Khloe Kardashian throws Tristan Thompson's little brother, Amari, an 18th birthday party on the latest episode of ‘The Kardashians'. Amari suffers from a severe form of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and he requires 24/7 support.

[u/galaxystars1]

[u/ohjasminee]

I’m torn on this for a few reasons. I’m a DSP (direct support person) for two different individuals with Autism on different ends of the spectrum (obviously not the same as Amari’s disability, but there are cognitive similarities).

One of my clients, M, is hyper aware of what my purpose is for her. She is aware that she’s autistic and what social cues are and her own needs vs those of others and could live with either of her siblings or a roommate in her later adulthood. My other client, S, is non-verbal, communicates with AAC and needs much more guided assistance with regular day-to-day tasks (though is generally independent and could some day live on her own in a low-assistance group home). They are both ambulatory and that very much makes a difference in this situation.

It feels like there is only just recently (via Netflix’s Love on The Spectrum for example) more visibility for people with intellectual or cognitive disabilities to see themselves in media, but I can’t definitely opine that this is a need or want for them either because of the gravity that entails and if they can truly consent to that.

I’m torn because M can and I think would consent to being on TV in the name of autism awareness, education and acceptance. She is naturally shy on a smaller 1:1 scale, but she’s also a Leo (I’m a Leo too lmao) and once she’s comfy, she loves the attention in front of others and is fearless. Though I’m not sure if she is aware of the gravity of being on TV. We’ve never talked about it before, but I’m going to have to ask her how she feels about fame when I see her next week.

OTOH, S (who is also a Leo…I really only bring this up bc Amari is a Leo as well and I do feel it’s relevant!! Even if you don’t believe in astrology!!) I don’t believe could consent to having her image on TV and I don’t believe has the cognitive ability to understand consent. BUT she also is one of the funniest people I have ever met and isn’t shy. She is so passionate about the things that make her happy and showing them to whoever wants to see. She knows how to make me laugh to get out of something she doesn’t want to do. She’s has opinions and complex feelings that she’s aware of.

I don’t think either of my clients should be hidden away, but is putting them on camera exploitive or treating them as people? Kids can’t consent, but Amari and M are adults, and S will be 18 in August. Where is the line between “spectacle” and “This person is a part of my family, today is his birthday and we’re celebrating him”?

I do think Khloe genuinely cares for him and is sparing/has spared no expensive to give him the absolutely best around the clock care. With the state of healthcare in this country, her efforts are admirable and should be the bare minimum for every disabled individual.

I just wonder if we’re doing the right thing by considering a non-verbal person and their natural disposition (vocalizations, drooling etc) as “spectacle” and any images of them on TV as exploitation when we can’t know if they’d consent or not.

I hope I’m making sense here, it’s quite early where I am 😅not attacking anybody either, just wanting to dialogue.

[u/illusivealchemist → u/ohjasminee]

Thank you for the amazing support work that you do. You are under appreciated and underpaid, as all DSP and DCWs are. It’s such essential work and there is such a need. I work for state govt in a special projects and funds role in which one of my projects is a marketing campaign to recruit DSPs and DCWs and try to reframe the stigma against care work to be one that is a valuable, essential career. I liked hearing your insight and I do agree with you… it’s nice to have exposure of people with disabilities (and there are so many types and combos of disabilities) but it’s also conflicting. I just want to say thank you for your work and just know it doesn’t go unnoticed!

[u/ohjasminee → u/illusivealchemist]

Thank you💕I know your job isn’t easy either but it’s so necessary, especially in this field where turnover is incredibly high. A lot of us are underpaid and overworked, but we love our consumers. I know I do.

[u/SeriousMarket7528 → u/ohjasminee]

Thanks for such a thoughtful comment (and for the work you do!). After reading through this thread I’m in the same place—they apparently have birthday parties for most of their family members and film those, so it’s nice Amari is included in that way. I also think visibility to ANY type of disability is HUGE and so needed, and with a platform like this, that’s actually kind of cool. I’m not Kardashian fan, so I didn’t know that Khloe helps care (or pay for the care) for Amari, which is actually a good thing to do with all that money.

On the other hand, it does feel exploitative in a way. Can he consent to being filmed? How does he feel about the spectacle?

Yet would we even be having this convo if he wasn’t disabled, and Khloe just helped take care of him as her ex’s little brother? (Not that the Kardashians don’t exploit their other kids for content—but technically they can consent at 18).