collaborators

So, i'm looking for more partners in crime, other gimps to kick shit up with. i'm tired of feeling frustrated and pissed off and disappointed at so often finding the same things happening over and over, no matter the amount of work PWDs put into changing stuff. i really want to create other shit. i'm super excited by projects like this:

crip sex, crip lust, and the lust of recognition


that speak to me as a gimp, that reach into my chest and pump pump pump my heart, that mean something to me coming from other variously disabled folks. i really want to do and experience this kind of thing while being able to also continue navigating (because we gotta do it) an ableist society, and not totally lose my shit, y'know? i want to honour my own unique experiences, the connections and overlaps with other folks with disabilities, work with ENabled folks, and keep it all cool; want to not lose my head and creativity and spark in it all; want to keep my focus on my communities, other PWDs, and not constantly allow myself to get derailed by fail.


The Rub? (It feels like) i can't organize my way out of a wet paper bag. Social awkwardness, lack of physical access/es, head stuff that makes it really hard to be...well...organized, even just in my own home, not feeling confident or comfortable in a 'leadership' role, and not being part of/privy to a culture that encourages gimps to organize unless we're filling the roles prescribed by ENabled folks (e.g. bitter gimp, inspiring crip, etc.), all create an environment where i don't feel awesome about organizing, but one where i feel defeat and frustration. i really want to challenge this in myself. Because organizing comes in so many forms right? i wonder what other PWDs are doing?


i wonder if there is something out there specifically for gimps around organizing, increasing our confidences, cultivating practices of working together in ways that don't feel hierarchical?


Because i could use some help on that. Any ideas greatly appreciated!

Gimps Resist the G20

"Disability is the story of systemic oppression and exclusion of groups of people who are considered deviant or undesirable. In our capitalist system, disability is about who is considered to be under-productive or unproductive and enforcing consequences on those groups of people through segregation, poverty and abuse, among other things."

Why Resist the G20 In Toronto?

When i show up to an event that's billed as accessible for gimps (whatever that means anyways) and find i can get into the space fine and use the bathroom fine, but that there's such a stench of cologne in the air (and one that others may find entirely dealable or not even notice) that i want to bleed out of and pour bleach into my eyesockets just to get some relief? Yeah that's totes not accessible for me. Colognes/ perfumes/ strong deodorant and cigarette smoke are all things that make me wheeze, get headaches, and feel sick. It usually follows if i've been exposed long enough that i get actually sick, like having a cold. Don't know what the scientific schlemeel is on that, but i've noticed it many many times over the years. So yeah, i'm definitely not a fan.

But there are all kinds of reasons why "accessible" spaces are so often not accessible at all:

-If your "accessible" event is one where casual use of the word "retard" and other slurs is accepted? Yeah, that's not an accessible event.

-If your "accessible" event is one where elders are made to feel useless, uncool, out of place, and otherwise undesireable? Yeah, not accessible.

-If your "accessible" event is one where poor folks are routinely made to feel like shit for not purchasing something? Totally not accessible.

-If at your "accessible" event folks of colour are treated like exhibits? So. Not. Accessible.

-If trans people are forced to meet messed up cissexist standards of "passing" in order to get in and stay in? Yeah, that's not accessible.

-If at your "accessible" event members of your organization are found doing pantomimes of people in wheelchairs attempting to access the space? NOT. FUCKING. ACCESSIBLE.

On and on it goes. Holy Mother of Pearl some of it seems so obvious, but people's ideas of accessibility are often so limited. i've had folks freak out at me many times for sitting in the seats reserved for disabled folks on the bus because the disability symbol has someone in a wheelchair and i use crutches lol. i want ideas about accessibility expanded, because it is expanded for most folks i know. Makes sense to me.