What's Next for #CripTheVote?

From Alice Wong, Gregg Beratan, and Andrew Pulrang

With the 2022 Midterm Elections over, and the future of Twitter in so much practical and ethical turmoil, we have decided that it's time to rethink the #CripTheVote efforts we started in early 2016.

As a reminder, here is the tweet we have used to explain #CripTheVote since about that time:

What’s #CripTheVote?

Frequently Asked Questions

http://cripthevote.blogspot.com/2018/03/frequently-asked-questions.html

Why We Use “#CripTheVote"

http://cripthevote.blogspot.com/2018/03/why-we-use-cripthevote.html

#CripTheVote Blog: http://cripthevote.blogspot.com

Organizers:

@SFdirewolf

@GreggBeratan

@AndrewPulrang

Now that we are near the end of 2022, we recognize that despite the usual political ups and downs, ongoing threats, and the current crisis with Twitter, disability and politics discourse overall is much healthier, plentiful, and diverse than it was in 2016. So we don’t feel like organized #CripTheVote chats and other activities by the three of us are as “needed” in the same way or maybe to the same degree now as they once were.

So now seems like a good time to step back a bit, take some time to reassess, and see how the goals and approaches of #CripTheVote might evolve and be carried on by others in the disabled community. We are not "ending" #CripTheVote. But we will be somewhat less involved online as individuals. Here are the things we will try to do:

• We will continue to use the #CripTheVote hashtag on Twitter, for as long as Twitter exists in more or less the same form.

• We will stop doing organized, scheduled chats or live tweeting sessions, at least until the next major election cycle starts.

• The three of us will continue to check the hashtag every day, and post and articles we think are relevant to #CripTheVote. We will also keep posting relevant articles to our Facebook page. Link: http://cripthevote.blogspot.com/

• But we won’t engage beyond that … no threads, no replies, no prompting lengthy discussions, no organized efforts around particular issues or events.

• We DO encourage everyone interested and working in the overlap between disability politics, and policy to continue using #CripTheVote to get their ideas and work seen and engaged with, for as long as they think it’s helpful. As always, that includes any individuals, organizations, journalists, politicians, and elected officials interested in disability politics and policy.

• We will explore possible Twitter alternatives, and keep everyone posted on that, but without a lot of urgency. We don't feel the need to rush to a new platform.

We think that this mostly reflects what the three of us are currently doing with #CripTheVote already … except that we haven’t previously announced or explained these things until now.

As we said, #CripTheVote isn't over. But we are taking a step back. There are so many amazing disabled activists, organizations, and allies who have made it so vibrant, influential, and fun these last few years. Everyone is welcome to continue using the hashtag as they see fit -- or not, if and when they feel it's no longer useful or relevant.

Onward to 2023! 

Alice, Gregg, and Andrew

#CripTheVote Discussion on Physician Assisted Suicide (a.k.a. “Medical Aid in Dying”) - September 11, 2022

#CripTheVote Discussion

Physician Assisted Suicide, (a.k.a. “Medical Aid In Dying”)

Guest hosts: Anita Cameron, Diane Coleman, Jules Good, Sarah Jama, and Gabrielle Peters

Sunday, September 11, 4:00 PM Eastern / 1 PM Pacific

The co-partners of #CripTheVote, Andrew Pulrang, Gregg Beratan, and Alice Wong, invite you to a Twitter discussion about Physician Assisted Suicide, also known as “Medical Aid in Dying,” with guest hosts Anita Cameron, Jules Good, and Diane Coleman of Not Dead Yet, Sarah Jama of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, and Gabrielle Peters of Disability Filibuster.

This conversation will mention structural ableism, eugenics, death and dying, suffering, and genocide and may be distressing. Feel free to take breaks from Twitter or mute the #CripTheVote hashtag during the chat.

Please note this will be a 30-minute chat with us asking a few questions to our guest hosts with time for questions and answers in the last 15 minutes. 

Background information on the topic:

https://notdeadyet.org/

 

https://www.djno.ca/

 

https://disabilityfilibuster.ca/

Unedited draft testimony to Senate on Bill C7 - Gabrielle Peters

Resources - Dignity Denied

Perhaps They Won’t Have Died in Vain: The GRIM Project - Aislinn Thomas

Bill C-7, assisted dying, and “lives not worth living” - Jonas-Sébastien Beaudry

The Right To Die Is Coercive Without Giving Support To Live - Nora Loreto

 

How to Participate

Follow @GreggBeratan @AndrewPulrang and our guests @adaptanita, @ndycoleman, @JulesGood1009, @SarahJama_, and @mssinenomine. When it’s time for the chat, search #CripTheVote on Twitter for the series of live tweets under the ‘Latest’ tab for the full conversation. 

 

If you don’t use Twitter, you can follow along in real time here: http://twubs.com/CripTheVote

 

Another way to participate in the chat is to use this app that allows you to pause the chat if the Tweets are coming at you too fast: http://www.tchat.io/

 

Here is a link for people who are new to Twitter on starting an account and how to use it: https://help.twitter.com/en/new-user-faq

 

Here’s an article about how to participate in a Twitter chat: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat/546805/

 

Check out this captioned ASL explanation of how to participate in a chat by @behearddc — https://www.facebook.com/HEARDDC/videos/1181213075257528/

Introductory Tweets and Chat Questions

 

Welcome to the #CripTheVote Twitter chat on Medical Aid in Dying and Physician Assisted Suicide. Remember to use the #CripTheVote hashtag when you tweet. If you respond to a question such as Q1, your tweet should follow this format: “A1 [your message] #CripTheVote”

Please note this will be a 30-minute chat with us asking a few questions to our guest hosts @adaptanita, @ndycoleman, @JulesGood1009, @SarahJama_ & @mssinenomine with time for Q&A in the last 15 minutes. #CripTheVote

 

Content warning: This conversation will mention structural ableism, eugenics, death & dying, suffering, & genocide and may be distressing to many. Feel free to take breaks from Twitter or mute the #CripTheVote hashtag during the chat.

 

Q1 @adaptanita, @ndycoleman, @JulesGood1009, @SarahJama_ & @mssinenomine: please introduce yourselves and tell us how you became involved organizing w/ disabled people against Medical Aid in Dying in Canada or Physician Assisted Suicide in the US. #CripTheVote

 

Q2a @SarahJama_ & @mssinenomine: what should people know about #BillC7 which passed last year, the work of @DisabilityFili1, and the implications for disabled people in Canada & beyond? Where can people go to learn more & support? #CripTheVote 

 

Q2b @adaptanita, @ndycoleman, @JulesGood1009: what do you want to share about @NotDeadYetUSA and the recent efforts legalizing physician assisted suicide in various states in the US? What other countries are facing a similar fight?  #CripTheVote

 

Q3 What are some strategies in mobilizing opposition to Medical Aid in Dying & Physician Assisted Suicide? How can we collectively push back against institutions, systems, & cultures that want us dead? #CripTheVote

 

Q4 What are the main responses disabled people can give to those who claim Medical Aid in Dying or Physician Assisted Suicide laws are merely intended to give terminally ill personal choice and autonomy? #CripTheVote

 

Q5 Assisted suicide and euthanasia laws are often viewed as a progressive social cause, a civil right, while you call it discrimination. How do you explain that? #CripTheVote

 

And now we’ll leave it open to the #CripTheVote community to ask some questions to

@adaptanita, @ndycoleman, @JulesGood1009, @SarahJama_, and @mssinenomine. Don’t forget to tag the people you want to reach and use the hashtag!

 

Thank you for joining our mini #CripTheVote Twitter chat on Medical Aid in Dying & Physician Assisted Suicide. Many thanks to our guest hosts @adaptanita, @ndycoleman, @SarahJama_, & @mssinenomine! A recap will be posted on our blog shortly http://cripthevote.blogspot.com/

March 6, 2022 - #CripTheVote Chat on the Homecare Workforce Crisis

3/6/22 #CripTheVote Chat on the Homecare Workforce Crisis

 #CripTheVote Twitter Chat

Homecare Workforce Crisis

Sunday, March 6, 2022

7-8 PM Eastern, 4 PM Pacific

Guest hosts: @aijenpoo & @Spirit_SCI

The co-partners of #CripTheVote, Andrew Pulrang, Gregg Beratan, and Alice Wong, invite you to a Twitter chat on the Home Care Workforce Crisis with guest hosts Ai-jen Poo and José Hernandez.

Ai-jen Poo is an award-winning organizer, author, and a leading voice in the women’s movement. She is the Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Director of Caring Across Generations, Co-Founder of SuperMajority, Co-Host of Sunstorm podcast and a Trustee of the Ford Foundation.

José Hernandez is an Organizer for @CDPAANYS. He experienced a spinal cord injury at age 15, 27 years ago. He became passionate about advocacy after attending an event in DC. He is part of NYC's Civic Engagement Commission appointed by Mayor de Blasio. He is also the President of @NYCSpinal 

How to Participate

Follow @GreggBeratan @AndrewPulrang and @DisVisibility as well as our guest hosts @aijenpoo & @Spirit_SCI. When it’s time for the chat, search #CripTheVote on Twitter for the series of live tweets under the ‘Latest’ tab for the full conversation.

If you don’t use Twitter, you can follow along in real time here: http://twubs.com/CripTheVote

If you might be overwhelmed by the amount of tweets and only want to see the chat’s questions so you can respond to them, check @DisVisibility’s account. The questions will be Tweeted approximately 5-6 minutes apart.

Another way to participate in the chat is to use this app that allows you to pause the chat if the Tweets are coming at you too fast: http://www.tchat.io/

Here is a link for people who are new to Twitter on starting an account and how to use it: https://help.twitter.com/en/new-user-faq

Here’s an article about how to participate in a Twitter chat: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat/546805/

Check out this captioned ASL explanation of how to participate in a chat by @behearddc https://www.facebook.com/HEARDDC/videos/1181213075257528/

Introductory Tweets and Chat Questions

Welcome to the #CripTheVote chat on the home care workforce crisis. Remember to use the #CripTheVote hashtag when you tweet. If you respond to a question such as Q1, your tweet should follow this format: “A1 [your message] #CripTheVote

Q1. Before we get started, feel free to introduce yourself. If you are comfortable, please share how you are doing as we enter year three of the pandemic? What brings you joy in these times? #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

Q2. In a pandemic in which the importance of being able to stay in your home has never been more obvious, it has never been harder to recruit and retain home care workers. How difficult is it to find and keep home care workers in your area? #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

Q3. What are some of the causes of this workforce crisis? #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

Q4. Do we value home care workers enough? If not, why? How can the Disability Community be in Solidarity with home care workers? #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

Q5.  What are the political, institutional, and historical factors that have shaped this crisis? In what ways has racism, xenophobia, classism, and sexism contributed to the crisis? And how can they be addressed? #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

Q6. What policy solutions might be used to address the home care workforce crisis? Aside from a living wage, what else is needed to end this crisis? #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

Q7. What are the points of conflict and potential opportunities to organize and mobilize the disability community, unions, community organizers, and government in solving this crisis?" #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

Q8. What does the future of home care look like if providers and home care users truly have the support and infrastructure they need? #CripTheVote #CareCantWait

This concludes our #CripTheVote Chat on the home care workforce crisis thank you all for joining us. Please keep the conversation going. A recap of this chat will be up shortly. For more: http://cripthevote.blogspot.com/

Please check our blog, the hashtag or our facebook page as we will be announcing chats for June and July in the coming weeks. #CripTheVote

January 16, 2022 #CripTheVote Chat on Pandemic Policy

1/16/22 #CripTheVote Twitter chat on pandemic policy

 

#CripTheVote Chat

Pandemic Policy

Sunday, January 16, 2022

7:00 - 7:30 PM Eastern

The co-partners of #CripTheVote, Andrew Pulrang, Gregg Beratan, and Alice Wong, invite you to a 30-minute Twitter chat about pandemic-related policies. As the United States reaches the 2-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic with increasing infection rates, multiple variants, and overextended healthcare systems, this is a chance to hold space together and mobilize. 

 

How to Participate

 

Follow @GreggBeratan @AndrewPulrang @DisVisibility. When it’s time for the chat, search #CripTheVote on Twitter for the series of live tweets under the ‘Latest’ tab for the full conversation. 

 

If you don’t use Twitter, you can follow along in real time here: http://twubs.com/CripTheVote

 

If you might be overwhelmed by the amount of tweets and only want to see the chat’s questions so you can respond to them, check @DisVisibility’s account. The questions will be Tweeted approximately 4-5 minutes apart. 

 

Another way to participate in the chat is to use this app that allows you to pause the chat if the Tweets are coming at you too fast: http://www.tchat.io/

 

Here is a link for people who are new to Twitter on starting an account and how to use it: https://help.twitter.com/en/new-user-faq

 

Here’s an article about how to participate in a Twitter chat: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/how-to-participate-in-a-twitter-chat/546805/

 

Check out this captioned ASL explanation of how to participate in a chat by @behearddc https://www.facebook.com/HEARDDC/videos/1181213075257528/

 

Links to background information

 

Disabled Americans Feel Abandoned by CDC. Now, CDC Is Desperate to Make Amends, Rolling Stone, January 11, 2022.

‘Abhorent’: Disability Advocates Slam CDC Director for Comments on ‘Encouraging’ Covid Deaths, Rolling Stone, January 10, 2022.

 

U.S. hospitalizations surpass last winter’s peak, The New York Times, January 10, 2022.

 

How to get insurance to pay for at-home COVID tests, according to the White House, NPR, January 10, 2022.

Update …

On Friday, January 14, representatives from 9 disability organizations met with Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, to discuss how the CDC’s messaging and policy on the pandemic and people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. 

Meeting recap from the American Association of People with Disabilities, January 14, 2022.

Chat Questions

Welcome to the #CripTheVote chat pandemic policy. Remember to use the #CripTheVote hashtag when you tweet and any others you'd like to add. If you respond to a question such as Q1, your tweet should follow this format: “A1 [your message] #CripTheVote”

Q1: Here we are, at the start of 2022. Before we get started, feel free to introduce yourself. If you are comfortable, please share how you are doing now and what 2020-21 has been like for you. What brings you joy in these times? #CripTheVote #HighRiskCOVID19 #NoBodyIsDisposable

Q2: There’s a lot to discuss about pandemic policies. Let’s start local. What is happening in your city or region that concerns you as a disabled person, especially if you are high-risk and/or immunocompromised? #CripTheVote #HighRiskCOVID19 #NoBodyIsDisposable

Q3: What are some immediate and long-term policy changes you want to see from the Biden administration and/or state govts (ex: messaging, mask mandates, testing, vaccines, quarantine, treatments, paid leave, free tests & masks)? #CripTheVote #HighRiskCOVID19 #NoBodyIsDisposable

Q4: What other specific changes in pandemic policy need to take place to protect people of all ages (ex: education, healthcare, employment, public spaces, transportation)? #CripTheVote #HighRiskCOVID19 #NoBodyIsDisposable

Q5: How do we hold institutions & public servants accountable? What strategies and approaches would be effective in reasserting the disability community’s priorities? Aside from voting, how do you make your views known? #CripTheVote #HighRiskCOVID19 #NoBodyIsDisposable

This concludes our #CripTheVote chat on pandemic policy.Please keep the conversation going. A recap of this chat will be up shortly. For more: http://cripthevote.blogspot.com/ #HighRiskCOVID19 #NoBodyIsDisposable