Yes, it does!
That sentence literally makes me want to rip my face off. My body actually physically responds first, when I hear that from people. It’s like a wave that just rushes over my body. And I have to sit still for just a minute, so I don’t lose my shit.
….okay I am actually going to sit in this and lose my shit for a bit.
Yes. It. Does. Make. A. Difference.
Many people have the expectation that one big thing needs to happen and then the education system is suddenly going to change overnight.
That is impossible.
I can tell you right now, it is never going to happen.
(When systems are forced to change overnight, it doesn’t tend to be by choice or for the better)
Social movements that change the hearts and minds of people are slow and painful, and laborious work. Anti-ableism work is slow and painful and laborious work.
It requires a bunch of little things, moderate things, quiet work, and loud work all mixed up together by multiple groups of people over and over again. Everything adds up. You won’t see it all. You won’t know all the players on all of the teams. You won’t understand it all. There will be many side conversations, many unknown emails, many people working in the shadows and many people working in the spotlight.
Saying, “what is the point, it’s not going to do anything anyways”
Sorry, but YOU have missed the point.
When I hear that, what you have taught me is that you don’t understand how systems work. What breaks me, is that by people making those comments, you are undermining other people’s efforts. Please, please, please, keep your comments to yourself.
We need to lift people up and cheer them on. Not the opposite. Change is never a simple, clear line from A to B. It’s two steps forward, one step back. It’s messy, it’s confusing, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s all over the place. Because we are always stepping into uncharted territory. When people push the line, they don’t know what is going to happen. How people are going to react, because in this space and time, it’s never been done before. People are inspired and moved, and it changes people’s thinking, watching other people step into advocacy. It shows people what is possible, or what won’t work, and where we need to go next. It’s all valuable.
Please stop telling people to give up, why bother and what’s the point.
Lots of people are not giving up. Lots of people want to be a bother. And lots of people have a lot of points.
So to all of the people out there who are doing the quiet work, the moderate work, and the loud work, I encourage you to take your points and be pointy.
Everything adds up. The stepping stones all become useful for different things at various times. You will never really know all the ways that impact the system. None of it is a waste.
Society thanks you.
Rant over.