May 29th 2022: #DisabledLivesAreWorthy

with Cindy Bourgeois

Watch here: #DisablesLivesAreWorthy

Imani Barbarin created the hashtag #DisabledLivesAreWorthy because there are so many disabled people who are feeling lost, forgotten and betrayed. Disabled people have been in large part erased from our culture. The hashtag which allowed so many disabled to share their experiences and concerns but also build community. Their needs and bodies are not considered when we construct our world. We are so far from an accessible world, From people who use wheelchairs barred by stairs to austitic people with light sensitivity under fluorescent lighting. This can create intolerable trauma in people’s lives. There was a recent article about a disabled woman who is close to receiving Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)because she cannot afford accommodations that would allow her to live a dignified life. This brings into question the ethics of Medical Assistance in Dying. We will work through traditional thinking to see if as an individual choice it can be Grounded in Life. We must also balance this with our obligations to the Web of Life, especially our disabled neighbours. We must remember that #DisabledLivesAreWorthy.