understand where come from when emphasize (many) disabled ppl can make decisions for self n decide for self n be independent in that even if dependent in other ways. to emphasize good faith, to fight back idea that any amount of resist n try use autonomy be label as uncooperative behavior.
but when no nuance in these conversations it leaves ppl out.
bc not all of us have those ability
disabled ppl who need help make decisions, need help with understand n make consent
some disabled people who need these help not able know they need these help (what cause them need help make decision often can also cause hard time understand need help. it related n more often than people talk about)
disabled ppl who idea of someone else help w anything in any way be distressing n stress - sometimes we stubborn, sometimes we want be fiercely independent, sometimes when we already lose so many that we just want control over this one thing want believe we still have control over it. etc.
some disabled ppl who need these help resist these help, sometimes it be in genuine distress, in good faith, but other times it can not be in good faith. disabled ppl not perfect saints. (sometimes we just assholes)
these ppl still need help. we still need help. still deserve it.
all these not erase fact need help. sometimes in urgent need of help n support.
we still have right to get help n autonomy n dignity, n also to decide what we can n have say in decision process when we can.
things that apply to disabled ppl who can independently make decision apply to us too. but our situation often complicate how it look like in practice - to many, “right to decide” be complete opposite to “need help make decision”, “right to autonomy” can’t coexist with someone who not understand they need help n be resistant to it, or ppl who need other ppl help in general.
convo abt how to allow disabled ppl dignity n autonomy n right to decide so many time assume disabled person in question can independently make decision, know own ability n what can n cant do n can perfectly communicate them, know what need help in, can control behavior, want to cooperate, etc.
n convo about rest of us much more missing, n even if exist, exist mere to level of say, these people exist too. when we often need much more nuance n deliberation n care.
your idea of right to decide can’t just be give them boundless free reign. your idea of autonomy can’t just be sit them down for logic n ask them do / not do things. it be how those look to some people but it not n cannot be only way right to decide n autonomy be.
because of cognitive disability, intellectual disability, developmental disability, neurological disability, psychiatric disability, or others
we make big part of disabled population but even if we not, we still exist n deserve be recognized n included n talked about n supported.
things disabled ppl who can independent decide be fighting back, it happen to us too it affect us too. disabled people deserve things not because we still have leftover redeeming qualities. we deserve bc we existed n we continue to exist.
