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 […]
Accessible Adventures in TTRPGs with Sara Thompson
Movies. TV shows. Holiday commercials, even. For the first time in history, the integration of disabled bodies in popular culture is more pronounced than ever. And what better place to add in disabled representation than in fantasy TTRPGs, where anything can happen? This is what designer Sara Thompson (she/they) sought to do with their design of […]
The Cripped-Up Horror of Halloween Movies
What do Split, Phantom of the Opera, A Quiet Place, and Bird Box have in common? All four movies utilize disability as a means to create thrill and horror. But do they all do disability justice? CW: This article contains descriptions of murder, gore, trauma, and suicide within dramatic film. Split (2016) is a horror movie featuring a villain […]
Finding the Beauty Within my Own Flesh and Bones
Like so many in our generation, I have dealt with my fair share of body positivity issues. Frankly, it sucks. But that doesn’t stop anyone from inadvertently aiding and embedding impossible ideals of beauty. Most often my insecurity lies within the scars on my legs. Little lines that I have never seen myself without. […]
My Eating Disorder Isn’t About Being a Certain Size or Shape, Here’s What It’s Really About:
Unbeknownst to the majority, eating disorders aren’t really about food, weight and shape. Here’s what my ED is really about. When I tell someone I have anorexia nervosa their initial response often consists of them reassuring me that I am not fat, that I shouldn’t worry about how I look and that I should just […]
Modern-Day “Shock Therapy” Isn’t What You Think—But Isn’t Perfect, Either
When I tell people that I am currently undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, the modern equivalent of “shock therapy”, I am most often met with semi-horrified surprise or confusion. Many think that the treatment is no longer used due to its harsh side effects and potential for abuse. This belief makes sense, given the way that this […]
I Don’t Have To Prove My Disability To Anyone – Including You, Too
I’m leaning against the door frame of the drama room, talking to a teacher that’s known me for four years, one that wrote my college recommendations and always ensured this was a space where I felt welcome. I’m discussing upcoming auditions and wanting to try out but being scared my disability will hold me back. […]