"Accessible to All" - Fill the JAR - Episode 007

On this episode of Fill the JAR, we join Rev. Laura Cannata in conversation about her life, economic injustices baked into society that disable people and impoverish people with disabilities, and her work on the United Church of Christ Disability Ministries board. Learn how your congregation can and must become Accessible 2 All! ⁠https://uccdm.org/a2a/⁠Thank you for listening.Citations:1. “Way Out of No Way” Written by Tracy Howe and Osagyefo SekouPerformed by Stop Cop City ChoirRecorded in Tucson, ArizonaUsed with permissionListen/Download/Donate/Purchase: https://stopcopcitychoir.bandcamp.com2. United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries - https://uccdm.org/ 3. Become an Accessible 2 All Congregation! https://uccdm.org/a2a/4. Capitalism & Disability, by Marta Russell - https://bookshop.org/p/books/capitalism-and-disability-selected-writings-by-marta-russell-marta-russell/10916356?ean=9781608466863&next=t5. Poem - "Eugenics, Megenics and Genocide” by Rev. Laura CannataEugenics is alive and wellSociety makes being disabled a living hellI wish I could write a cute little rhyme or an easy pneumonic, but this subject is too important For frivolitySo, here’s the facts:Sometimes we are an eyesoreHow dare we leave the house?!People don’t want to see our disfigurements and deformitiesAnd they don’t mind saying so eitherAnd what’s the point of leaving home when most buildings are closed to usAnd if by some act of kindness, we do get inThe rest of the building is unnavigable Disabled people lose their health insurance and monthly government pittance if we get marriedThis is a roundabout way to ensure that we don’t procreateIt’s forced sterilization without the inconvenience of paying a doctorSometimes we are seen as useless burdens and yet not only is there no incentive for productivity, it is in fact actively discouraged with financial penaltiesWe are not allowed to own a home or any assets, constantly enforcing dependency and financial ruinIf we can’t afford to rent, we must choose between a group home or homelessnessForced incarceration or death from independenceEither way it is a slow genocideIt is a rare opportunity to find employmentBottom line why should they pay us and pay for our accommodationsIt’s not cost effective and in a capitalistic society money means more than peopleWe are routinely denied lifesaving treatment (all the more so if you are a Person Of Color)Even more during a pandemicBecause cost of treatment and resources are not worth it for the quality of life you deem us to haveBut if we don’t get to determine your quality, why should you get to determine oursAs a disabled person we have the choice of one of two roles(Either anger and bitterness,Being the troublemakerThe rabble rouser always asking for change)Or we can be the innocent object of pityThe act of charity abled people do to feel better about themselvesAnd if we are not properly grateful for basic rights (IE accommodations to be able to pee, etc.) then we have  obviously chosen option number oneThere is no in-betweenJust a flipside of the same coinBeing disabled doesn’t hinder meSociety has placed the stumbling blocksSo, thanks for asking but no I don’t hate my body But why should I care for a nation that both actively and passively wants me deadBeing disabled, not a disasterBeing a member of society, come back when you give a damn6. Fill the JAR - https://www.ucc.org/fillthejar