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Ableist Language Series Disability Advocacy

Ableist Language To Avoid And Acceptable Alternatives – “Dumb” Edition

Definition of “Dumb”

1a: lacking intelligence: STUPID

1b: showing a lack of intelligence

1c: requiring no intelligence

2a: lacking the human power of speech

2b of a person, dated, offensive, lacking the ability to speak: MUTE

3: temporarily unable to speak (as from shock or astonishment)

4: not expressed in uttered words

5: SILENT

*All definitions are from the Merriam Webster Dictionary

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Ableist Language Series Disability Advocacy

Ableist Language To Avoid And Acceptable Alternatives – “Differently-Abled” Edition

How Is “Differently-Abled” Ableist?

To understand the answer to this question, we must first examine the reason WHY people use “differently-abled” as their go-to term to describe someone with a disability.

The simple answer is this: they believe “differently-abled” is less offensive than the disabled person’s actual identity (disabled).

Disability Advocacy Personal Growth

6 Things YOU Can Do In 2021 To Be A Better Disability Community Ally

I know I’ve said this a million times on social media and that at least 3 other blog posts begin with this same sentiment, but that’s because it is so glaringly obvious.

2020 was the worst. It’s been mentally and physically draining for pretty much everyone around the world. But, no group or community has felt the full blow like the disability community.

The disability community has once again been forced into hiding thanks to the irresponsible behavior of our neighbors. Our worth has been called into question by both strangers on the street and medical professionals. It truly felt as if we were shoved backward through time. As the disability community shouted and exclaimed their joy over the 30th anniversary of the ADA, we were simultaneously being silenced.

In today’s blog post I talk about becoming a better disability community ally in 2021 and some basic easy steps you can take to do better this year.

Disability Advocacy Personal Story Social Media Tips

Everything You Need To Know About The Rolling Explorer’s 2020 HalloWeek Spooktacular!

As The Rolling Explorer was originally created to be an accessible travel and lifestyle blog, I would have loved to spend this month sharing my top recommended spooky tourist attractions or visiting costume shops to see how many adaptive costumes were for sale. Obviously, Covid has made posts like these impossible to create this year. So, instead, I decided to combine two of my favorite things: dressing up and advocacy!

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Ableist Language Series Disability Advocacy

Ableist Language To Avoid And Acceptable Alternatives – “Cripple” Edition

The issue with “cripple” becomes painfully obvious once you place its original definition next to the ones that we, as a society, have crafted above. Stemming from the Old English words “crypel,” meaning to creep (ie. limp) and “creopere,” or someone that creeps (ie. limps), you can see that the word originated as a pure identifier/descriptor.

Disability Advocacy

Everything You Need To Know About Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) In 2021

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month or NDEAM. This article will answer the following questions:

What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?

Why do we celebrate NDEAM in the US?

How can I participate?

Why do people with disabilities celebrate both NDEAM and Disability Pride Month (July)?

How can this year’s NDEAM theme (INCREASING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY) actually be implemented in the workplace?

Disability Advocacy

Stop The Ableist Response to the First Presidential Debate of 2020

The Presidential Debate on Tuesday night was embarrassing to watch as an American citizen for many reasons. But, almost more troubling than the screaming match itself was America’s response to the two candidates.

To the best of my ability, I intend for this article to be unbiased in nature. Many of you who follow me across multiple platforms most likely already know my political leanings. That said, I would like to use this space to comment on the response to the presidential debate, rather than the content of the debate itself.

As a digital marketing professional and lifestyle blogger, I spend a lot of time on social media. I love connecting with my community online, but when you’re scrolling, there is no telling what you will come across. Immediately following the debate on Tuesday night, I jumped on Facebook and Twitter to see what my friends, family, and favorite personalities had to say about the event.

I was appalled by what I saw.

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Ableist Language Series Disability Advocacy

Ableist Language To Avoid And Acceptable Alternatives – “Confined To A Wheelchair” Edition

When you talk about a group of people as being confined, you assess that they are not in control of themselves or their lives. You take away their voice and their worth. Essentially, you equate them to an object. Something that cannot think or motivate itself in any capacity.