What Is the Current State of Disability Rights and Why Is it Important to Know?

While rights for people with disabilities have improved a lot in recent times, there is still much injustice and discrimination going on. 

Let us take a closer look at the current state of disability rights.

The Current Legal State of Disability Rights

Disability rights have come a long way in the last few decades. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was the game changer that helped to transform disability rights. 

The civil rights law prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, commercial facilities, telecommunications, and transportation. It applies to the United States Congress too. 

Other legal changes over the years have helped bring about better rights for people with disabilities. There are specific disability rights contained in:

● The Telecommunications Act
● The Fair Housing Act
● The Air Carrier Access Act
● The National Voter Registration Act
● The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
● The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
● The Rehabilitation Act
● The Architectural Barriers Act

That means people with a partial disability or a total disability are now protected in many ways. However, just because there are now many laws that ensure people with disabilities are treated fairly, it does not mean there are not still issues with current disability rights.

Accessibility Is Still an Issue

While many new buildings include wheelchair ramps that meet the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act to enable wheelchair users and others with disabilities to access places safely, there are still many buildings that discriminate against people with disabilities. 

It is not only about wheelchair ramps. It is about owners of accommodation, businesses, transportation, and so on, implementing a variety of measures to make their spaces more accessible. 

Failing to eliminate barriers to accessibility is seen as discriminatory by many people with disabilities. Businesses, organizations, and individuals need to wake up to that if disability rights are to be improved. 

People with Disabilities Need to Be Given More Individual Empowerment 

Generally speaking, disability rights activists are calling for more empowerment. 

They want institutions and organizations to move away from over-protection and close supervision and instead assist in a way that empowers disabled people’s wishes and needs. 

Basically, people with disabilities want to be in control of their own ships. Just like anyone wants to be masters of their own destinies. 

Institutional Segregation Is Still Happening

History has taught us many things. One important lesson to learn is intentional segregation is always bad. 

Even if it is driven by supposedly positive motives, segregation is discriminatory, so people with disabilities should not have to put up with segregated nursing homes, self-contained classrooms, and sheltered workshops. 

Although there have been many updated practices in recent years, institutional segregation of people with disabilities still occurs and needs to be stopped. 

Why is it important to know about the current state of disability rights?

Civil rights affect every kind of group and individual, so disability rights are just as important as any other rights.

You do not have to be a disabled person to care about disability rights. In fact, part of the problem for why disability rights have become stagnant in some areas is down to the issues not being more widely known by the general community. 

Also, the more you educate yourself about disability rights, the more you can take action. That does not necessarily mean attending a protest. It is more about changing your attitude and behavior. In turn, you could create real-world change. 

For instance, if you are a business owner with premises that are not easily navigable and accessible for people with disabilities, change the layout of your store or office. Similarly, if you are a landlord, ensure you do not discriminate against people with disabilities. 

 

Here is Why Voting Rights Is A Movement We cannot Give Up On

We are seeing many states hinder the right to vote. One of the most basic rights that we as Americans have. 

Voting is so important, and not just in the presidential elections. I would argue that it is more important in your local elections. Starting in your city with the mayor and your city council. This is my call, get up and register and then vote in every single election there is. Not just the ones that make national news! 

This fight is clearly not going to be an easy. We have been fighting this fight since America became a nation in 1776. However, that doesn’t mean that we can give up. We have to keep fighting. Like the ones that did before us. So get up and get involved. Run for something, do your research. 

One of the questions that I get all the time is, why vote it doesn’t matter? That exact train of thought it part of the reason that we are now in this situation. You cannot stand and protest and then not go out and do the thing that will help the most. Voting in officials that are going to protect our rights. So go watch speeches, read what the candidates have to say and most importantly look at their voting record on the issues you care about. Remember that it starts in the most basic of elections. You can make a difference. 

We are the movement. There are enough voice that we can make the difference. It’s not going to be easy, but we have to stand our ground. We have to get to the polls, even if that means you miss a day of work. I know, I know you can’t afford it. Let me tell you, you cannot afford not to. If you want change, real change it starts at the polls. It starts at the local elections. 

Real change is hard, but it doesn’t have to end with us. We can prove that this is the strongest generation. The one who is fighting for people to live their lives and be happy. In order to do that it’s time we stop allowing a small minority of people to run the county. It’s time that we stand together and make it happen. 

Find out when your local elections are being held. Go, run don’t walk, get registered, and vote!! 

Keep fighting and stay safe! 

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I Believe In Equality, But I Don’t Believe In Today’s Feminism

From a very young age, I’ve been proud to be a woman.

I grew up in a family in which my mother was the bread-winner. My father, may he rest in peace, was not mentally sound, nor capable, of supporting a family. He spent the majority of my life sick, in and out of the hospital for months and years on end. My mother was the one who not only went to work every day, but came home and ensured there was food on the table, a roof over my head, and that every parent-teacher conference, softball game, and camp bus pick-up was taken care of.

My mother raised me in a household that proved a woman can be both the old stereotypical “mother” who takes care of her children, makes sure they are well-off, clothed, fed, and “cheered on,” while simultaneously taking on the role of the old stereotypical “father”—going to work every day and paying the bills.

In a society that tells women that men are in charge—they are the ones who should pay the bills, go to work, run the corporations, make the decisions—I have profoundly disagreed. I saw firsthand that women are strong, capable, intelligent human beings who deserve just as much say in the world, just as much pay, just as much power, as a man. In terms of feminism, I agree that women should be equal. There is no reason that a woman should be paid less, treated less than, or given less of a voice in society and in politics/the word.


But, today, feminism has morphed into something much, much different than gender equality. Instead of fighting for equality and the right to be treated the same as many men are, it’s become a bloodbath of slandering all men—generalizing them into animals, disgusting and drooling animals who do nothing but objectify women and leave us, powerless victims.

Feminism today has lost its tone from when we were fighting for equality. Sure, feminism is still rooted in those very values and morals—that women should be treated equally, given equal opportunities, and equal pay. But, more often, when feminism is talked about and discussed, we’re tearing down men and pinning them as monsters, instead of trying to brainstorm and come up with changes we can make to bring forth this equality we have so longed for and fought for.

Men have no longer been just “men,” and instead, are “sexist,” or “misogynists,” or “pigs.” I don’t discredit the fact that yes, there are men in society who are these things. There are men in society who are pigs. But, all men? No, not all men. It’s time we stop generalizing an entire sex in order to bring forth some “power” for women. It’s hypocritical of us to try to reach equality by stepping on men and pushing them down. That’s not the fight we’re trying to fight. In order to reach equality, we need to embrace equal rights, not try and push feminism down everyone’s throats that women are better than men. 

Feminism should be about supporting, lifting, and embracing strong, independent, and powerful women—without having to slander men in the process. I am in full support of women being the breadwinners, women making the changes society needs, and women getting paid and compensated the appropriate and right wage to do so. What I don’t support is man-hating in order to get the job done. Some men are bad, yes. But all men? Not all men.

A Stripper Is Making Some Illuminating Comics About Her Work

Jacq the Stripper is both and artist, and as her name implies, a stripper. Online and in real life, Jacq is a fierce advocate for the rights of sex workers and anyone who makes their living from dancing. All that and she paints and draws, too. According to Someecards, Jacq just released her own comic book called STRIPTASTIC! It’s a collection of illustrations that share her personal philosophy about stripping and little vignettes into her and her co-workers’ daily experience.

What the comics mostly illustrate is that every job is just a job. If you dance and take off your clothes every day for money, it quickly becomes pretty mundane. It also seems like Jacq thinks many people misunderstand what exactly strippers provide. They’re not just getting naked, they’re often asked to listen, deal with men’s psychological issues, and also have to deal with some annoying customer service issues. After reading Jacq’s comics, you’ll never consider not tipping again.

Jacq’s shared the secret underwear code she’s become familiar with:

What she really thinks about the stereotype of having “daddy issues.”

But Jacq doesn’t just joke about men, she has a bone to pick with other women who consider themselves feminist, but who don’t include the perspective of actual sex workers when they’re discussing sex work. It seems like in Jacq’s opinion, a lot of women who have never done sex work have too many opinions about it.

But she also makes it clear that everyone has a different perspective on why they get into stripping. Different strokes for different folks:

Though the girls always help each other out. There is such a thing as solidarity, especially around tampon strings:

There’s also some good life hacks, if anyone is taking some very specific liberties with you:

Jacq is turning her job into art, even though it basically already is:

And anyone who reads her book will know exactly how to act the next time they go to the club. Approach the dancers with respect and a fist full of dollar bills.

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