Yes, it is a big picture.  The more I think about it, the more I wish I
didn't have to think about it.  Every time I read about someone being abused,
I tend to take it to heart.  I don't like gay bashing, or any other type of
bashing either.  But abuses inflicted on the disability community are
horrendous.  I never cease to be appalled by the fact that nondisabled people
dismiss it without a second glance.

I don't understand why disabled people I knew in the "before time" didn't
tell me about some of these things.  Maybe they thought I wouldn't have
listened.  I have become overpowered by that concern myself during
communication with nondisabled people.  I wish they had told me about some of
this though.

Mainstream media doesn't tell our stories the way they should be told.  I
just didn't know how things really were then.  All I saw were Braille signs
in and around business doors, elevators, and various other places.  I saw the
signs that advertised the availability of special equipment to help people
who are hearing impaired understand what is being said.  Then there were all
the curb cuts, and look at all that handicapped parking!  Everything must be
hunky dorey now!

I stupidly thought that the ADA magically fixed everything.

I'll bookmark this and go to the website you suggested in a few days.  Just
tonight, I don't think I can handle a hard read.  I'll tell you this now
though Vince; becoming disabled altered the direction of my life, not because
of the disability, but because of my sudden and shocking awareness of this
silent vilification of disabled people.

This has been a very enlightening thread.  I asked a question, and got great
answers.  Thank you all very much.
Betty

In a message dated 05/19/2000 9:10:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Root causes?  A big picture to be sure.

 >Anyone ever participate in the development of a root cause analysis tree?
 >I'm interested in doing something basic to chart the causal factors of
 >disability discrimination.

 http://members.internettrash.com/vinnyj/history.html

 The link above tells one of the most appalling stories of disability/race
 discrimination I have heard. It's a hard read, brace yourself.  I think it
 needs to be told, and not forgotten.

 Peace,

 Vince
  >>