Disability Blogs Roundup, #3

Michael Bérubé gets first mention here, for all kinds of reasons: he's a friend-of-a-friend (through Penn State hockey), his writing was the first disability studies stuff I ever read (1994), at a time when I really needed that perspective; and he produces one fine blog. Oh, and his post on Disability and Disasters mentions DS,TU's own Mike Dorn. So go read it.

Next Mary Johnson deserves notice, for two long posts at Edge-Centric on Gonzales v. Oregon, an upcoming Supreme Court case on physician-assisted suicide. On a related topic, Ballastexistenz writes on why the crime of murdering one's adult child is somehow mitigated in the public mind when that child is disabled. "Not really a threat to anyone," she sums up the prevailing opinion. "Just killed her own son, but isn't really a threat to anyone."

Disability etiquette seems to be an ongoing issue, on blogs about disability and elsewhere. The Angry Gimp ponders how she wants to answer the blunt question, "What happened to you?" Her answer (and it's not everyone's): "I'd rather someone take the risk of offending me than feeling alienated and curious for years." But on the wicked side, "It's fun telling people that I've broken 27 bones and watching their eyes pop out of their head."

Lots of non-disability bloggers might find Angry Gimp's post enlightening; there still so much work to be done in dispelling the pity/horror/guilt-driven responses to disability. Xta and Entelechy both posted recently about a lurking discomfort in the presence of people with severe disabilities. The Feminist Mormon Housewives were discussing how they felt about having designated parking for expectant mothers, right alongside (or more likely, in place of) the wheelchair-accessible parking.

Meanwhile....Kestrell's kinda hoping new technology will let her get a braille tattoo...and Scott Rains knows where you can find an accessible restaurant in New Delhi (with a photo of the new ramp at Nirula's to prove it).

As usual, tips are always welcome. The next roundup should post in early November.