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"I am not a bad person!"

Disclaimer

This article is sarcasm. Although this article seems describe almost exactly how some people refuse legitimate accommodation, it is actually designed to show what not to do - barriers should be removed, not fought for. It is also part of a larger article, How to Keep Your Barriers.

Phrase Description

This can be useful as a diversion tactic. It doesn't matter that most disabled people know people who like their barriers are not evil incarnations of Satan, but normal, nice people who just happen to be making a bad decision. But instead of looking at that bad decision and the barrier it preserves, this tactic allows you to focus instead on a real or imagined personal attack.

The assumption here, that if the disabled person doesn't try to push the conversation back towards the topic of removing the barrier, is that everyone agrees barriers are a right, and access is not a right. After all, if you have to change something, you should expect something back. Never mind the fact that your barrier is the reason the change needs to take place! You like the barrier. So the disabled person owes you for removing it. You can and should expect gratitude!

Usage Example

Customer: It would be really helpful if you accepted email responses in addition to postcards. That would let people like me, who have trouble mailing things, respond. A responsible business would want to include all of its customers.
Business: Why are you telling me I am a bad person? I will not stand for your insults.

Next Phrase

"Your disability is not serious enough."