Wikipedia talk:Wikipedia Signpost/2015-07-01/WikiProject report

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I just want to respond to the passing mention of Stella Young, who died suddenly late last year. She was a friend of Wikipedia, who spoke with us while we were working on the Paralympic articles during the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. Hawkeye7 (talk) 21:56, 3 July 2015 (UTC)

Note: Stella Young was mentioned in the pre-publication discussion, not in the interview itself. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 06:29, 7 July 2015 (UTC)

Thanks for the opportunity to introduce this small WikiProject to a wider audience. I hope new contributors will join as a result. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 06:29, 7 July 2015 (UTC)

• I would like to comment on the assertion that disability "never really affects 90% of the world's people." Statistics from U.S. Social Security Administration show that, in the U.S. approximately 25% of people will become disabled either physically or mentally before reaching retirement age. I'm sure that figure is higher in some parts of the world, and while there may be parts of the world where the figure is lower, I'm sure that no where is it less than 10%. Moreover, many of the 75% of people who do not become disabled prior to reaching retirement age are greatly affected by the disabilities of their immediate family members. Asserting that disability "never really affects 90% of the world's people" allows non-disabled people to think that the problem doesn't and won't affect them, that "the disabled" are somehow other, and that efforts are wasted which impact only 10% of the population. Moreover, I would venture to say that, although only 25% become disabled prior to retirement, if you include those whose disability begins after retirement the percentage of persons who face a disability at some point in their lives is much, much higher. Disability should be framed as what it is - something that, in some form and to varying degrees, will affect most people at some point in their lives. ~ ONUnicorn^{(Talk|Contribs)}problem solving 19:29, 9 July 2015 (UTC)
  • I agree, "never really affects 90% of the world's people" is a nonsensical statement to make. Do you use ramps and elevators when you're wheeling a suitcase or stroller around an airport? How about those closed captions when you're watching TV in a noisy bar? Or that temporary parking permit when you broke your leg? Everyone is affected by the history, experience, and activism of people with disabilities.Penny Richards (talk) 15:24, 15 July 2015 (UTC)