Imani Barbarin is an activist and writer who is famous on Twitter for starting hashtags that encourage the disabled community online to discuss their issues in a very public forum. Her past contributions #AbledsAreWeird and #ThingsDisabledPeopleKnow trended all across social media, and her newest hashtag #UHateDisabledPeople started going viral early on Saturday morning, after she wrote it next to the words, “Let’s finally tell ableds what their ableism actually says about them.”
Let’s finally tell ableds what their ableism actually says about them. #UHateDisabledPeople
— Crutches&Spice ♿️ : Rude For A Disabled Person (@Imani_Barbarin) January 25, 2020
If you are able-bodied, reading tweets about the ways in which you perpetuate or encourage ableism against disabled people can be a bit of a shock. Even if your intentions are good, you might be making life harder for someone already managing life under potentially difficult circumstances, and also making assumptions about how they’re feeling and what they need. The hashtag is full of strong opinions and harsh truths and we should all take them in.
1.
When you add unnecessary job qualifications like “must be able to lift and move 40 pounds” or “stand for 8 hours” to damn near every job to weed out “the weak” then #UHateDisabledPeople
— VMSF Mom (@VMSFMom) January 25, 2020
2.
When you design and build a brand new building that has zero wheelchair access despite it being 2020, #UHateDisabledPeople
— Leigh ♿🏳️⚧️ (@WheelieQueer) January 25, 2020
3.
If you use lines like:
"you're too pretty to be disabled!"
"You don't look disabled!"
"You're too young to be disabled!"
or any such line relating someone's appearance to them having a disability; #UHateDisabledPeople
— Sarah Colero🥄 (@Sarah_Colero) January 25, 2020
4.
When you throw this on our windshield #UHateDisabledPeople You are also too ignorant to understand that being in a wheelchair isn’t a requirement of someone being disabled. pic.twitter.com/j21AmGQo8G
— lilly helchen (@guurlieee) January 25, 2020
5.
When you try and re-frame a disabled person trying to get their basic rights acknowledged as “privileged people attacking minimum-wage workers” #UHateDisabledPeople
— TheIrishNinjas ♿️ (@TIrishninjas) January 25, 2020
6.
When you think disabled people should get a job but you won't hire us #UHateDisabledPeople
— Eli 🐏♿️ (@EAggergren) January 25, 2020
7.
If you think:
1.) Disabled people get too much in benefits
2.) Disabled people should be happy with things the way they are
3.) People in wheelchairs or using walkers 'have it easy'
4.) Our needs aren't important because we're a 'niche' #UHateDisabledPeople— Jay (🏆x19) (@ScouseSocialism) January 25, 2020
8.
#UHateDisabledPeople when you leave them out of get togethers because it's easier for you.
— Carney Mac misses Carney♿👓🐗 (@CarneyMac1) January 25, 2020
9.
When you think someone is faking a disability because they stand up from a wheelchair, #UHateDisabledPeople.
— Kate Mitchell (@kmitchellauthor) January 25, 2020
10.
If you're refusing to vaccinate because you're more afraid of your child being autistic (a "link" which has no scientific evidence) than dead #UHateDisabledPeople
— Lilo the Autistic Queer (@A_Silent_Child) January 25, 2020
11.
If your instinct when seeing someone in a wheelchair/using an assistive device is to pray over them for healing with or without consent #UHateDisabledPeople
— Chronic Tori 🥄 (@ChronicTori) January 25, 2020
12.
If you believe disabled people are “faking” our conditions because our disabilities don’t present in a way you’re accustomed to or because you think we are trying to “scam” people or “cheat” the system #UHateDisabledPeople
— Walela Nehanda (they/them) (@itswalela) January 25, 2020
13.
A message to those saying #UHateDisabledPeople is ineffective: we are TIRED of being gentle with folks who don’t give a damn about our oppression. We’re allowed to be angry and we’re allowed to show it and we’re allowed to force people to examine their privilege.
— Heather, MSW, (3-4-1) 🦅 (@hmkerstetter) January 25, 2020
14.
If you have ever said,
"If you just exercised more you'd feel better."
"If you just used positive thinking…"
"If you used essential oils…"
"If you used herbal pills/special diet…"
Then got mad at someone who said it won't cure them…
— Pearl Mateos (@PearlViolas) January 25, 2020
15.
If you get angry at a disabled person for not wanting your unsolicited advice or assistance, or not wanting to disclose their entire medical history to you, #UHateDisabledPeople.
— Fretty Boop (Varys Is Still Underrated) (@i_miss_the_days) January 25, 2020
16.
If you refuse to cast actual disabled people in disabled roles #UHateDisabledPeople
— Kylie the disabled Bitch (@incurablykylie) January 25, 2020
17.
When you tell me I don’t seem disabled and expect me to react like it’s a compliment #Uhatedisabledpeople
— Emotional support goblin✨ (@gothg0blin) January 25, 2020
18.
If you would rather blame disabled people for speaking about discrimination rather than Uber for allowing it to happen, #UHateDisabledPeople
— Crutches&Spice ♿️ : Rude For A Disabled Person (@Imani_Barbarin) January 25, 2020
19.
If you think the value of an individual is measured by what they produce or contribute to capitalism, then #UHateDisabledPeople.
— Madeline (@madeline___rose) January 25, 2020
20.
If your go-to every time there is a mass shooting is "Well, the shooter must be mentally ill." #UHateDisabledPeople
— Jami Miller ✏️📰 (@pixieonmoon) January 25, 2020
21.
When you accuse someone of faking their pain because they’re able do something today that they were in too much pain to do last time. #UHateDisabledPeople
— Elle MNOP & ADHD | #DREADPirate☾ (@ElleMN0P_ADHD) January 25, 2020
