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Smoke and Mirrors

• August 1st, 2006

My laptop was stolen last week. The entire act took about 10 minutes and left me with hours of hassle, which I suspect will continue for some time. I have very little experience with crime on a personal level so it’s been interesting and at times amusing to observe my reactions to this event. I guess you could say I needed my “self advocate” skills to deal with all those involved. I really don’t like that word, self advocate, it seems to be exclusively associated with the disability industry. Have you noticed in all civil rights movements of the past no one was called a “self advocate”. People involved in securing their rights were often referred to as “oppressed”, “devalued”” or just plain “forgotten”, but never an advocate? More positve terms were “civil rights worker” or “protester”. Funny how we have to make the same thing that has been going on for centuries somehow different when it involves people with disabilities, all just smoke and mirrors, fooling no one.