How Film Became a Refuge for Me in a Neurotypical World
When I was younger, everyone looked at my peculiarity as some sort of gift to the world. I was special; smart; gifted; charming. I loved animals. stuffed animals, and even inanimate objects that looked like animals. I could communicate with people older than me fluently – and enjoyed having elderly friends. I felt they understood […]
It’s Okay to Grieve the Life You’ve Missed Out On
Because of my mental health, I have missed out on more things in life than I ever would have expected. Granted, I am also much more mentally ill then I would have expected: over the past six years a number of mental illnesses have worked their way into my brain, taking up much of my […]
“Come As You Are” – But Only If You’re Cripping Up
A quadriplegic, a wheelchair user, and a blind man are walking down the road when a cop pulls up next to them. Finding them alone on a busy highway, the cop calls it in: “Yeah, I’ve got two handicapped guys – “ “Actually,” the quadriplegic corrects, “it’s ‘person with disabilities.’” The cop gives the ragtag […]
Dear Able Bodied People: Your Disabled Friends Aren’t Your Search Engine
July is disability pride month, and that means your social media is (hopefully) flooded with posts on disability, awareness, and research. This might be the first time you’re learning that one of your closest friends has a disability—one that you’ve never even heard of. So, of course, you’re asking them about it. Starting a conversation. […]
Why Does Madeleine McCann Continue to Be a National Obsession?
It’s been over a decade since Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal. However, the McCann case is still ongoing and continues to earn global media attention, in spite of the fact that someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK. Disabled people, as well as people of color, are among those more likely to […]
10 Ways to Gain Independence as a Disabled Person
Personally, I think the goal of gaining independence as a disabled person is extremely important. Sadly, some of us may be scared about the idea of independence, or may not know how to improve, or just don’t know where to start. Whatever it may be, this is a shortlist of tips for ways to gain […]
Where Did The ADA Come From And Where Can We Go From Here?
On July 26th, we mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This landmark legislation helped make the United States a more accessible and inclusive place for those with disabilities. Since its passage in 1990, this landmark legislation has helped increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities. However, while […]
‘Wicked’ Attempts to Inspire the Golden Rule in Viewers – But Instead, Only Inspires Ableism
Image illustrated by staff artist, Ellie Darby-Prangnell Envision this scenario in the eyes of an able-bodied individual. The house (which is the seating area, for you non-theatre nerds) is filled with hundreds of ecstatic theatre-goers ready to see the critically acclaimed musical, “Wicked.” Hundreds of people of every age are at the edge of their […]
Missing the Mark: The Obstacle of Academic Ableism
“Having a diagnosis suddenly changed people’s beliefs in my capability”, says Megan Bent, a 38-year-old disabled artist and photographer based in West Hartford, Connecticut. She often recalls the feeling of being newly diagnosed to channel into her pieces, preferring a camera with “imperfect” qualities to achieve what she describes as a “slow photographic process that […]
Humanize with Empathy, Not Sympathy, by asking “What are you going through?”
“The love of our neighbour in all its fullness simply means being able to say ‘what are you going through?’” What Simone Weil touches on here in her 1951 text “Waiting for God” sounds simple and straight forward. Listen to each other, share, and through that develop understanding. So why is it all too often […]