Deep Disable

Barton shows a clear passion about stripping down the motives of the United Way and their effect on the individuals who are disabled. Barton's claims that because of the business structure of a charitable organization that disabled persons are now viewed as nothing more than "needy" and to help them, you can donate to the United Way.

This argument can be taken deeper in the context of what the media does and how this sort of organization is harmful. As one of my classmates stated, "she neglects the human experience" which I feel is important to bring up. The human experience is what I feel that Barton may or may not have brought up in her article. I am admittedly torn on this subject (maybe I got confused or mixed things up). So on one hand, there is the erasure of the people in that, no one takes into account who they really are, all that people see are the fearful ads such as the wheelchair poster which reads, "what if it were yours?" (177). This not only demonstrates the tactics used by the United Way which would not be socially acceptable by today's standards in my opinion; but it also shows what it does to people who use a wheelchair.

The poster strikes a thought in a person's mind, "oh man I don't want to be in a wheelchair." Thus, you also think about the people who do use one and your perception of said person has now changed. You don't know who they are or what they have been through but, you know you don't want to be in a wheelchair and you assume they need help (and then you donate to United Way because it "helps" according to Barton).

Children are also one of the points I wanted to mention in that there is something creepy about using them in the first place. Like in the poster with the skinny child next to a healthy child. (176) Barton gives it clear that because you see a dependent child who is also in need, it strikes a strong pathos in you and that your perception changes. It is sickening in that sense. Fear and pity is not what that child in the poster would probably want people to think upon seeing him.

Barton's emotions that peek through the pages of this text are effective in what she is trying to say. The business factor of this charity is the downfall of their underlying goal to help people. It breached into exploitative territory and labeled an entire group of people and "erased" who they are underneath to other people. The alienation of disabled persons goes both ways; by viewing disabled persons with fear, they view you with the perception that you already pity them.