
I started this account bc I wanted to learn how to write disabled characters. Now I rant about reading and writing.
278 posts
Part 3 Writing Advice: Stop The Self-Hating Narrative Around Disability
Part 3 Writing Advice: Stop The Self-Hating Narrative Around Disability
I'm BACK! I was working on some other Tumblr posts but i've decided to fulfill my promise to talk about the common associations people seem to have between disability and self-hatred.
You remember my own slogan "Disabled Adults Are Adults", right?
Well, here is the slogan for the majority of writers who are bad at writing good disability representation "Disabled Adults Are Tragic :`(
This association comes into everything so we'll go from the small chunks of ableist LOOORE~ and then move onto the really big ticket items? Right!
Assistive Aids Are Traps Designed By The Illuminati!
What do these common literary phrases have in common?
Confined to a Wheelchair
Forced to Use a Cane
Cursed To Always Use [Assistive Aid]
The answer: they are exceedingly negatively charged which incorrectly imply that mobility aids such as wheelchairs are horrible fates to be falled upon! This implication that living with disability is such a curse tends to be most forced upon "understandable" villains and sympathetic "tragic" figures who are "unbearably cursed" with a horrid fate
Those phrases are horrible not just because they incorrect imply that devices such as wheelchairs and other mobility aids are curses when, in reality, the individuals who use these assistant aids desperately need them in order to exercise their full potential but also due to the fact that it's an able-bodied centric perspective!
People who actually use these devices don't see them as unbearable weights bringing them down but tools of freedom and autonomy. Obviously, independence is not necessary to lead a fulfilling life but it's a nice cherry on top!
This "able-bodied centric perspective" will come up again!
Curing Disability
At the end of the story i'll cute and sweet protagonist/main character will be forcibly mutilated into an able-bodied person either by machinery in a sci-fi setting or through the gods.
p.s that's just eugenics. eugenics is what the nazis did
Curing disability doesn't just mean a literal cure but also the overall narrative of "overcoming" disability tends to be here.
"Overcoming disability" is when an author implies that through a character's dedication they have "overcame" the limitations of their disability and are functionally no longer disabled.
Basically, if you have a disabled character whose jokes tend to center on "wow, I always forget you are disabled" or "I am the author and I keep forgetting this character has a disability", you have this trope.
The reason why this is shitty is because you, able-bodied author, have disabled readers. Disabled readers of various different types of disabilties who are reading your story.
Can you imagine if every single story of an able-bodied character involved them being forcibly turned disabled as a "reward" for their good behavior?
Can you imagine if every story involving a queer character involved that singular queer character being turned into a cishet individual?
"Disabled people still exist even when your character stops being disabled"
All you have done is tell disabled and non-disabled audience members that disabled people don't deserve to exist. That's bad.
Final: The Self-Hating Narrative
"Disabled Adults are Adults"
When I was inventing that phrase, I knew it needed to be universally applicable. The only reason I specificed "adults" and not "people" was due to the fact I was talking about infantilization in the first part and I didn't want someone to be like "well, obvi special needs kids are going to be treated delicately".
Anyway, the phrase needed to be universal because disabled adults are just people at the end of the day. They struggle with some not universal things like chronical illness or disability. They also struggle with the universal things like: can I support my family, am I ready, will the bank be closed by the time I wake up, can I be a good person?
They also succeed. Sometimes this success is in the form of gaining more mobility then before. Sometimes this success will seem minor to not disabled people or even to disabled people who have never struggled with that particular thing before.
They also succeed at things we succeed at. They create what has never been created before. They prove to themselves that they can be relied on. They laugh when they struggle.
Yes, they sometimes hate themselves. But even then, they continue on. They struggle with their symptoms day-to-day on top of succeeding in the daily struggles we all deal with. They deal with ableist remarks while also having fun.
Disability Is Normality
Many disabled adults and children are fighting for the right to see narratives in which their lives aren't plagued by melodramatic angst about being disabled.
Many disabled adults and children go about their daily lives with an overwhelming confidence about their disability and don't give a shit about what ableist remark you have to say.
And one of the most important things an author needs to be if they ever want to write true, inspiring, and universal works is to listen to voices of those they wish to represent.
If an author wants to represent disabled people living disabled lives in fantasy and reality, they need to listen to the perspectives of those who are actually living those lives. Sure, they may be lacking in terms of how to fly a dragon but humanity is humanity with or without the added uniqueness.
If an author just takes a ableist-covered crap-filled myths of what disability is like, expect backlash! Or maybe expect nothing, disabled adults have way too many concerns to be dealing with your sorry ass.
-
colorfulpuppychaos liked this · 9 months ago
-
hexiamillion liked this · 9 months ago
-
love-laugh-lobotomy liked this · 10 months ago
-
glitterymanta liked this · 10 months ago
-
sun-in-splendorhaditcoming liked this · 10 months ago
-
verita-raizels-collections reblogged this · 11 months ago
-
drivingmebonkas reblogged this · 11 months ago
-
drivingmebonkas liked this · 11 months ago
-
skogskisse liked this · 11 months ago
-
chaotic-theatrical-weaver liked this · 11 months ago
-
rubyjewelqueen reblogged this · 11 months ago
-
qwertyuiop459 liked this · 11 months ago
-
heckcareoxytwit liked this · 11 months ago
-
mothmerlin liked this · 11 months ago
-
huixing liked this · 11 months ago
-
kingeggontoast liked this · 11 months ago
-
blargh-500 liked this · 11 months ago
-
soacherry liked this · 11 months ago
-
cuppa-nice-tea liked this · 11 months ago
-
yellow-pebble liked this · 11 months ago
-
dearunreliablenarrator liked this · 11 months ago
-
fanwriting93 reblogged this · 11 months ago
-
melda0m3 reblogged this · 11 months ago
-
melda0m3 liked this · 11 months ago
More Posts from Imbecominggayer
I only have good ideas :)
Writing Prompt: Modern Retelling
I would love to see a modern retelling of "God Vs The Morning Star" but instead of the story being like:
"demons and hell are sexy fun badasses and God is boringly evil👿"
it's an updated story where the Devil is truly evil in the most horrifying way possible as society has developed an updated idea of what true evil is.
Take Christianity which has been oversaturated with mysogynistic ableistic conservatives and make the Devil the personification of evil who wishes to corrupt everyone into those assholes.
For example, "The Devil believes that women should be slaves and Lilith is the original not-feminist Girlboss who is willing to throw all other women down in order to succeed"
or
"The Devil left Heaven once he saw that God was allowing gay people to exist without torturing them."
or
"The Devil is a massive abuser who will try and manipulate anyone into believing that it was his daddy issues that made him this way so that's why it's perfectly okay for him to do whatever he wants"
Instead of the Devil being an insanely attractive perfect guy with a bad boy exterior, why don't you make him an abusive incel with a huge superiority complex and the most manchild-infused tantrums ever?
Make God the omniscient compassionate God they are supposed to be.
Make evilness seem unattractive, immature, and horrible to be the victim of.
Make goodness the most attractive option
~17 followers, not that tired and asexual so kinda there~
Here is a cursed shrug: _~\(``v)/~_
reblog if you’re NOT tumblr famous, but you ARE tired and kinda gay
In the besieged lands of Gaza, the search for drinking water unfolds as a tragic odyssey of endurance and deprivation. Every step taken to procure this fundamental necessity is laden with hardship and uncertainty. Families embark on wearying journeys, traversing long distances in pursuit of a simple sip of water. Yet, the wells of health and purity run dry, as contamination and scarcity cast a shadow over their quest. The echoes of war reverberate through their struggle, rendering the act of securing clean and uncontaminated water a poignant reminder of the entrenched suffering that defines life in Gaza.
https://gofund.me/31239068
Donate if you can. Reblog always!
Fuck this shit


This is unconscionable. (more)
I am Ehab Ayyad a palestinian youngman from Gaza, seeking to find safety and peace for my family if twenty members. We have been passing through all forms of torture and pain for almost ten months because of the war on Gaza. Life is very miserable and tragic as we are now deprived of all means of living. Drink water, healthy food health care and medicine have become things of the past. We are dying dear friends. That is why I am asking you to help us break through this tough situation.
Life in hot tents is incredibly sad and miserable. We are now experiencing the worst circumstances we have ever had in our life. The war has stolen happiness and life from us.
Please don't leave us alone in such dire times. Your kind contribution either through donating whatever you can or sharing my posts will be highly appreciated and valued.
Check to see if this campaign has been verified!
If it has: Donate if you can. Reblog always!
If it hasn't: Still reblog but give a fair warning in case not being verified is a dealbreaker to some people.