Hi Tom,
I'm blind & I was breastfeeding my baby in a park.
A member of the public started a conversation with me about my disability.
They demanded I explain how I could have a baby & concluded I was an unsafe mother due to my blindness.
I don't owe anyone a conversation
Great to see
#AskDontAssume
launch today, following co-development with disabled people, stakeholders and extensive research with 500+ people with lived experience of disability.
The campaign aims to start conversations about the everyday assumptions disabled people face.
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@BlondeHistorian
I can't believe that people still say these things in this day and age. My blind Mum (my Dad was blind too) successfully raised my brother & I in the 1970s (and beyond). There were a lot less resources etc for blind people back then!
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@BlondeHistorian
Big difference between being appropriately curious with genuinely good reason (but also accepting boundaries because nobody deserves an explanation), and being nosy, rude and judgy, just because 🤦🏼♀️
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@Laura_Guest1
A blind mother breastfeeding is not the opportunity for you to be “curious”.
If you don’t know how babies are made find a biology textbook.
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@BlondeHistorian
One time someone asked me what type of autism I had and it felt really nosy as I look back
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@BlondeHistorian
I’m not feeling well today but when I am I’m sharing my story of ‘well intentioned questions’ on a train journey where I was by myself. I did not feel safe.
#AskDontAssume
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@BlondeHistorian
Oh my gosh that’s so awful. Such entitlement. I wish campaigns were more thoroughly researched
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@BlondeHistorian
This is horrifying, yet not at all surprising. I'm privileged as I sometimes can choose to "hide" my disabilities (at the cost of being bedbound for weeks afterwards), and this kind of attitude is why I sometimes make that choice.
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@BlondeHistorian
Tom does not seem to understand UK laws against discrimination.
That person in the park is absolutely horrendous. I hope they see this. I know we all hate them
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@BlondeHistorian
reading through that thread - sounds like a terrible program. people do not owe anyone any explaination. and geez people, let people feed their baby in peace!
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