Acts of kidness and the ableist undertones

We've all been there - you're going about your life minding your own business and somebody interrupts you to do something kind simply because you have a disabled child, or because you yourself are disabled. These acts of kindness certainly come from a place of good, but it can be driven by an ableist mindset: that disabled individuals deserve pity. Sometimes these acts are only a way for the giver to feel better about themselves. Regardless, it can be jarring and can be tricky for parents of disabled children to navigate. How do we lead by example? How do we let our disabled children know that they are not obligated to take "gifts" from strangers when we ourselves freeze, smile, and say thanks? Why does it seem that these acts of kindness are only reserved for children with certain disabilities, while others are deemed "unruly", shamed, and shunned? Empathy and equity does not exist amongst all types of disabilities when it comes to these acts of kindness. So let's sit down and bitch about it on todays episode of The Bitching and Bolusing Podcast!