The Platinum Rule
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The Platinum Rule—treating others as they want to be treated, rather than as you would want to be treated—is a cornerstone of disability inclusion. It moves beyond "treating everyone the same" (equality) to acknowledging unique, individual needs. By applying this rule, one avoids imposing personal, biased, or "ableist" views of quality of life onto disabled individuals.
Applying the rule……
prioritizes the individual's lived experience, goals, and values over a standardized, one-size-fits-all approach.
recognizes that what one disabled person finds helpful, another may find restrictive, requiring, listening to and respecting personal preferences.
forces people to confront their own biases, avoiding "distorted compassion" or the belief that a disabled life is inherently lesser.
requires asking, "What is it that you need?" to build trust and ensure tailored support.
requires listening to the voices of marginalized individuals especially those with multiple identities such as one’s below.
Authentic Voices from Multi-Marginalized Communities
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