ableism

illustration of someone standing on a grassy mountain-top
4 min 0 4801

Why I no longer call myself a “peakbagger”

Peak Web March 27, 2023

Content warning: brief mention of ableism. I’ve been fascinated with mountains ever since I can recall setting my eyes on one. There’s something so bold about local peaks that I’ve never been able to fully capture in words. In my teenage years, I realized people actually hike up these seemingly unreachable summits. When I began doing so myself, I was hooked.  BC is home to a sizable population of outdoor enthusiasts. Within this group, there’s a smaller, yet considerable, community of people who call themselves “peakbaggers.” A peakbagger is someone who hikes and climbs with the goal of reaching summits.…

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close up view of a pumpkin on a fence
5 min 0 2301

Horror should be scary, not discriminatory

Peak Web October 31, 2022

Content warning: mentions of violence, anti-Black racism, and ableism  People like horror for different reasons. Some enjoy the genre’s focus on dark topics and pressing social issues, while others watch for creative villains that push expectations. Whatever your reasoning is…

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A woman holding out her hand with three circular pills in it.
7 min 0 7799

The future of MAiD has the disability community worried

Peak Web May 24, 2022

Content warning: discussions of medical assistance in dying (MAiD), suicidality, ableism, eugenics, anti-Indigenous racism, and self-harm As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, disabled people are not only experiencing an increased prevalence in ableism, but are also facing the increasing threat of…

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4 min 1 8024

Cringe culture needs to die

Peak Web August 2, 2021

The act of “cringing” at someone for their actions, appearance, or behaviour is just bullying for miserable adults. Cringe culture is a harmful, low-brow form of “humour” exacerbated by the internet and its users hiding behind screens. It involves harassing…

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4 min 1 2095

Re-evaluating our word choices is important in establishing accessible spaces

Peak Web June 2, 2021

Content warning: mention of ableist slurs and aggression  When I was in elementary school, the “r-word” was just beginning to be recognized by the general public as a slur. While originally introduced as a medical term in 1961 for people…

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4 min 0 2090

Broadway has an inclusivity problem

Peak Web May 26, 2021

Broadway’s reckoning has finally come.  Over a year after all shows shut down to curb COVID-19’s spread, Broadway aims to return in September 2021. However, individuals within and around the industry aren’t happy about this return — primarily because of…

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3 min 0 5307

Mental health advocacy doesn’t equal visibility for everyone

Peak Web May 26, 2021

Mental health awareness is vital to mitigating stigma around mental illnesses and improving access to health care, but awareness gestures often leave people out of the conversation. General mental health advocacy leaves out the most marginalized voices and their lived…

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3 min 0 1843

Disability Day of Mourning remembers those killed by their family and caretakers

Peak Web March 13, 2021

Content warning: discussion of ableism and violence against those with disabilities.  Autistics United Canada and disabled community members hosted the Disability Day of Mourning last week to commemorate disabled lives lost at the hands of caretakers and family members. The…

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4 min 1 2202

Universal accessibility doesn’t just benefit those labelled as disabled

Peak Web November 23, 2020

Predating my disabilities, I still faced a multitude of inaccessible infrastructure and practices. Whether it’s having to go through a maze to reach the nearest elevator or not being provided the option of closed captioning for videos, I found inaccessibility…

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3 min 0 1423

Multitasking helps students tune in, not out

Peak Web November 16, 2020

Before the pandemic forced us all to watch our professors struggle with technical difficulties through a screen, we were doing so in-person. Even then, I was one of those students who looked like they were never paying attention. I would…

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