Complacency is a dangerous thing. It sneaks in when we assume progress is permanent, when we believe rights are secure, and when we ignore the steady chipping away of hard-won equity. Make no mistake, complacency is being weaponized against disenfranchised communities right now. As the landscape shifts, the need for strong voices – voices that hold the line on access and inclusion – has never been more urgent.
Let’s be real: the battle isn’t just against regression. We also need to keep an eye on meaningful progression. As we push back against policies and rhetoric that undermine fundamental rights, we also need to be carving out pathways forward. It’s not just about holding ground – it’s about gaining it.
The Dangerous Default: Questioning Ability
When a public figure openly questions whether someone with a disability can meet the requirements of their job, we’re left with two choices. We can either nod along, ignorantly agreeing that disability automatically disqualifies someone, or we can do what we should have been doing all along: evaluating people based on their skills, knowledge, and capacity to perform within the role. Every job has a set of qualifications and those qualifications should always be the focus, not the biases or assumptions about how a person might complete the work.
The reality is, passion and skill go hand in hand. We are moving toward a national workforce that values merit-based systems (in theory), so let’s actually apply that principle. That means understanding how reasonable accommodations work, how they level the playing field, and how they allow top-tier workers (regardless of disability impact) to excel in their roles. Access is not a handout. It’s a foundation for success.
The Silent Attack on Mental Health
There is an unmistakable and growing hostility toward those living with mental health conditions. Whether it’s individuals experiencing trauma, questioning their identity, or managing the long-term effects of mental illness, there is an attack happening under the guise of debate. And let’s be clear: mental illnesses can be debilitating. They fall under the same legal protections and deserve the same commitment to equity and quality of life as any other medical or disability category.
The thing is, disability is not new. It’s not a trend. It’s not a phenomenon that appeared in the past decade or two. It has existed since the dawn of time, shaping societies, driving innovation, and exposing the limits of exclusionary systems. Disability is a natural part of human existence. The more we pretend otherwise, the more we fail to invest in the very things that sustain our communities: education, healthcare, and systemic support.
Where We Go From Here
If you’re going to question a person’s ability to perform a job, then perhaps the conversation should be about the status of education and healthcare rather than exclusion. What a political platform that would be!
If you’re going to undermine mental health and disability protections, then you will need to accept growing unemployment, crime, and death rates. That would not bode well for an office looking for public support.
It’s time to disrupt complacency. The push for access, rights, and inclusion cannot be an afterthought, a nice-to-have, or a secondary concern. It must be central to every discussion about progress. The reality is, when we invest in access for those most at risk, we strengthen the foundation for everyone.
