Exclusive: Behind the Scenes With Paralympians! Part 1
Image Description: A paralympic pool with lanes. One lane divider is blue with orange ends and another is yellow with orange ends. There is a yellow diving board in the foreground of the image with the number 6 on it and handles. Watching the Paralympics on television only gave you a glimpse into […]
I’m Not Ready to Take Off My Mask, And Why You Shouldn’t Be Either
Disabled, immunocompromised and those at high-risk for complications from COVID-19 have felt an unshakeable weight over the past 18 months. Watching our government fail, loudly and repeatedly concluding that we weren’t worth protecting has been a heartbreaking awakening. Society’s ableism has never been more clear to me than seeing it be explicitly debated whether people […]
Ready to Rage – Disabled People Don’t Owe You Strength
For about the past 10 to 20 years, we’ve seen an uptick in the “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” mentality. The idea of building a “thick skin” is desired, and even required in a lot of careers, schools, and even environments that are supposed to be deemed as “safe”. The problem this can […]
Don’t Pray for Me: Disabilities and the Christian Church
I will always remember the first time someone prayed for my disability to go away. It was like a slap in the face. After all, I’d made myself vulnerable by telling a complete stranger something so personal to me, only for them to tell me to just try harder. At the time I hadn’t received […]
Invisible Pain, Invisible Walls: Chronic Illness and Isolation
It’s an early summer evening, and it’s warm out. We’re waiting to be seated, and someone says, “Let’s sit out here. It’s beautiful this evening.” My friend turns to me. “Will that be ok?” I can feel everyone’s eyes on me as I quickly scan my options. Outside, there are long, high tables with backless […]
The Ultimate Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Guide
Embed from Getty Images Now that the hype of the Olympics has passed and the chatter has toned down, it isn’t yet time to forget about international sports. The Paralympics are right around the corner and they run from August 24 to September 5. If you’re not sure where to begin and want more […]
As a Disabled Person, Britney Spears’ Fight to End Her Conservatorship is All Too Familiar to Me
Cara Cunningham said it best when she cried out in her 2007 viral video, “Leave Britney alone!” which caused an outpour of media attention. Some thought Cunningham’s behavior was wild and outlandish but we would find out years later that she wasn’t so off-base. And unless you have been living under a rock, the world […]
The Bruises on Your Legs Shouldn’t Matter: How Disability and Body Image Intertwine
You know that trend going around on TikTok with Folding Chair by Regina Spektor as the background music? “I’ve got a perfect body, but sometimes I forget,” has been ringing in my ears for the past two weeks. I love the song. Regina has been one of my go-to artists since Freshman year of high […]
Do We Look Tragic to You?: Media Influences and Systemic Ableism
[Image Description: A group of disabled queer Black folks talk and laugh at a sleepover, relaxing across two large beds. Everyone is dressed in colorful t-shirts and wearing a variety of sleep scarves, bonnets, and durags. On the left, two friends sit on one bed and paint each other’s nails. On the right, four people […]
Disabled Influencers Are Rewriting Narratives About Disability on Social Media
Image Description: Horizontal image. In the image, a person is seen scrolling on a phone, what seems to be on social media. Only the hands and phone are visible. Social media is centered around how the outside sees in; how the followers perceive the poster’s content, how the likers engage with the creator’s post. More […]