It’s also very worth noting that disabled people (many also Jewish, of course) were the first group systematically exterminated en masse by the Nazis. Disabled people were legally required to be sterilized starting already in 1933 when the Nazis came into power, and mass euthanasia started in 1939 (called Aktion T4). Mass killings of other victims in concentration camps began in 1941.
The people who were considered disabled was subject to interpretation. Alcoholism, epilepsy, paralysis, blindness, and “work shyness” were all conditions considered unworthy of life.
Autistic people, then believed to have a form of schizophrenia, were also a main target. In fact, the term Asperger’s syndrome was coined by Hans Asperger as a means of determining which autistics were bound for work camps versus death camps. This is part of the reason why Asperger’s is no longer considered its own syndrome but is considered part of the larger autism spectrum. The delineations between the former autistic subtypes were too vague and subjective to be accurate.
Unfortunately, disabled victims of the Holocaust receive little recognition to this day, but it’s not surprising when disabled people still have reduced status under the law in most countries.
Few countries offer enough welfare benefits to ensure a decent standard of living. Even then, you lose access to those benefits if you manage to build assets worth more than a few thousand dollars/euros. We cannot get married without reduced benefits in many countries. Few countries have sufficient accessibility laws. Things like obtaining a driver’s licence can cost much more with certain disabilities. Many countries prohibit immigration with certain disabilities.
Disabled activists have been sounding the alarm on all this for decades, because we are historically first on the chopping block when shit gets real. Keep that in mind when RFK Jr. starts talking about an autism registry or work camps for psychiatric patients.
It’s also very worth noting that disabled people (many also Jewish, of course) were the first group systematically exterminated en masse by the Nazis. Disabled people were legally required to be sterilized starting already in 1933 when the Nazis came into power, and mass euthanasia started in 1939 (called Aktion T4). Mass killings of other victims in concentration camps began in 1941.
The people who were considered disabled was subject to interpretation. Alcoholism, epilepsy, paralysis, blindness, and “work shyness” were all conditions considered unworthy of life.
Autistic people, then believed to have a form of schizophrenia, were also a main target. In fact, the term Asperger’s syndrome was coined by Hans Asperger as a means of determining which autistics were bound for work camps versus death camps. This is part of the reason why Asperger’s is no longer considered its own syndrome but is considered part of the larger autism spectrum. The delineations between the former autistic subtypes were too vague and subjective to be accurate.
Unfortunately, disabled victims of the Holocaust receive little recognition to this day, but it’s not surprising when disabled people still have reduced status under the law in most countries.
Few countries offer enough welfare benefits to ensure a decent standard of living. Even then, you lose access to those benefits if you manage to build assets worth more than a few thousand dollars/euros. We cannot get married without reduced benefits in many countries. Few countries have sufficient accessibility laws. Things like obtaining a driver’s licence can cost much more with certain disabilities. Many countries prohibit immigration with certain disabilities.
Disabled activists have been sounding the alarm on all this for decades, because we are historically first on the chopping block when shit gets real. Keep that in mind when RFK Jr. starts talking about an autism registry or work camps for psychiatric patients.
The irony is that one of the few things the USA does better than other countries is disability accommodation. (At least for now.)