NederlandsWe hebben ook een Nederlandse versie van deze pagina.
We also have a spoken audio version.
Who are we?
Feminists Against Ableism is a collective of disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent1 feminists2. We deal with the topic of ableism3: discrimination of disabled people, in an intersectional4 way. This means that we do not see disability in isolation from skin color, gender, sexual preference and other characteristics. Our experiences are all different.
FAA is for people with and without a diagnosis. Receiving a diunda.nlagnosis means a doctor determines which impairment you have. Receiving a diagnosis is a privilege. Because of this, we support self diagnosis. The current care system doesn’t treat every disabled person as equal. FAA respects the ways in which people identify themselves. We decided to use the word ‘disabled’, because that corresponds with the way most FAA members describe themselves.
FAA strives for a world in which disability, chronic illness and neurodivergence can simply exist. A world in which we push against ableism and other forms of exclusion. A world in which disabled people are leading the way to access5, justice and inclusion6. A world in which the knowledge, history and culture of disabled people is acknowledged and accepted. We call this ‘Disability Justice’’. In other words, justice for disabled people7.
FAA works towards Disability Justice in two ways. First, we strive for more knowledge, acceptance and justice for disabled people. We want to see that disabled people are of equal worth. Second, FAA forms a group in which we recognize and support each other. Together we are stronger. We do all this by drawing attention to disability, organizing (online) activities and tackling ableism.
Our goals
The world has the tendency to think according to the medical model of disability. The medical model looks at disability through a lens of ‘brokenness’. The disabled person needs ‘repair’. If this is not possible, society tries to accommodate. FAA wishes for a world in which the social model is the starting point. The social model of disability sees disability as a difference in people that just exists. Do you know that 1 in 4/5 people lives with one or more disabilities? Disability is part of human diversity, but it’s still not acceptable if you can’t participate. FAA strives for a more accessible world, so that you can do what you want in the way you wish.
FAA realizes that the social model of disability is not ideal. Even if the world is fully accessible, you can still suffer from your impairment (for example pain or lack of energy). But we think that the world can and must be more accessible. Everyone should be able to participate everywhere. Disabled people shouldn’t have to go to special schools and use special transportation. FAA thinks it’s of great importance that there will be more research and treatment for impairments that are not taken seriously enough by doctors right now.
What does FAA want to achieve?
- Nothing about us, without us. We are the ones that know what we need. Disabled people need to have a voice in everything that concerns them. Every disability is unique. That’s why FAA wants input and awareness from and about people with different disabilities.
- Every disabled person counts. The more someone is excluded because they’re not white, straight or male, the more it is important to us that these people are heard. Of course every person’s experience is valid, but we want to stress that everyone should be able to participate.
- Equal law position. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities8 must apply in every part of the kingdom, including Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The Netherlands must ratify the Optional Protocol9.
- Accessibility in all areas of life. Accessibility is not a luxury, but a right according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Disabled people must be given the same opportunities in education, living, working, being able to participate in public space and traveling independently by public transport.
- Being able to decide for yourself about your life and money matters. We don’t want pity. We are people like everyone else. We want to be able to determine things for ourselves. We have a right to good care, equal income and a say in the help we receive.
- How we are talked about. Disabled people need to be represented as we are, in a way that respects our differences. Not inspiration or tragedy porn10 full of prejudice, but celebrating disabled people in all our shapes and sizes.
- Recognize and counter eugenics. Eugenics is the harmful idea that some people are better off not existing because of their disability or origin. This is sometimes only seen as an idea of the past, but it still exists today. Society has to acknowledge that this idea exists and that it has terrible consequences. It is only then that we can do something about it.
- Safety. Violence against disabled people, especially disabled (trans11) women and non-binary12 people, must stop. Hurting and berating disabled people is not normal.
What can you do?
If you are nondisabled, you can help and support in many ways. Anyone can becomeWhat can you do? disabled at any time. An accessible world in which everyone can participate means freedom for everyone, whether or not you are disabled (yet). Therefore it is important that we work together.
Vote for parties that pay attention to disabled people and that make plans that can help us. Think of us at work, at school, in the public areas you visit. Learn about ableism. Please mention it if something is not accessible. When you speak out about the problems of disabled people, let us do the talking. Strengthen our stories, share our experiences – and let people know that our work matters.
FAA will continue until all disabled people have the same freedom to live their lives as anyone else. Accessibility is not a luxury, but should be the standard. We belong as much as anyone else. We can only move forward if we leave no one behind.
1 Neurodivergence is the term for when someone’s brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is considered ‘typical’.
2 Feminism is a political movement that wants equal rights for everybody.
3 Ableism is the discrimination and social prejudice against disabled people.
4 Intersectionality is a lens in which to see the world, coined in 1989 by Kimberlé Crenshaw.
5 Access means that disabled people are welcome. This can mean removing stairs and steps, but it can also mean a more social way of welcoming (language or behavior).
6 Inclusion means that everyone is welcomed.
7 Disability Justice is a framework and lens in which you can look at the world, coined in 2005 in the United States by Black, brown and trans people. Especially by Patty Berne, Mia Mingus, Stacey Milbern, Leroy F. Moore Jr., Eli Clare and Sebastian Margaret.
8 The UN Convention on Disability is a human rights treaty. The convention says that disabled people have the right to equal treatment and must be able to participate. The Netherlands signed the treaty in 2016.
9 Through the Optional Protocol disabled people can file a complaint if the Netherlands doesn’t comply to the VN- treaty. As long as the Netherlands doesn’t sign this protocol, this is impossible.
10 Inspiration porn is the idea that disabled people are heroes for just existing. Tragedy porn is the idea that disability is sad and that disabled people need pity. Both are not a realistic view on who disabled people are.
11 Trans (or transgender) means that you don’t recognize yourself in the gender that is assigned to you at birth.
12 Nonbinary means that you don’t recognize yourself in the idea of being a woman of a man.