The disability community talks frequently about how representation matters, and it does, especially in Congress where that representation can lead to better lives for disabled people. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is a perfect example of the positive representation we need more of, routinely uplifting our community and showing what is possible through advocacy.
The flip side is recently unseated Representative Madison Cawthorn (NC 11) who is the worst thing to happen to disability representation since the rise of toxic positivity. Not only did his openly ableist views harm the disability rights movement, he actively found ways to misrepresent what it looks like to move through the world as a disabled person.
When we say representation matters, it does. Madison Cawthorn's re-election loss however is a positive step forward for disability rights.
Finally, congratulations to my friend Kristen Parisi whose reporting on Representative Cawthorn was recently featured on Jon Oliver's Last Week Tonight on HBO Max.
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