No longer Complicit in Ableism

 

There's many things that disabled people become resigned to. We live in a world designed by and for non disabled.

In 2020 the world watched George Floyd take his last struggling breath in what clearly was a racially systemic action. Whilst we lived, we watched the reality of a negative continued action; this time it sent a ripple of "No more" across the world.

What can only be seen as a revival against oppression George Floyd's death, discrimination and the #BlackLivesMatter movement affected millions of people worldwide. Visibly and emotionally impacting a generation to the core.

As a white man, I will never fully understand what being faced with racism is like. Yet, I will listen fully to those affected by it.

It is for that very reason that I write. I need to speak up with how I'm affected by ableism around me.

End of Home Ed: A New Adventure

When William entered mainstream education (Year R) he started at the top of his class but by the end of the academic year he was bottom.

Behaviourally Will went from being enthusiastic, engaging and carefree to upset, anxious and emotional. He would have massive emotional outbursts heading to school and subsequently needed dragging in.

Within the schooled environment his behaviour become worse. There were incidents between him and other children and his responses were labelled "abnormally aggressive".

As a teacher (and also working with Ofsted) I knew the school's practices and policies that should have been in place to safeguard and support him. However they became defensive and hostile in response to having their flaws highlighted.

William's mum decided that Home Schooling would be the best option.

The End of the Second Elizabethan Era

I grew up in a Royalist household. I wouldn't say I'm a royalist but I do have a great fondness for of the Royal family, especially the late Queen.

Growing up we had many royal items in the house, such as decorative plates upon the wall, novelties of silver spoons, thimbles and cups celebrating each royal and specific events; every big event was even kept for prosperity via newspaper cuttings.