Why is “retard” a slur?

Like many other people, I got lost in Facebook reels the other day.  A woman had given birth to a child who was deaf, and her husband left her.  He said he wouldn’t have married her if she knew that she would give birth to a “retard”.   I’m going to skip the obvious fallacy thatContinue reading “Why is “retard” a slur?”

Drug seeking behaviors

This nation has a serious problem with drugs, especially opioids. According to the CDC, around 250 people a day die of drug overdoses and around 75% of those deaths involved at least one opioid such as fentanyl. I saw it first hand when I was teaching, although thankfully none of my kids died of anContinue reading “Drug seeking behaviors”

You can’t have my wheels!

I went to a teacher event tonight with Adam at a well-known theater in Houston. From the teacher’s standpoint, it was a fantastic event with great speakers, great swag bags, door prizes, and even an open bar. (I don’t drink, but I can appreciate the gesture.) I’m enough of a sports nerd to appreciate getting to hear someContinue reading “You can’t have my wheels!”

Fat people in wheelchairs and Jesus

Calm down, people. I’m the fat lady with a wheelchair. I almost wrote that last statement as “I’m the fat lady IN the wheelchair”, but that instinctual wording of mine is part of the reason for this blog. I’m glad I made that mistake, because it just goes to show how society today influences ourContinue reading “Fat people in wheelchairs and Jesus”

ADA Compliance, Disabled-Friendly, and Fishing

Recently, I was trying to find my dad a fishing spot.  For those who don’t know it, my dad is fighting a successful battle against stage four small cell lung cancer.  The cancer was doing great by our last count and all the tumors were shrinking rapidly. However, chemotherapy has taken its toll on Dad,Continue reading “ADA Compliance, Disabled-Friendly, and Fishing”

Your own worst enemy: Internalized ableism.

We can talk about the dangers of ableism all we want to, but if we don’t address the potentially biggest culprit in the room, it’s not going to do us a bit of good. Especially at the beginning of the process, if you are permanently injured or diagnosed with a degenerative disease, like I was.Continue reading “Your own worst enemy: Internalized ableism.”