Helen Rottier
@helenrottier.bsky.social
PhD in Disability Studies. Disabled Dis-Epistemologies and Knowledge Production. Opinions are my own. she/her
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Everytime I advertise a product being accessible to disabled people. I lose sales because able-bodied people feel like it isn't for them as well.
My products are for anyone that likes or wants them. You don't need to view yourself as disabled to want them too.
My products are for anyone that likes or wants them. You don't need to view yourself as disabled to want them too.
December 4, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Everytime I advertise a product being accessible to disabled people. I lose sales because able-bodied people feel like it isn't for them as well.
My products are for anyone that likes or wants them. You don't need to view yourself as disabled to want them too.
My products are for anyone that likes or wants them. You don't need to view yourself as disabled to want them too.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Autistic people with complex support needs are rarely included in research
This needs to change, but not without a clear-eyed look at the challenges of work in the service contexts where so many of these folks are supported.
Read our editorial to find out more.
This needs to change, but not without a clear-eyed look at the challenges of work in the service contexts where so many of these folks are supported.
Read our editorial to find out more.
📃New paper alert!📃
Editorial with @suereviews.bsky.social and @sarah595.bsky.social on doing research in high support needs autism services. We cover practical challenges, ethics, consent/assent issues, safeguarding, and the emotional burdens of research.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Editorial with @suereviews.bsky.social and @sarah595.bsky.social on doing research in high support needs autism services. We cover practical challenges, ethics, consent/assent issues, safeguarding, and the emotional burdens of research.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Autistic people with complex support needs are rarely included in research
This needs to change, but not without a clear-eyed look at the challenges of work in the service contexts where so many of these folks are supported.
Read our editorial to find out more.
This needs to change, but not without a clear-eyed look at the challenges of work in the service contexts where so many of these folks are supported.
Read our editorial to find out more.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
1. Historically, eugenics was not a pseudoscience. It was *science* Almost every scientist, social scientist, academic, etc. believed in the validity of eugenics. You would have to search far & wide to find a scientist that didn't believe in some form of it. They taught it in college!
December 4, 2025 at 12:44 PM
1. Historically, eugenics was not a pseudoscience. It was *science* Almost every scientist, social scientist, academic, etc. believed in the validity of eugenics. You would have to search far & wide to find a scientist that didn't believe in some form of it. They taught it in college!
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Imma send this to my therapist instead of trying to explain why reviewing and teaching aren't really part of my measures of "productivity" across the field
Academia has this way of making you feel utterly unsuccessful even when by any reasonable standard you are doing just fine.
December 4, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Imma send this to my therapist instead of trying to explain why reviewing and teaching aren't really part of my measures of "productivity" across the field
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Academia has this way of making you feel utterly unsuccessful even when by any reasonable standard you are doing just fine.
December 4, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Academia has this way of making you feel utterly unsuccessful even when by any reasonable standard you are doing just fine.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
I was right he did need a top hat.
December 4, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I was right he did need a top hat.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
And that's what makes the anti-trans sports stuff so clearly bullshit. Everyone on the "actually, there are some valid concerns!" side of things is cheering on this 61-year-old lady no longer getting to hag out with her friends and play tennis.
December 4, 2025 at 12:54 AM
And that's what makes the anti-trans sports stuff so clearly bullshit. Everyone on the "actually, there are some valid concerns!" side of things is cheering on this 61-year-old lady no longer getting to hag out with her friends and play tennis.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Religion note: Remember that pastor who was arrested protesting an ICE detention facility outside Chicago recently? The one who was photographed on the ground as officers arrested him?
That's Rev. Michael Woolf, and this is his church.
That's Rev. Michael Woolf, and this is his church.
December 4, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Religion note: Remember that pastor who was arrested protesting an ICE detention facility outside Chicago recently? The one who was photographed on the ground as officers arrested him?
That's Rev. Michael Woolf, and this is his church.
That's Rev. Michael Woolf, and this is his church.
On a cold December night, nothing beats leftover pie and Badger Basketball by the light of the Christmas tree. On Wisconsin! ❤️ 🏀 🎄
December 4, 2025 at 2:24 AM
On a cold December night, nothing beats leftover pie and Badger Basketball by the light of the Christmas tree. On Wisconsin! ❤️ 🏀 🎄
When I disclose my disability, the *best case scenario* I hope for is indifference, specifically that I won’t be 1. othered and ostracized for being “too disabled” or 2. accused of faking or being “not that disabled.” What a double bind!
i've been kinda reticent on this latest round of "FaKeRs!1!!11 seeking college accommodations" bc it gets us nowhere. that said, every time it comes up, i remember how disability services at my undergrad asked me repeatedly if i was 'sure this [college] was the place for me' when i sought accoms.
December 4, 2025 at 12:24 AM
When I disclose my disability, the *best case scenario* I hope for is indifference, specifically that I won’t be 1. othered and ostracized for being “too disabled” or 2. accused of faking or being “not that disabled.” What a double bind!
Reposted by Helen Rottier
if someone really thinks faking a disability and subjecting themself to this process will give them an advantage....well, i invite them to try it and see how it works out. this is literally a moot point. they'll be disappointed.
December 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM
if someone really thinks faking a disability and subjecting themself to this process will give them an advantage....well, i invite them to try it and see how it works out. this is literally a moot point. they'll be disappointed.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
the sheer absurdity of unnecessarily seeking out accommodations leaves me speechless every time. i know few people who haven't been brought to tears by disability 'services' willful incompetence & blatant malice. many of us avoid them for precisely this reason, even when we could really use support!
December 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM
the sheer absurdity of unnecessarily seeking out accommodations leaves me speechless every time. i know few people who haven't been brought to tears by disability 'services' willful incompetence & blatant malice. many of us avoid them for precisely this reason, even when we could really use support!
Reposted by Helen Rottier
we'd painstakingly put together my paperwork proving a life of psychiatric 'care', institutionalization, etc. this was nominally supposed to get me...support? compassion? it got me pity & resentment & condesension.
well, i went ahead and graduated w/ honors and got a phd. but who cares about that!
well, i went ahead and graduated w/ honors and got a phd. but who cares about that!
December 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM
we'd painstakingly put together my paperwork proving a life of psychiatric 'care', institutionalization, etc. this was nominally supposed to get me...support? compassion? it got me pity & resentment & condesension.
well, i went ahead and graduated w/ honors and got a phd. but who cares about that!
well, i went ahead and graduated w/ honors and got a phd. but who cares about that!
Reposted by Helen Rottier
i've been kinda reticent on this latest round of "FaKeRs!1!!11 seeking college accommodations" bc it gets us nowhere. that said, every time it comes up, i remember how disability services at my undergrad asked me repeatedly if i was 'sure this [college] was the place for me' when i sought accoms.
December 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM
i've been kinda reticent on this latest round of "FaKeRs!1!!11 seeking college accommodations" bc it gets us nowhere. that said, every time it comes up, i remember how disability services at my undergrad asked me repeatedly if i was 'sure this [college] was the place for me' when i sought accoms.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
it's important to recognize that this systemic devaluation & dismissal of qualified, capable disabled students is by design. many fall victim to it after a lifetime of similar devaluations & dismissals.
this mechanism weeds out future disabled scholars & continues cycles of academic ableism.
this mechanism weeds out future disabled scholars & continues cycles of academic ableism.
we'd painstakingly put together my paperwork proving a life of psychiatric 'care', institutionalization, etc. this was nominally supposed to get me...support? compassion? it got me pity & resentment & condesension.
well, i went ahead and graduated w/ honors and got a phd. but who cares about that!
well, i went ahead and graduated w/ honors and got a phd. but who cares about that!
December 4, 2025 at 12:03 AM
it's important to recognize that this systemic devaluation & dismissal of qualified, capable disabled students is by design. many fall victim to it after a lifetime of similar devaluations & dismissals.
this mechanism weeds out future disabled scholars & continues cycles of academic ableism.
this mechanism weeds out future disabled scholars & continues cycles of academic ableism.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Disabled isn't a dirty word, and it's fine to work through internalized ableism if you were raised thinking so. We live in an ableist world.
December 4, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Disabled isn't a dirty word, and it's fine to work through internalized ableism if you were raised thinking so. We live in an ableist world.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Embracing a label of "disabled" made me more confident in asking for accommodations. I can't get through a full work day in person without suffering in pain.
If you're a chronically ill person, I welcome you to join this identity.
If you're a chronically ill person, I welcome you to join this identity.
December 4, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Embracing a label of "disabled" made me more confident in asking for accommodations. I can't get through a full work day in person without suffering in pain.
If you're a chronically ill person, I welcome you to join this identity.
If you're a chronically ill person, I welcome you to join this identity.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities! As a person with visible and invisible disabilities, I always show up as my authentic self no matter what. So happy to be a disability rising fellow for @disabilitylab.bsky.social !
I hope my existence alone is a reminder that we belong here.
I hope my existence alone is a reminder that we belong here.
December 3, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities! As a person with visible and invisible disabilities, I always show up as my authentic self no matter what. So happy to be a disability rising fellow for @disabilitylab.bsky.social !
I hope my existence alone is a reminder that we belong here.
I hope my existence alone is a reminder that we belong here.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
They do it’s called UHC Summary of Benefits 2025
December 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
They do it’s called UHC Summary of Benefits 2025
Reposted by Helen Rottier
...I think they do this when you're about to die?
December 3, 2025 at 10:49 PM
...I think they do this when you're about to die?
Reposted by Helen Rottier
They should do MyChart Wrapped
December 3, 2025 at 10:13 PM
They should do MyChart Wrapped
Reposted by Helen Rottier
I read this thinking I would be too enraged to make it past the first few paragraphs but tell me if you see what I see when you read those quotes from people he spoke to.
He includes them as evidence of support but I think they're disagreeing with his premise.
He includes them as evidence of support but I think they're disagreeing with his premise.
December 3, 2025 at 4:07 AM
I read this thinking I would be too enraged to make it past the first few paragraphs but tell me if you see what I see when you read those quotes from people he spoke to.
He includes them as evidence of support but I think they're disagreeing with his premise.
He includes them as evidence of support but I think they're disagreeing with his premise.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Receipts! Are Colleges Getting Disability Accommodations All Wrong? share.google/WJbQ5FeVPRf5...
Are Colleges Getting Disability Accommodations All Wrong?
Higher ed’s maximally inclusive approach hurts those it attempts to help.
share.google
December 3, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Receipts! Are Colleges Getting Disability Accommodations All Wrong? share.google/WJbQ5FeVPRf5...
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Reminded of that guy who wrote an exposé about students claiming they had ADHD and getting extra time in tests when "maybe they didn't all need it" and the article was just every professional he spoke to desperately trying to explain to him that this was fine actually and the best they could do.
We need to be able to see that the line "accommodations have gone too far" is an expression of the ableist notion that disabled students do not belong in higher ed. Its fundamentally an anxiety about the fact that disabled students get an "advantage" over abled students.
December 3, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Reminded of that guy who wrote an exposé about students claiming they had ADHD and getting extra time in tests when "maybe they didn't all need it" and the article was just every professional he spoke to desperately trying to explain to him that this was fine actually and the best they could do.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
So here’s the thing: I, a certified Disabled™️ Person, do not actually care if anyone fakes for an extra 20 minutes on the test. I care deeply about how the fear of that very thing puts up flaming hoops disabled people have to jump through.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.
Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.
December 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
So here’s the thing: I, a certified Disabled™️ Person, do not actually care if anyone fakes for an extra 20 minutes on the test. I care deeply about how the fear of that very thing puts up flaming hoops disabled people have to jump through.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.
Maybe listen to disabled folk on this one.