Shifting Gears: March Blogging

I got a lot done on my book in February, but I got more done chasing big stories. Here are some: Inspiration Porn Objectives People with Disabilities (The Establishment, 2/25/16) Sexual Ableism (Los Angeles Review of Books, 2/25/16) Guns on Campus Jeopardize Education (CNN.com, 2/24/16) Mount St. Mary’s Ableist Plan to Push Our Disabled Students (The Establishment, 2/25/16) Job … Continue ReadingShifting Gears: March Blogging

Sexual Ableism, Facilitated Communication and Anna Stubblefield

It’s a story that the disability world has been following for months, if not years. Yesterday, the Los Angeles Review of Books published my thoughts about the Anna Stubblefield case, facilitated communication, sexual ableism, and the need for more complexity about disability in our rhetorics and our courts. Please read it: I try to do a few … Continue ReadingSexual Ableism, Facilitated Communication and Anna Stubblefield

Simulating Police Training – What’s the pedagogy here?

My friend RC alerted me to this piece on a police training simulator for learning how to reduce misuse of force when encountering autistic people or people with various mental disabilities. It touts the virtues of the virtual playback versus role-playing-based training. Through the simulator, deputies are immersed in true-to-life scenarios — exactly the kind … Continue ReadingSimulating Police Training – What’s the pedagogy here?

Threats to Academic Freedom: Guns vs Political Correctness Run Amok

Thesis: The idea that your students have guns will have a vastly more chilling effect on academic freedom than people asking for trigger warnings, less offensive language, or to be thoughtful about microaggressions. Coming soon from CNN. (Update for new readers. Hi new readers! Here are some of my writing about Trigger Warnings and PC … Continue ReadingThreats to Academic Freedom: Guns vs Political Correctness Run Amok

Adventures in Rhetorical Brilliance: Black Law Students of Georgetown and Scalia

I’ve been writing about trigger warnings, political correctness, and safe space issues for almost two years now (starting with this CNN piece, but extending throughout my blog, including ‘trigger warnings are your friends.’). There are at least two different strains of critique of the notion of microaggressions on campus. One is from mostly male white semi-liberals who … Continue ReadingAdventures in Rhetorical Brilliance: Black Law Students of Georgetown and Scalia

Inspiration Porn: Don’t Take Pictures of Disabled People Without Their Consent

Some suggested rules for life as a good person: Don’t take pictures of disabled strangers without their consent. Don’t share the pictures you shouldn’t have taken to the internet without their consent. Their story is not your story to do with as you see fit. A picture of a Kroger employee helping a blind customer … Continue ReadingInspiration Porn: Don’t Take Pictures of Disabled People Without Their Consent

#SayTheWord

There’s a new hashtag campaign around saying the word “disability.” It is initiated and led by my friend and writing companion Lawrence Carter-Long. I am wildly in favor. I am trying, in my writing this year, to write the sentence: “There are no special needs, only needs” as often as possible. We all have needs. … Continue Reading#SayTheWord

De-escalation for Law Enforcement in Park Ridge

Nice article in the local paper on de-escalation training for Park Ridge law enforcement. Last year, a U.S. Justice Department grant secured by the Park Ridge Police Department allowed for officers to take crisis intervention training, a program that aims to prepare officers to deal with citizens struggling with a broad spectrum of mental health … Continue ReadingDe-escalation for Law Enforcement in Park Ridge