Friday, May 01, 2009

Sometimes You Just Gotta Say...


Today is the 4th Annual Blogging Against Disabilism Day.

For a couple of weeks I've been poking around in what happens to pass for my brain these days, trying to come up with a topic mined from disabilism experiences we've had in the past year.

This experience? No, too personal.

That experience? No, too sad.

What about this one? No, way too mundane.

To be perfectly honest, it's been a pretty boring year on the advocacy front in the Attila household. My killer bunny slippers have been dying a slow death from the lack of butts to kick.

Trust providence to furnish a perfect opportunity at the perfect time.

Now how would I title this? Asshat of the Week? You're a Douchebag? TLPWSFB (The League of People with Sh*t For Brains)?

All too harsh, in my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

So I'm just going to say...

WTF?


WTF were you people thinking?

Ramco Primary School in South Australia had a worthy idea to raise money for a program in Bangladesh that repairs cleft lips and palates in children.

All well and good, and very philanthropic. But as you know, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

So they sent out a newsletter announcing that May 29 was going to be "Dress Like a Disabled Person Day."

"There will be prizes for the best students dressed as a person with a disability. Get your thinking hats on and see what disability you can represent!"

Here's a great big steaming bowl of WTF? With raisins on top!

When they mention "prizes" does that mean they'll be categories? Like for "most realistic" (where some soccer mom actually catheterizes her kid to win because you know, people are weird that way) or "best accessories"?

Do the accessories have to be something you can carry---like crutches----or do they have to be somewhat attached like a g-tube or a colostomy bag? Will there be extra points for big accessories like a chair or an iron lung?

Snarkiness aside, this obviously begs an answer to the question, "how exactly do people who have disabilities dress?"

So I asked my Little Guy. For those of you who aren't familiar with the characters who share my life, my youngest son is 19, has Autism and some cognitive deficits. I call him Little Guy here, although he really isn't very "little" any more. ;-)

If you were dressing up like for Halloween as a person with a disability, what would you wear?

He thought about it for a minute. "I'd take a shower and brush my teeth first. And comb my hair."

Ok, what else?

"Clean underwear. I'd wear clean underwear. And a belt on my Dickies pants. And my Gap sweater. Oh, and my watch."

Is that it?

"I'd tie my shoes. And clean socks. Smelly feet are nasty."

On second thought, maybe "Dressing As a Disabled Person Day" isn't such a bad idea after all.

For one day of the year all the students will turn up clean and fresh-smelling, well-groomed, stylishly dressed and on-time.

What's not to like?
____________________________________________

Please take a little time to check out all of the wonderful bloggers who are contributing posts today! Click on the link at the top of my post to be taken to the list.

Have a wonderful weekend!

_________________________

P.S. at 11:15pm.

Oh Golly. I know that BADD is winding down for the day, but I went back to the original article (the link is posted above) and simply must say again,

WTF?

While many of the commenters found the whole idea of
Dress Like a Disabled Person Day" repulsive, there were plenty who had the sentiment of:


"Jeez. Just one innocent error in judgement by some normal kids trying to do something good for the school and all the cripples come out of the woodwork crying foul. It's not such a bad idea and if it raises awareness and raises funds for non normal people then let them do it!"

So much so wrong in so many ways.

Peace,

ATM

26 comments:

JackP said...

WTF is right. Admittedly, the way my brain works, I'm now imagining all sorts of horrendously offensive costumes - giant ear trumpets, pedal-powered wheelchairs and so on - with all the kids thinking at the same time that they are doing a good thing for kids with disabilities.

WTFFF. (use 'ing' and 'etty')

Queen-Size funny bone said...

Disability is in the eye of the beholder.

Beth said...

Little Guy’s answers demonstrate common sense – something sorely lacking in those who organized that fundraiser.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!

Ruth said...

From the mouths of babes- wisdom. Thanks for your post.

KrisMrsBBradley said...

Oh. My. God.

I heart Little Guy. What great answers!

rachelcreative said...

Well WTF sums up my reaction. Great post. And brilliant insight from your son. Excellent.

Brenda said...

I love your big, Little Guy and I think his answer was perfect.

No matter what you do Miz ATM, some people just won't get it. Ever.

imfunnytoo said...

Little guy knocked this one out of the park.

:)

I can always count on you for some excellent snark when my own snarkmachine has lost it's jetfuel.

:)

Tera said...

...And that's why your son should *totally* have lead the planning committee. (I feel weird calling him "Little Guy"--compared to me, he's not little at all :)

Happy BADD!

Joanna Jenkins said...

At a SCHOOL????? Holy crap. Those "educators" should be bitch slapped. What were they thinking.
Grrrrrr

Anonymous said...

I think Little Guys answer really says it all. It amazes me , every time, at the stupidity and insensitivity of people. Common sense? It is so very frustrating. Thank God for your bunny slippers. Time for me to get some. Thanks for the link.
XXXX

Rootietoot said...

Thinking of the disabled people I've known...they all pretty much dressed like Little guy described. Unless you count DumbassRedneckedness a disability, which could be argued...

seahorse said...

Great coverage of this truly lamentable error of judgement. If it can even be complimented as such.

David said...

Wow unbelieveable! Thanks for bringing this to our attention.Great post!

Never That Easy said...

This could not be more ridiculous - except that the comments are almost worse than the initial error in judgment. :sigh: Well, thanks for bringing it to our attention, anyways.

Jennifer McKenzie said...

OMG! What's next? Limp For Prosthetics Day? Or maybe Puke for Cancer Day?
Fucking ridiculous. It pisses me off that NO ONE involved said "Maybe this might be offensive to the people we're trying to help".
*sigh*
As for the comment? That IS wrong on so many levels.

Kim Ayres said...

Reminds me of one of the Addams Family films, where they're dressing up for Halloween, but Wednesday doesn't change her outfit. When Morticia asks what she's going as, she replies a serial killer, as they look like everyone else...

hooray said...

I have no words. I'm stunned.

Sometimes when I hear stuff like this, I just throw my head back and whisper, "WOW!" in disbelief!

Unknown said...

I agree!

Anonymous said...

I came out of vacation mode to tell you that I heart Little Guy! he's the BEST!

Michelle Flaherty said...

Cripples?
Non normal people?

I think it's time for you to retrieve those bunny slippers.

Anonymous said...

How does anyone think that idea is NOT offensive? My goodness.

rickismom said...

They should have known better, but I suspect that they didn't mean BAD DRESS. But anyway not very smart.....Its actually a bit funny, it's so pathetic! Hope at least that they were able to raise money!

Liesl said...

I shall lend my eccentric gardening hats to any kid who wants to dress like a disabled person. Think anyone will take me up on it? On another note: CRAP! I missed BADD!

Janis @ SneakPeek said...

WTF!

WTF!

That was once for the crazy @ss school. And then once for the crazy @ss commenter. He/she did not just call my kid a cripple??? Shame, shame...

Sorry I missed BADD.

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