Open letter to podcast and listeners

I feel compelled to write something after listening to the latest episode and hearing Tig describe her interactions with disabled people and their families. For context, I'm a teacher in their 30s, the younger sibling of a disabled person, and the parent of a child with Down syndrome.

I listen to the Handsome Pod for the hosts' empathetic and funny take on the world around them, so I was dismayed to hear Tig describe this boy on the plane in such a simple and unexamined way. I understand not immediately recognizing his disabilities, but to then call his excitement in watching his show "sweet" she is inadvertently dismissing the full complexities of living with a disability. She mentions how the dad didn't stop to talk with her after the flight; that's probably because his mind was on the rest of his journey with his son and the obstacles they would continue to face and overcome.

Tig also said that disabled kids seem to end up in the "right" families. Again, this is such an infuriating oversimplification. I tend to agree that well-off families with disabled children are in fact more empathetic and kind, but it is because they have a disabled child and are forced to see the world through the eyes of a marginalized, bullied, and neglected group. And, there are plenty of disabled children born into families who do not want them, are too impoverished to get services for their child, or are just plain abusive.

You might notice in the episode that Fortune doesn't really chime in during the story. I am guessing this is because she grew up living with her disabled uncles and understands the nuances, frustrations, and joys of that experience.

As a side note, Mae often says they "have a touch of the 'tism." This is so beyond offensive to people who cannot hold down jobs or live independently due to the manifestations of their autism.

Disabled folks are one of the last marginalized groups that still receive abuse from mainstream liberal culture (SNL; movies like Poor Things, Civil War, and The Sweet East for their use of the r-word). Tig, Mae, and Fortune have a huge platform and audience, and with that comes a responsibility to be mindful of the way they speak about marginalized communities.

There are so many awesome organizations that work with disabled individuals (Special Olympics, local arts day programs and group homes, Best Buddies, etc.) that the podcast could promote and work with. To anyone reading this: go volunteer and meet some people!