Glossary of System-Led Distortion

These terms name the subtle and structural ways systems distort, co-opt, or weaponise survival behaviour. When the rules don’t match the reality, distortion becomes normalized — and people get punished for not conforming to misdesigned models.

🧾 Formfield Distortion

When the Form Doesn’t Fit the Person

When the design of systems (e.g. government forms, assessments, or online portals) forces a person to misrepresent themselves in order to access support. This distorts identity and data while punishing honesty.

⛓️ Compliance Entrapment

Punished for Following the Rules

When a person follows the official rules but still ends up penalised because the system's true expectations are unspoken, inconsistent, or change without notice.

🔃 Loop Logic

Endless Proof, No Resolution

When a system requires constant reproof of need, identity, or eligibility — even after a person has already been verified. Often used to delay or deny support through “process over person” logic.

💼 Fix-First Framing

Support Hinges on Self-Correction

When systems imply that support can only be given after the individual “fixes” themselves — putting the burden of access on personal change rather than systemic adaptation.

📉 Benevolent Downgrade

Support That Lowers Capacity

When a person accepts help, but that help limits their options, reduces their independence, or removes authorship. The system frames it as benevolent while decreasing quality of life.

This glossary is protected under the Strategic Self-Advocacy™ Protocol Layer. Terms are not open content. Redistribution requires traceable authorship.

SSA™ Glossary Index

A collection of protected semantic frameworks written by lived-experience authors. Each glossary holds the line against pattern theft, narrative laundering, and coercive rewording.

Digital Sovereignty Terms

These terms defend the metadata of lived experience in digital systems.

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Strategic Self-Advocacy™ Lexicon

The core terms that scaffold SSA™ and uphold protocol-layer authorship.

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Weaponised Access Terms

These terms unpack how institutions weaponise the language of inclusion while reinforcing control.

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