Many a time we hear the reference to sexism, agism and racism flung around in daily conversation. Instantly we are aware of the connotations attached to such words and the potential severity that they translate. But what if abilism was added to the mix? Would it be taken seriously and how would we respond to it? #abilism is part of a campaign to encourage equality for those with disabilities. This may sound obvious enough, but why has it taken society so long to appreciate the levels of discrimination that exist towards individuals in the workplace, on social media and within their daily lives. Many people worldwide are supporting #abilism on Twitter to raise awareness for the cause. It is being used in place of ‘disability discrimination and prejudice’. The founder created the new UK Twitter account @EverydayAbilism after being inspired by the successes of @EverydaySexism
It seems the new way to raise awareness and funds for charities is by targeting social media. Facebook and Twitter have provided the international platform to encourage its users to think about these pressing issues. Think back to ‘No make-up selfies’, ‘ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’; these were spamming our timelines for a number of weeks, but look at the impact. Consider the overwhelming support for Stephen Sutton and his Justgiving page; in his lifetime he managed to raise £4.96 million and the funding still continues.
Social media is very much at the centre of our lives so if you are thinking of raising money for a cause, completing anything from a sponsored run, bake sale, or shaving off your hair (?) all in the name of charity, then think about maximising this modern phenomenon. You could create your very own JustGiving page, online blog, Twitter account, Facebook page – there are so many opportunities. We should be inspired by the power of social media and utilise all its benefits.
Visit http://www.justgiving.com/ as a starting point to raising money and making a difference.