In an attempt to bad mouth a UKIP Brexiteer a Facebook user suggested that this kind of right-winger should be treated as someone with learning difficulties.
I found the comment was negative and derogatory to people who experienced learning difficulty, or disability. Was I right to pull him up?
Why is that people feel comfortable using disabled people and their conditions as a hook from which to hang points of argument. Those of us on the political left would not dream of using women, race, or LGBT negatively to promote our points of view. Yet, certain aspects of disability, usually areas around learning, neuro-diversity and mental health, appear to be fair game.
Yes, I am a disabled person with physical and mental health conditions. Am I sensitive to the negativity surrounding disability, particularly those that are invisible. Yes, I am. But I don’t hold with bashing people over the head when they stray and use negative, or even derogatory, words and terms around disability. Talking to people, explaining to them why you feel their language and attitude towards disabled people is unhelpful and negative.
I agree with you; it shows the negative assumptions about people with learning disabilities and what they are presumed to be incapable of. This is rubbish. Whether meant kindly or as an insult is irrelevant, it was an unacceptable comment.
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