Blogging Against Disablism 2007: the round-up
So, did YOU on 1 May?
The day after the night before, as this Crippled Monkey blearily wakes up from reading such an overwhelming range of posts, it looks this year's BADD (as all the cool blogging kids are calling it) was an even greater success than last year's inaugural event.
I spoke with Blogging Against Disablism's tireless organiser, , to get the lowdown on how the day went, as well as some recommendations for posts to look out for. But first, I asked her what the running total of participants currently stood at.
"As far as participating blogs is concerned, there were ... I don't know, it must be pushing 180 by now, who did it. Thanks in part to BADD '06, but perhaps more importantly the that Penny at set up, there's much more of a cohesive disabled blogging community this year, which probably helped the numbers as well as the traffic. There are more people blogging about disability and we're all much more connected."
But it's not just disabled bloggers who took part, either. Many non-disabled people leapt on the passing and highly accessible BADD express train, according to The Goldfish.
"Part of the great thing about Blogging Against Disablism Day was that many people who never usually write about disability issues took the time out to lend their voices to our cause. For example, we had several technology bloggers writing about web accessibility."
Crippled Monkey then put Ms Goldfish firmly on the spot and asked her to name some particularly noteworthy BADD posts from across the blogosphere. Obviously with so many entries coming in to be listed at BADD HQ, it was impossible for her to read every contrbution, but these are a few she noticed in amongst the deluge.
Ιω : The Politics of Gratitude - about why we shouldn't be humbled by the help we receive.
Ιω : Are you or have you ever been insane? - about depression and why it isn't caused by having a disabled child.
Ιω : Blog Against Disaphobia / Disablism - about the value of being listened to.
Ιω : There's no elevator to the top of the Ivory Tower - about the interaction of racism, sexism and homophobia with disablism in higher education.
Ιω : Horton Doesn't Hear a Who - Dr Seuss against Disablism ;-)
Ιω : From where I'm sitting - Seahorse writes about her first experiences on four wheels.
Ιω : The BADD Entry 2007 - about 'benevolent discrimination' in the media.
And finally, one from the pile marked 'not particularly serious':
Ιω : Disabled - providing irrefutable proof that someone learnt something this 1 May!
Thanks to The Goldfish for putting off her well-earned rest for a few more minutes to chat to me. Same time, same place next year, then?
Comments
As someone taking part in this years event I'd like to take the opportunity to publically Goldfish for all her work in both organising and hosting BADD 07. Last years event was fantastic but this year has surpassed even that.
There were so many great posts from a diverse set of people from all aroung the globe. There was even an entry posted in Bulgarian which alas, my Bulgarian being a shaky I was unable to read.
Thanks again Goldfish, can't wait for next year.
I will try to do so more overtly next time. I took a personal stand this year but only by coincidence. I could tell Ouch the whole story, the brief version is I've not obtained a 'social' service over the last fifteen years without a fight. Sadly, my local authority's practices fall far short of its propaganda and latterly its 'disability equality scheme'.