And just like that…
Yes, I’m watching the Sex and The City (SATC) reboot…. Which prompted me to write this.
Last week, I was reminded that it's been 4 years since (cue… one week by barenaked ladies playing…)
I was told by my boss of 11.5 years that I am being let go from the company. A week before Christmas.
The cherry on top (I don’t even like cherry!) was that I needed to stay through January 19th and I couldn’t use any of the sick days I had accumulated. I probably had about 3 weeks worth of sick leave.
At the time, getting this kind of news was soul-crushing. You see, I went from a small publishing company where I worked there for 3 years, and straight into this corporate environment for almost 12 years. I honestly had no clue what I was going to do next.
Let’s get back to why I’m even talking about the SATC reboot… you see, I watched episode 3, where Che, as played by Sara Rameriz, was doing a stand up show. Here’s a synopsis of what they said. It’s about gender individuality, and how some people have no idea how to process it.
“Every time it is represented in mainstream media, it’s from some other galaxy….When earthbound, it’s always at a murder scene…never at a birthday party. And there’s always only one of us. Never with a friend. Just one sad nonbinary character. “I’m so sad and alone.”
I’m not always alone. I have communities. I have allies. I have friends. Put our real asses on tv.”
This resonated with me so freaking much. The media also portrays people with disabilities in very similar ways! I don’t wake up thinking about the fact that I’m deaf, or deafblind. I don’t wake up being sad.
I do wake up thinking, ok, this is all the stuff I gotta do today. But first, it’s time to feed Cota and take her for her walk. And why the f is under 25 degrees? I think about which workout I need to do today? I think about making sure I show up for my clients? I think about some of the most minuscule things that may be happening with me or in the world today. This is most mornings.
Then there are moments where I start seeing things happen on social media & in person, and just get extremely frustrated. And start asking questions.
Who else is going to speak up for me?
What is it about learning that someone has a disability that makes people freak out?
Where is the grace for people with disabilities?
When are we gonna stop putting people with disabilities at the bottom of the list?
Why is it so freaking difficult to provide access for people with disabilities?
Why do people get so STUPID when I mention that I’m deaf and I can’t understand them with a mask? And the easiest thing for them to do is probably just type or write what they said? But no, apparently it’s not. They freeze up, and get all awkward, and I have to comfort them and let them know what their options are. It’s really not that difficult, and this is something that I go through on a fairly regular basis.
Truth be told…We’re done being patient. We’re done being tolerant. We will speak our minds because we’re OVER it. We are over being accommodating…
I’m still gonna teach people how to be accessible, but it’s gotta work both ways. I’m teaching you, and you put in the work.
