I helped start a petition yesterday with Mencap, calls OkCupid Dating - excuse site and end with a question that asks as part of its sele...
I helped start a petition yesterday with Mencap, calls OkCupid Dating - excuse site and end with a question that asks as part of its selection process, what people like me is offensive that have a learning disability. asked people who sign up for OkCupid, "the world would be better if people with low IQs are not allowed to breed?"
Similarly: OkCupid by Charity - survey on dating "shocking and offensive"
to have a learning disability, I have experienced my fair share of negative attitudes. I was diagnosed with a learning disability when he was 10, and since then the setting has always "can not do", "No", "never." For me the question of OkCupid seems my ability to doubt, the kind of life to live, they dream. One day you may want to have children, but only because he has a learning disability my right to do what is questioned.
OkCupid answered our objections by saying that the issue people kill other people to help, who may have different opinions. But that's the point is missing.
For many, a learning disability, which mean a lifetime of inequality. People with a learning disability can hundreds of miles from their families still locked in similar facilities in buildings; only 6% used; and 1,200 die each year avoidable NHS - so it is clear that we face challenges almost every phase of our lives.
But most of these challenges come negative attitude that many people have learning difficulties. Therefore, issues such as OkCupid to be so dangerous.
This does not mean that things do not improve. Throughout my life I have seen many improved attitudes. There are not so long that many people with learning disabilities were shut away from society and from the eyes, but now I'm getting married in a position and work and have a job. I think these improvements are based on the public attitude. However, when I still sometimes I hear television or movies people the R-word and show a negative attitude towards people with a learning disability with not think it's so far tolerated if they were race or sexuality.
OkCupid problem scared me that if settings have improved, we could go back.
I'm not saying that dating sites should not try to ask questions that help people make decisions about the type of person who get by on. I think the dating sites there must be very careful. Campaign Mencap I show that people can do with a learning disability, not what they can not. For many people, the idea that I have never crossed their minds a marriage. It's like getting married and have a family is not something to have, the people with a learning disability to should ensure.
However, I am one of the lucky ones. I work in Mencap, a charity that people with a learning disability and gave me the support that I sometimes have to be independent and meet some of my dreams supported.
This support was all it took. I think that's what OkCupid ignored the question. I know that people with a learning disability, children and families who have a wonderful and had raised adequate support along the way. They are amazing parents and a source of inspiration for people like me. For some people with a learning disability, a parent can not be possible, but to have the right support, if necessary.
It is rare that people are given with a learning disability a voice in the media, and if we do that, usually associated with negative stories of abuse scandals. For this reason, I would like to take this opportunity to show that people with a learning disability is able to do this, we must continue the same hopes, dreams and desires, like everyone else, and the campaign for this negative attitude disappear.
I hope that the petition changed the attitude of some people and I hope to try OkCupid to understand why this question so offensive to the 1.4 million people with disabilities could learn in the UK.
