Our Disabled Voices
Stories, essays, opinions, analyses and more from across the different disability communities and from their friends, families, and allies.
Disabled and Un-degreed – and Unpublished
Like many people with disabilities, I was not able to finish high school. In my case, it was not ableism that pushed me out of high school. Rather, I was too physically ill and otherwise impaired to participate in any way, regardless of what accommodations were available. While ableism did not make it easy for…
Disability Invisibility and Stigma and Representation and Inclusion
We have to address the lack of representation of people with disabilities in arts, music, dance, cinema, theater, and media. We are not visible and when we are featured, we are often shown negatively stereotyped. We are depicted as objects of pity or as superheroes who have achieved great successes. Both of these scenarios are…
The End of Transportation Accessibility?
It was happening even before the pandemic struck. I couldn’t reliably get a wheelchair cab. It was hard to find an accessible restroom (one that fits my wheelchair and the door will still close). Public transit wasn’t up to snuff. My wheelchair was broken during airplane travel. Accessibility—full and real accessibility—for people with disabilities was…
On Celebrating Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month is here! Shame isolates people, but we can change it with Disability Pride celebrations. Throughout July, encourage your communities to amplify disabled voices & the beauty and joy in our lives. It’s high time to stand in solidarity and own our spaces which is long due. Divided by ages, races, genders, classes,…
Making Discharging Student Loan Debt Easier
No one with a disability should have to choose between paying for rent or basic needs and student loans. I live in Silver Spring, Maryland. I am on the autism spectrum and have anxiety, ADD, seizures, and a learning disability. I am writing to talk about the importance of helping people with disabilities get their…
Invisible Disabilities
… people with invisible disabilities face rejection by family, friends, peers and society at large. Only because they seem incongruous with our limited definition of ‘normal’. In fact, they may be worse off than the disabled people in wheelchairs, people with white canes or hearing aids, because their condition isn’t ‘obviously’ seen or recognized. Lately,…
What the Dobbs Decision Could Mean for People with Menstrual Disorders
The impact of overturning Roe v. Wade has been discussed in terms of abortions and pregnancy. However, if Roe is overturned, the right to contraception could be at stake. This article discusses what that would mean for people with menstrual disorders. I was hesitant to write this article. I knew that the Dobbs opinion was…
CripMyHouse: Designing My Home Around Adult Autism
Think about it. What do most humans want from a new home? Big welcoming entrance. Living room. Dining room. Family room. Home theater. Bathrooms. Closets… All to entertain & impress guests. For everything else… they invented tool sheds… and storage units. Honestly…? Autistic-as-fuck-dot-me has different priorities. Which is why you won’t find much discussion of…
Why Representation Matters
Representation is not limited only to one circumstance. Representation is immense and is supported by the intersectionality that creates a world of different lived experiences due to several factors associated with all the pieces that build diversity: race, ethnicity, native language, sexual orientation, disability, etc. Eliana Tardío is a Latina Influencer, Diversity Leader, and Inclusion…