For instance, in San Francisco, a law of 1867 deemed it illegal for "any person, who is diseased, maimed, mutilated or deformed in any way, to be an unsightly or disgusting object, to expose himself or herself to public view."
Exceptions to public exposure were acceptable only if the people were subjects of demonstration, (They put us on display.) to illustrate the separation of the disabled from the nondisabled and their need for reformation. Source: Wikipedia
I found out about the ugly laws via an Instagram post. I was shocked. Surely, the person who posted about these laws was misinformed. I googled. I felt sick to my stomach. It was true. Ugly laws had existed in some cities in the U.S. until 1974.
I want you to imagine being forced to stay in your house, being fined, jailed, or sent to a workhouse because the sight of you made people uncomfortable. People called you disgusting.
These laws were not repealed until 1974.
The ramifications of these laws speak volumes. The ripple effects of these laws are still being felt today.
In 1982, after graduating, with my MSW degree, United Cerebral Palsy would not hire me because my presence would make parents "feel uncomfortable." I left the interview confused and defeated. In my mind the exact opposite was true. Hiring me would have given parents of children with Cerebral palsy hope that their children's future would be filled with positivity. My focus would have been on the strengths of the Children with CP. What they could do instead of what they couldn't
Is it so difficult to understand why many of us feel inferior?
Is it so difficult to understand why those of us with disabilities fight so hard to be listened to?
Is it so difficult to understand why we continue to fight so hard to be heard?
Those of us with disabilities face challenges every day. In my opinion, the biggest challenge we face is getting people to look beyond our disabilities and see us as the people we are.
Ugly Laws.
Google them.
Think about them.
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