“More care, more of the time.”
This book definitely exposed my ignorance as someone who is currently abled. Before this book, I could acknowledge my privilege in this status, but did not recognize the impermanence of it. It is quite common and extremely ableist to view disabilities as something temporary, as something to be overcome. As if disabled, sick, and neurodivergent folks are somehow living less valuable lives than us abled people. This thought process is clearly promoted by media, reality television shows, and healthcare professionals. And it can easily sneak its way into my mind as well, which is why I’m so glad I found this book and encourage all to read it.
As the title indicates, the book focuses on care work; how to build care webs, create networks, be an ally, and not overuse your spoons. It also touches on the history of care work and why some folks may resist it as a model for healing. Below are some notes that stuck out in particular.
Care work is gendered, classed, and racial. It’s important to ask, Who’s getting cared for? Who’s doing the caring? Who feels comfortable asking for or accepting care?
Care webs do not have to be huge or professional to be valuable. They can and should incorporate joy!
Disabled, sick, and neurodivergent folks have their “own cultures, histories, and skills” that abled folks can learn from. Everyone is the expert of their own body and experience.
Disabled people everywhere are doing care work for themselves and each other. They are not only the receivers of it!
Healing justice is not about “fixing” or “curing” someone! Breaking news: Not everyone wants to be able-bodied or neurotypical! This is not inherently better.
Abled people need to “stop forgetting about disability and access… Normalize access and disability. Learn about disabled cultures and histories... Realized you are or will be us…”
“We have ancestral shame to heal. We have disabled lineages to honor. Let’s get to it.”