What Do I Do?! A Guide For Parents Introducing Disability to Their Children February 7, 2018 by Cara Liebowitz Leave a Comment As someone who majored in elementary and special education in college, I’ve known a lot of children. I also have four “surrogate little sisters” — four girls who are the daughters of close family friends. I’m no stranger to explaining my disability to children. Interestingly enough, I’ve found time and time again that it’s not the children who have a problem with my disability. … [Read more...]
This Is Why Consent Doesn’t Exist For Disabled Folks January 12, 2018 by Mia Mingus, Guest Writer 1 Comment This article originally appeared in EverydayFeminism.com and is republished with permission. “Forced Intimacy” is a term I have been using for years to refer to the common, daily experience of disabled people being expected to share personal parts of ourselves to survive in an ableist world. This often takes the form of being expected to share (very) personal information … [Read more...]
Accesible Activism: 4 Steps to a More Inclusive Movement December 15, 2017 by Taylor Carmen Leave a Comment In a political climate that feeds so much on fear, activism is both more necessary and more difficult. Organized protests and events are meant to remind us that we are not powerless in the face of those who do not act in the best interest of the whole. However, if we do not make these things accessible to all who wish to join the conversation, we fail in our goal. I think as … [Read more...]
Stop Telling Me That I’m Pretty for a Girl in a Wheelchair: How Your Words Contribute to Violence Against Women with Disabilities December 6, 2017 by Stephanie Woodward, Guest Writer Leave a Comment This article originally appeared in Ms.Wheelchair Florida 2014 and is reprinted by permission. Women with disabilities experience the highest rate of personal violence of any group in our society. There are many factors that contribute to this and one factor is self-esteem. Imagine for a minute that you are the average woman – you are told daily by beauty magazines that … [Read more...]
7 Things I’m Tired of Hearing as a Disabled Person & What to Say Instead November 21, 2017 by Taylor Carmen Leave a Comment 1.What is wrong with you? /What happened to you? Yes, I know what you mean. Folks wanting to know about my disability has never bothered me. However, phrasing it like this implies that something must have gone wrong. The suggestion that able-bodies are normal and healthy while bodies like mine must be the result of an accident or a mistake. What to say instead: This can be … [Read more...]
I Have Hashi What? Living with a Chronic Disease No One Can See November 12, 2017 by Awilda González Leave a Comment [Image description: The photograph shows a woman with tattoos and black short hair, with the back of her head visible. There are bald areas where her hair is falling out. In the background is a kitchen cabinet.] You spend years complaining to your doctor about everything under the sun, yet he finds an answer for every single one of your ailments. Your menstrual cycle has a … [Read more...]
Where Are All the Disabled People in the Body Positivity Campaigns? September 28, 2017 by Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg 1 Comment As I’ve become more aware of myself and my standpoint as a disabled person, I’ve become more aware of how many otherwise progressive causes ignore us. For example, in academia, critical theory often leaves out issues of disability from the triad of race, class, and gender, even though disability weaves its way through all of them. I was shocked when I realized that theories … [Read more...]
How Positive Thinking Can Do More Harm Than Good September 28, 2017 by Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg 2 Comments Occasionally, I read articles and see memes that suggest that loving ourselves and our bodies involves believing in the power of “positive thinking” – a belief that dictates that if we just believe in ourselves enough and put out positive energy into the universe, good things will happen. Following is an example of this type of meme: I have to admit a certain … [Read more...]
10 Ways We Can Make Leadership Accessible for Sick Folks in Activism September 15, 2017 by Katie Tastrom Leave a Comment I have been involved in activism for more than 20 years and am both a lawyer and former social worker. I mention this not to brag (though I am proud of what I know and what I have done), but to make it clear that I have skills, knowledge, and experience that could help me to not only participate in social and economic justice movements, but to help lead and organize … [Read more...]
“Other Duties as Assigned”: How People with Disabilities Can Face Unconscious Discrimination on the Job Search June 17, 2017 by Grace Lapointe Leave a Comment In 2011, I graduated from Stonehill College, magna cum laude, with a BA in English. Like most graduates during the recession, I had difficulty finding a job. However, my cerebral palsy complicated my long job search in ways that I didn’t anticipate. I’ve never considered my disability an obstacle. I’m assertive about asking for accommodation, and my alma mater had a … [Read more...]
Yes, I Deserve Help: Disability and Asking for What We Need June 11, 2017 by West Anderson Leave a Comment I went back to college this past fall after taking two years off. I've always been good at school, often to the detriment of my mental health, but I'd assumed that I would be able to pick up where I’d left off and keep up with the workload demanded of me. It wasn’t true. Suddenly, the workload was too much for me. During my first three weeks back in school, I must have had a … [Read more...]
Where is My Son? A Glimpse into Living with Dementia May 3, 2017 by Rev. Katie Norris Leave a Comment On Tuesday, I woke up with a start. I checked my phone and saw that it was 11 am. I immediately panicked because I thought I’d slept through my alarm and had not taken my son to school. I called for my son to come into my room, but he did not come in. I called again, with no response. I got annoyed because I figured he must be in his room with his headphones on. I went into his … [Read more...]
How I Got a Diagnosis For PCOS in Spite of the Medical Establishment April 20, 2017 by Kat Lyons Leave a Comment A few years ago, a new dentist told me I should see a dermatologist. I’d never had concerns about my skin and I certainly hadn’t brought up any at this appointment, so at first I felt confused. He kept talking, and I realized that the dentist, a middle-aged white man, was telling me to see a dermatologist because there was a moderate amount of hair growing on my face and that … [Read more...]
Mothering with Disabilities: How Pro Breast-Feeding Turns into Shaming March 24, 2017 by Katie Tastrom Leave a Comment I was happy when I got pregnant. As a disabled person with multiple chronic illnesses I wasn’t sure if pregnancy was possible, but we had tried anyway. I had to go off my medications, when I became pregnant, but luckily the pregnancy hormones helped with some of my symptoms. Eventually I started taking steroids when the pregnancy hormones stopped being effective, but I was just … [Read more...]
On Packaging Segregation as “Choice:” When Disabled Children Are Left in Betsy DeVos Hands March 6, 2017 by Taylor Carmen Leave a Comment Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has sold herself to the public as the defender of school choice. This sounds like a great idea. Except that this won’t mean choice for all. When asked about the Individuals with Disabilities Education act, IDEA, which offers disabled students support to succeed in public education she suggested it should be left up to the states to follow … [Read more...]
Curiosity as Currency: Allowing My Disabled Body to Become a Platform for Radical Self Love, Education & Change January 20, 2017 by Taylor Carmen Leave a Comment As a disability activist people love to ask me “When did you first know you were different?” I usually say always. But I don’t think people understand that the way I intend it. I’ve always been aware of my difference but only as far as knowing I drew attention. All I knew growing up was that when I walked into a room people looked at me and I loved it. I was always a performer. … [Read more...]
