Honestly though, the disability groups at uni had a loud minority of a particular kind of very sheltered disabled person that drove me up the wall. They completely believed that they, as an invisibly disabled spoonie who is able to live alone/ a low support needs neurodivergent person, has it the worst and were so ableist towards other disabled people. Especially people with a learning disability (US English: intellectual disability) or more severely physically disabled people.
There were people who’d tell me that the fact I’m totally unable to walk makes me “privileged” over ambulatory wheelchair users or disabled people who didn’t use mobility aids.
People who assumed based on my appearance that the only symptom I have is muscle weakness and that I didn’t experience fatigue or pain or any other symptom ever. And who thought that spinal cord injuries were just “I can’t walk but have no other issues disorder” and that everyone with a SCI has access to the support they need without issue, totally ignoring the experiences of people with SCI/ other severe disabilities because it didn’t fit with their worldview.
One person who said how “lucky” I am because I’m visibly disabled (and then a few weeks later talked about how it’s essential to hide your disability when applying for jobs)
There were people who think that eugenics is bad if people are getting rid of people like them (who can look after themselves) but a great idea for people with learning disability (US: intellectual disability) or people who can’t use the toilet independently (I was right there *with my carer*)
And then they’d all say they couldn’t be ableist because they were disabled which was infuriating. If you as someone who lives without carers is being shitty to someone because they need a carer to help use the loo, I don’t care if you have a chronic illness, that’s fucking ableist.
Anyway I stopped going to those groups pretty damn quick and I’m so glad sailing is a totally different story.
