Advocating for change is exhausting, painful, and deeply personal, but it’s necessary. For far too long, little people have been seen as amusing before disabled. These “m*dget” mascots reinforce harmful stereotypes, violate disability laws, and dismiss our humanity. We’ve filed complaints, and we know we will win. But that doesn’t make the journey any less gut-wrenching. It hurts to be laughed at. It hurts to have strangers take your picture as if you’re a curiosity. It hurts to watch people sidestep the harm and deflect with 'whataboutisms' instead of addressing the truth: this mascot is a slur. It hurts to hear students parrot exclusion and bigotry, a reflection of schools that failed to teach respect and inclusion. But what cuts the deepest is silence. The 4 superintendents and school boards who’ve ignored us know better. They are educated, trained on disability rights, and understand Section 504, but they’ve chosen indifference. Their silence is the loudest rejection of all. Still, we fight. Through media intervention, FOIA requests, and persistence, we’ve forced them to engage. In January, we’ll sit down with 3 superintendents, demanding accountability and change. To every ally, every supporter who has signed, shared, and listened, thank you. Your support means more than I can ever say. It carries us through the hardest moments and reminds us why this fight matters. Together, we’ll make change happen. Learn more MascotsMatter.com
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