#furodiversity

Slide 1: Furodiversity: Discussing Disability. Presented by EggsFennedict. Edited by Starmouse.

Slide 2: Disability

A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.

Slide 3: Not all disabilities are apparent. What are some examples of hidden disabilities?

Psychiatric disorders such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, PTSD, etc

Autoimmune disorders like fibromyalgia & hemophilia

Visual & auditory disabilities (blindness, deafness, hard of hearing, etc)

Learning disabilities & disorders

Chronic fatigue

If someone couldn’t look at you and immediately identify it, chances are it qualifies.

How does it differ from neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence = Psychological (often neurological) disability.

Sector of Hidden disability, but not the whole.

Slide 4: Accommodations

Generalized; vary from person to person. Assist in daily tasks.

Examples:

 Larger font

 Quiet environments 

Mobility aids (canes, wheelchairs, scooters)

Fidgets, stim toys, weighted blankets/wraps

Extra time on tests or assignments

Joint and limb braces

Text to Speech Readers & image captions

Slide 5: Fandom-Specific Accommodations (this was for things like conventions, namely furry ones)

Costume accommodations for sensory disorders & circulation —> Not just fursuits!

Consent Tags

Suit prop stim toys

Easy on Squeakers & Flashing Lights!

Please include non-suitors in the fandom.

Fursuits =/= Disability (Yes, I did actually have to spell this out when paneling. Trust me; we’re both concerned.)

Slide 6: Conflicting Accommodations

An occurrence where one person’s accommodation inhibits another disabled person’s functionality.

Brighter light vs sensory overstimulation

Chewing gum vs ADHD

Untrained service animals interacting with people & other service animals - please train first!

Slide 7: Disability Microaggressions

Indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination towards another person.

Psychological example: infantilization, such as completing work for fully capable individuals or questioning their ability to handle these tasks.

Physical example: trying to push someone in a wheelchair, kneeling to their height, or addressing only able bodied parties.

If you’re unsure if someone can handle something, ASK, don’t assume.

Slide 8: Adverse Architecture & Challenging Situations

Steep or nonexistent ramps

“Untextured” / flat printed braille

Tiny “accessible” bathrooms

Rooms with only stairs or ladder entry

Flashing/neon lights (sensory & seizure risk)

Crowded & narrow hallways (trample risk/wheelchair inaccessible)

Lacking Tactile Paving on sidewalks (visual impairment risk)

Lack of disability friendly parking

Lack of working Elevators

Untrained service animals 

Slide 9: Abusing The System

Many times, the use or overuse of items used for people with disabilities can cause them to be unavailable to us. Depending on the severity, it can also increase risk to the individual as well.

Ex:

Fidget Spinner Ban (from neurotypical neglect of their function)

Faux Service Animals = danger to other service animals or people

ADHD Med & Xanax Abuse

Faking Disabilities for Accommodations

Accommodations level the playing field, and are NOT meant to give people a leg up who don’t need them.

Slide 10: Confronting Ableism / Being An Ally

Don’t:

Shove past disabled people.

Pet or crowd service dogs.

Crowd hallways, paths, and entryways.

Touch people without consent. Always ask!

Do!

Give disabled people the right of way

Avoid using heavy special effects in public spaces

Try to use colors which can be read by color blind individuals

Point out adverse architecture when you see it

Make sure to include disabled people in your conversations

Talk to, not at disabled individuals

Don’t be afraid to ask questions (within reason)!

Write letters to your representatives regarding ableist legislature

Make sure to research if you’re writing a book or drawing a character with a disability.

I Don’t See My Flag; Can I Suggest It?

Please do! While there’s no guarantee I’ll use all ideas, I do want to be as representative as possible and openly solicit suggestions at any time. However, do know that I will be limited to what I can depict faithfully and without stereotyping. If your idea isn’t used, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad one — just perhaps one I think should be left to the lived professionals. Or it may be one that I want to use in the future!

Have You Made Merch Before?

I have!

These are done with the help of Vograce & The Enamel Pin Factory.

Why Don’t Some Posts Have Image ID?

In many cases, I have to outsource my captions from volunteers and friends. I am visually impaired myself and struggle to see detail without squinting or straining my eyes, and have to prioritize my own health as a disabled person. But I try to get as many as I can, and/or get them filled in later on with help! I promise I’m trying to be as accessible as able. But unfortunately, that’s a bit of a dis-able.

Can We Draw These Guys / Have Them Interact With OCs?

By all means! And please show me aaaa. Furodiversity is meant to give folks that friendly little safe space to utilize the mascots to their heart’s content (minus stuff like NSFW; this is an all-ages kinda project).

The only exception is making commercial products of the mascot characters, which I am not comfortable with (and of course the obvious “no AI”). I’m a small artist who’s trying to survive, and would prefer to moderate what merch of them is sold myself. So please bear this in mind!