This might be slightly contentious, but it seems to me that there is a certain type of person within the disability community who, despite their claims otherwise, is only really interested in their own rights and needs. Often, these people are young and spoiled; they are used to getting their own way and being the centre of attention. Probably because they got so much lavished upon them as children, they demand more support than they actually need – twenty-four hour care in many cases – while others, realising resources may be limited and that others need support too, make do with what they really need. Such people see themselves as leaders of our community, and seem to think they deserve media attention as ”oh so inspirational disabled people”. They perceive persecution in every nook and cranny, calling themselves activists and going to every protest, while not realising that, being mainstream educated, they are among the least persecuted among us.

Academically, they don’t push themselves as hard as they might, and yet cry ‘disability’ when they don’t get the grades they think the are due. I know I shouldn’t be so bitchy, and perhaps I should leave such people to their own devices; but I just worry about how spoiled some of ‘us’ can seem, and about how they can prioritise their own needs over those of others.

ADDENDUM – A (partial) retraction of this entry can be read here