Dinosaur Train, the happy educational cartoon about preschool dinosaurs made in 2009, sometimes manages more mental clarity than the politicians of today. During one of their famous train rides, the main cast of Dinosaur Train incorporate respect, and acknowledge Dennis Deinocheirus, a dinosaur with autism. Parents teach their children respect, and everyone makes friends in the end. It’s not a sight you’ll see so readily today.
The DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiative strives to promote equal opportunity by recruiting and supporting workers in various backgrounds. Some examples of DEI in day to day life are: wheelchair ramps. Changing tables. Family restrooms. Some examples of DEI can also be hiring on the basis of race. On sexuality. On culture. DEI is an extremely multifaceted initiative transformed into a buzzword people like to throw around when touting the idea of a merit-based society. And while a merit-based society does have its…merits, the way DEI is being handled in the media and by politicians is more harmful than constructive. In fact, on February 1st and since then, Donald Trump has made a series of claims around the nature of the DEI process and how it extends to those with intellectual and physical disabilities.
These claims follow the devastating plane crash in DC at the end of January, killing everyone in the incident and baffling the nation. There have been many theories and problems associated with the crash, but there hasn’t been a clear answer presented to the public. That makes it even more disheartening to hear it being brought back to the war on DEI, specifically on the E part of that acronym. While bodies were still being recovered, President Donald Trump hosted a press conference where he stated, “The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual [and physical] disabilities…under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website. Can you imagine?” He then goes on to list intellectual and physical disabilities, lumping in dwarfism as an intellectual disability, though it does not affect the brain in common cases, citing that they are all “being allowed” to be air traffic controllers due to DEI policy. When pressed on the issue, he cited “common sense” as the evidence for his claims.
Unfortunately, common sense doesn’t always align with reality. All air traffic controllers are subject to harsh rules, guidelines, and training. There is a lengthy certification process, even ending with the requirement of air traffic controllers retiring at 31. Also, that’s not how disability hiring works. Under disability law (specifically ADA law Title I), only “qualified individuals with disabilities” can benefit from equal opportunity law. In fact, a clause also cites “undue hardship” could prevent accommodation being made. The truth is, it is immensely hard to get a job when you have severe intellectual and physical disabilities, not to mention the cruelty from society on those who have these disabilities. I have people in my close life who cannot get these opportunities because of these disabilities, and it is even sadder to hear such rhetoric from the politicians of our country. It’s easy to say things when you’re sitting on a plush chair in the most revered position in the world and you’ve already been denounced by the disabled people in your life. It’s easy to say things when you’re the most powerful man in the world, but it shouldn’t be; as a leader, you have a responsibility to protect and serve everyone. Everyone means everyone.
Dinosaur Train had the right idea to educate the kids watching the show about disabilities. Honestly, if more politicians, partisans, and people watched Dinosaur Train, maybe we’d all gain a little more compassion for those who are different than us.