How Twitter Has Changed Disabled Lives
Carolina Osses for Shifted News
Day 1 at re:publica 2018: crowds of people meet at STATION-Berlin. Right off the bat, at Stage 5 is a presentation all about Twitter. At the biggest international digital media festival, this will not attract a lot of attention. But somehow, it does, because this session’s topic is exceptional. How did Twitter become the main platform for physically and mentally disabled people to speak about the topic of sexuality?
Without being political, this article should start with the commencing words „Dear Mr.President.” Donald Trump is a perfect example of how Twitter can be misused as a tool. The complete opposite of a misuser of Twitter is disability and sexuality health educator, Robin Wilson-Beattie. She is a shining example within the social media landscape of how Twitter in the right hands, can become useful.
„Every person has the right to feel pleasure,“ emphasized Wilson-Beattie several times during her speech, „even people who are physically disabled.“ She speaks about an important topic which is everyday life for 15% of the world’s population. Disabilities in every form create social barriers, lead to limited participation at social events, and also create difficulties in communication with fellow human beings - so, Wilson-Beattie.
To the question, why the community was formed on Twitter and not on other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Robin answers: „Facebook doesn’t have the same interaction. The way it is build, trying to make specific groups, you are not really targeting the entire population.“ Another important point which she emphasizes in her presentation is the sad truth that people with disabilities, according to statistics, have often less amount at one’s disposal - in other words Twitter is free. Society is aware of the impaired life situations of disabled people, since they often have limited professional perspectives, educational opportunities and also difficulties using public transportation. With Twitter, a quick and intense exchange of information and experiences are highly possible.
Due to a community formation on Twitter, a lot of things have changed. The #MeToo hashtag set off an avalanche of changes. Sexual harassment and coercion against women is also a problem in her world says Robin Wilson-Beattie: „I was groped by my doctor while I had an abortion.“ The mere fact that a consultation session about a possible abortion isn’t an easy to handle situation for a woman at all, in this occasion Robin was actually harassed. Based on these kinds of personal experiences, a specific self-defense class was created for women with physical disabilities. Thanks to Twitter, multiple classes were organized, spread online and were later made available for many women.
The conclusion after this revealing presentation is that people have to be sensitive every day to their peers. Adam, a 23-years old visitor at re:publica attended the presentation out of curiosity. “It’s far too little reported on this topic and I just came inside and sat down out of interest.” This interest is the anchor for future developments, because every person has the right to have sex, to feel pleasure and to live out his or her own needs, no matter what kind of physical disabilities they have.”