Ban Disciplinary Restraint: Oakland

Here’s a new case out of Oakland illustrating the ways that restraint and seclusion practices in schools quickly move from “safety” to compliance. The U.S. Department of Education ruled the Oakland school district discriminated against a 9-year-old autistic boy who was restrained 92 times during one school year, sometimes for up to 90 minutes at … Continue ReadingBan Disciplinary Restraint: Oakland

Bad Disability Journalism: Suffers from Mental Illness or Suffers from a Punch in the Face?

The use of “suffers” to describe people with various disabilities is my #1 “to-avoid” tip when I talk disability and journalism (#2 is “wheelchair bound”). It especially shows up in cases of police use of force. In last March’s Ruderman Foundation White Paper, Lawrence Carter-Long and I wrote: The most current disability style guide for … Continue ReadingBad Disability Journalism: Suffers from Mental Illness or Suffers from a Punch in the Face?

#CultOfCompliance – Abuse of Disabled Children of Color in Schools

Several stories around the same themes. A black child is abused by guards or police in schools. There’s almost always a disability context. 1. A lawsuit alleges a 6-year-old black child in Chicago with “special needs” was handcuffed under a stair for over an hour to “teach her a fucking lesson.” The security guard at … Continue Reading#CultOfCompliance – Abuse of Disabled Children of Color in Schools

Murder Responses: Swans vs Disabled Human

A terrible crime has been perpetrated in Michigan, and the comment thread is outraged. A family of swans was run over. Meanwhile, a Michigan woman killed her disabled son (he had cerebral palsy), and the comment thread opened with, “this is wong, but understandable” and “she must have cracked under the strain.” It improved thanks … Continue ReadingMurder Responses: Swans vs Disabled Human

Korryn Gaines: Narratives of Race and Disability

Vilissa Thompson, one of the most important writers on race, gender, and disability, has written a powerful and moving piece on Korryn Gaines, the black disabled woman killed in Baltimore County recently. Thompson writes: To be Black, disabled, and female means that you always have eyes on you. You must be “on” at all times; … Continue ReadingKorryn Gaines: Narratives of Race and Disability

#CultOfCompliance Kills: LA County SWAT Kills Innocent Disabled Black Man

This is a particular bad version of the kind of story we see far too often. LA law enforcement was pursuing a carjacker, found a different black man in a yard, and ordered him to comply. He didn’t comply. So they killed him. The armored vehicles — and the heavily armed deputies inside them — … Continue Reading#CultOfCompliance Kills: LA County SWAT Kills Innocent Disabled Black Man