And don’t tell me that you think the “I” in DEI stands for the rights of people with disabilities. Listen to the conversations. To often, that is not what is mentioned.

But just think of the great big coalition we could build if we are inclusive in how we talk, organize, and fight back.

But we don't talk about this. This implicit bias against fully recognizing the attacks on disabled folks has got to stop. If we want to talk to 20% of voting households with people with disabilities in them, we must talk with the same level and amount of urgency about the attacks on them. 🧵

Without 504, he would not have the accommodations he needs to have an even playing field at that music school. He would likely not be on the Dean's list, as he is now. He would likely not be releasing original music. His story of success mirrors so many people with disabilities, thanks to IDEA/ 504.

Without IDEA my son would have the door shut on his future when he was 2. He would not have graduated high school and he would not be where he is now - thriving at one of the best music schools in the country. Before IDEA, students with disabilities were regularly segregated and not educated. 🧵

Dismantling the Dept of Ed has already ended grants for some school districts to provide workplace learning and transition services for SWD. Dept of Ed enforces IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Educ Act, which ensures students with disabilities receive a free and fair appropriate education.

This is used in K-12 and higher education to ensure students with disabilities can have reasonable accommodations. For example, someone with diabetes is able to manage their disease. Someone who is visually impaired being given a screen reader. Accessible medical appointments. And much more. 🧵

We should talk about the impact on all marginalized groups. But let's not be exclusive about which marginalized groups are going to get air time and which ones we too often regulate to a “oh yea and…” Because the attacks are real and happening now. 17 states have sued to get rid of Section 504. 🧵

I am not saying everyone has done this but it certainly has been much more often than not. Do a scan of headlines, and podcasts titles and substacks. How many of them lament the attack on DEI but actually include the ‘A’?) And yes it should not be an “either/or” which is exactly my point. 🧵

It has been disappointing listening to progressives/media and realizing how many have dropped the "A" when talking about the DEI attacks. If I heard ‘A’ mentioned, it was often with an offhand, “oh yea the A stands for accessibility” and then not fully explaining the attacks on disability rights 🧵

Fast forward to Trump's attacks on DEIA. As many people have had to explain, the 'A' stands for accessibility, or the laws that require that people with disabilities have reasonable accommodations to access public spaces, education, medical appointments, and employment. Ramps screen readers & more🧵

Think of the HUGE coalition that could have been built if we talked about the needs of people with disabilities with the same passion and regularity as others? 20% of all voters have a disability or live in a household with a person with a disability. TWENTY PERCENT OF VOTERS personally impacted. 🧵

At that presentation I told them that the nearly event split between party identification was likely because they feel that neither party speaks to them, as evidenced by the fact that amongst 200 presentations at a progressive political conference, mine was the only one on disability inclusion. 🧵

Also this

They did. Too many people dismiss things women say.

We need to get better at going on the offensive. Like right now. We need to become the master of "what about isms". Don't let them or the media control the narrative. We need to control the narrative