Human Dignity
Warning: Contents may induce immense frustration. Process these feelings with this month’s righteous anger playlist: Vigilante Shit! In this month’s letter, you’ll enjoy…
A Satirical Graphic on the mistreatment of disabled people
The top 3 policies I believe could improve the world
A poem inspired by Taylor Swift and ableism
Blossom’s April Favourites!
Guess who hasn’t been unclenching their jaw?? I managed to chip my tooth from teeth grinding this month, any advice greatly appreciated ;) Okay- get ready, Inhaaaale… hold. Exhaaaale. Let’s get into it.
For those of you who have had to deal with any bureaucratic systems, the following letter may seem familiar to you. I am relieved and repulsed to note that you are not alone: after posting this satirical graphic, hundreds of disabled people got in touch to tell me that their countries are similarly careless in their treatment of our vulnerable community.
It is unacceptable that systems supposedly designed to support us, instead put more pressure, stress, and admin work on disabled people, at the very time we need the most care. At the same time, we must face being villainized by politicians and the media, forced to justify their existence.
So, you want disabled people to work? Let’s talk about it.
I write to you with severe back and hand pain from equipment that is not fit for me to use, and a headache from the hold music that I have had to endure for hours while waiting for 'Access to Work' to help me... access work. It's been over a year. This system is not fit for purpose.
And it’s not the only one.
These systems promise to help, but often do more harm. I have experienced:
incredible difficulty accessing PIP (I was denied twice)
reapplying for a blue badge every 3 years (despite having lifelong disabilities that aren’t curable)
my mother acting as my unpaid carer, and when finally receiving carer’s ‘allowance’ (what a dimunitive term for labour that saves our country billions each year) receiving less than £2 per hour, with a limit on how much she can earn from other work.
medical gaslighting across the NHS for over a decade in order to be properly diagnosed (and even then not being given the correct support or guidance)
Hearing my stories echoed by thousands of other disabled people, it is clear to me the problem is not us. The problem was never disabled people. The problem is and has always been the abhorrent, torturous, dehumanising systems that scapegoat the most vulnerable.
I have been a councillor, I am a volunteer, I am a founder, I am a worker, I am a friend, a daughter, a person who helps others every day, I contribute to the economy, I try to give back to my communities as much as I possibly can: I am a valuable member of society. As are the millions of other disabled people who live in this world. We should not have to prove why we are worthy of being treated like human beings.
Yet governments around the world are failing to give us the dignity we deserve.
We must improve these systems by redesigning them WITH the people they are supposedly created for, and ensuring that those people are treated with at least a modicum of human dignity.
How can we do this? Here’s just a few policies that I believe could improve the quality of life for the majority of people:
True democracy means power to the people, but do the people have power if they aren’t being accurately represented? Learn more about different voting systems from CGP Grey’s YouTube Channel!
This one is self-explanatory, I hope. There should not be such a vast gap between the rich and poor, wealth should be redistributed. We should be more open to criticising people who hoard wealth by exploiting others, rather than demonising vulnerable groups like trans people, disabled people, and refugees. Not only would it raise more money, it would allow us all to be more united.
Take the administrative costs that are used to berate disabled people alone, and you wouldn’t need to test whether someone is eligible for benefits! We’d have enough money for everyone to receive a baseline income.
You can learn about the UK government’s plans for disability benefits here. If you live in the UK, have your say by filling in this form to give the government feedback on their ‘reforms’!
An exciting project on Workplace Intervention for Sustainable Health and Employment Support is looking for disabled people to join its lived experience group! Involvement will be 4-6 online meetings per year, paid for in vouchers. Find out more here.
If you’re outside the UK, why not Share Tea with HB to raise awareness for social justice issues, and write to your local representative to see what their views are on these policies?
Don’t Blame Me
The insecurity that can seep in from internalised ableism or growing up as ‘the weird kid’ is something I am constantly working on. Written in a Poetry Orchard workshop, this is my way of battling those doubts through humour!
After The Eras Tour
I roll into a room, romance on the cards—
no wait, that doesn’t sound right
that’s not how a love story starts
we were both young when I first saw you—
except now I am 24 and that feels past my peak, seven
feet in the swing, and I’m back in the playground
I think they made the buddy bench for me—
how does it feel, to be six and branded
unloveable?
and that was back when I could walk.
I know my ability to flirt shouldn’t depend on two legs—
but sometimes it feels like it does
grab my blue badge and your hand—
I know I was an acquired taste long before being drenched in disabled gravy.
Can’t blame the crippling chronic pain for this one
but please—
don’t blame me
I am a firm believer that we are all creatives, we just lack safe spaces to get inspired– so if you’d like to meet incredible people and nurture your creative flair, sign up for our newsletter and our discord to join in!
Tea with HB offers valuable free support and education for hundreds of vulnerable people. If you enjoy these letters, consider donating to help me sustain this wonderful communi-tea!
Thanks for reading, swee-tea,
HB x
April Favourites
☀️ Good News: Beautiful weather, brave mother, beloved friends <3
📚 Book: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, A must-read for current times! Collins explores resistance and rebellion, providing guidance on the ways propaganda and division prevents us from feeling compassion.
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
📺 TV: Love on the Spectrum
🍿 Movie: The Station Agent
🍜 Food: Thank you Xander and Mel for preparing absolute FEASTS for us to enjoy every day xoxo
