Journal of Other Forum Analysis (Volume II, Issue 2)

[HaughtyFrank]

But the things I'm thinking of beyond decolonization are just ways we rethink what is important in society, what is good for society, and healthy ways we can achieve these goals. There's this thread from an Ojibwe tribe member about how their culture interacts with disability, for example. For one, there is no word in the Anishinaabemowin language for "disabled" because there is no need to make the differentiation, because anyone regardless of physical ability can meet the social obligations that the Ojibwe people find important in their community, things such as making sure your local neighbors have what they need and are okay, being available to help for familial and communal events and duties, etc. Capitalist society has to make the distinction because we fundamentally do not place importance on the very existence of disabled people, because they are considered less capable workers than abled people. Capitalism merely accomodates them to various degrees after the fact of building hostile infrastructure and practices, but the fundamental issues remain.

First off, this feels like something worth fact checking, but secondly, if you don't have a word for "disabled" it would also mean you don't have a concept of "accessibility". I wouldn't be surprised at all if the level communal participation of disabled people in that tribe would be considered completely unacceptable when you apply it to a first world country.