety measures have been doubted, questioned, debated and completely ignored for years. A couple of months ago, I noticed people who took Covid… Continue reading Believing something doesn’t make it true
Hey, Jamie Lynn, get over yourself: Who tells disability experiences?
I’m. So. Sick. Of non-disabled people centering their experiences around disability. And this isn’t unique to me. All disabled people are tired of hearing how disability impacts non-disabled people. Ug! Recently, Jamie Lynn Spears, sister to Britney Spears, said in an interview that she doesn’t understand why she and her sister have grown apart. In her new… Continue reading Hey, Jamie Lynn, get over yourself: Who tells disability experiences?
Dear non-disabled people, your New Year’s resolutions
Dear non-disabled people, 2022 is upon us, and it’s time for arbitrary resolutions. We all know no one ever keeps New Year’s resolutions, so, here are some more for you also not to keep. Non-disabled people, you haven’t kept these up ‘til now; please don’t fail my expectations this year. A list of New Year’s resolutions curated just for you, non-disabled people. All… Continue reading Dear non-disabled people, your New Year’s resolutions
A short rant on ableism
This is a rant; a righteous rant. If you don’t like it, tough. I’m tired of being silenced, stuffed into a box. I’m tired of trying to live my life constantly surrounded by your ableism. For two weeks now I’ve felt bookended by ableism. Comments and attitudes directed towards me, mostly by people supposed to… Continue reading A short rant on ableism
Punished for being disabled
You make the decision to have children, and from that point, your children consume you. You want to give them every opportunity. You want them to succeed. You ultimately want them to be happy and healthy. But when you’re a disabled parent, you’re often punished for daring to be disabled. My husband and I both have a… Continue reading Punished for being disabled
Disabled and doing fine: I’m not in need of misguided affirmations
Hey, non-disabled peeps, disabled adult here. I’m not a child; please stop speaking to me like I’m in Kindergarten. Doesn’t matter what my disability is, it’s never okay to speak to adults like this. And I certainly don’t care about your hang-ups surrounding disability. Stop. Speaking. To. Me. Like. I’m. A. Child. The school year… Continue reading Disabled and doing fine: I’m not in need of misguided affirmations
Off with face masks: The ablism creeping into comments about removing masks once vaccinated
More and more people are receiving Covid vaccinations, and life is beginning to bloom again. We are like caged creatures, bursting out the open door with frenzy. We seem to think we need to make up time for the past year-and-a-half. I admit, easing back into a routine of here-there-and-everywhere, feels good, if a smidge… Continue reading Off with face masks: The ablism creeping into comments about removing masks once vaccinated
Uncomfortable Conversations: The importance of including ablism in our discussions on disability
Uncomfortable conversations are not fun. No one enjoys an uncomfortable conversation. Sometimes, uncomfortable conversations are necessary. Let’s also not conflate discomfort with abuse. My entire life, I’ve heard excuses for why people are racist, sexist, ablist, classist. They don’t understand. They are from a different generation. They are just being nice. Well, fuck all these… Continue reading Uncomfortable Conversations: The importance of including ablism in our discussions on disability
What book are you fingering?: The language we feel obligated to use with blind people
My iPhone rested in my lap as I sat in my seat on the train. Like passengers surrounding me, I used my smart device to entertain myself. With an earbud positioned in my ear, I kept one ear available to track my children while the other read a book on Kindle. I enjoy reading audio… Continue reading What book are you fingering?: The language we feel obligated to use with blind people
Imperfection 