Podcasts about disability pride month

According to Statistics Canada, nearly 1 in 5 Canadians aged 15 and older live with one or more disabilities—yet many of their stories remain untold. On this episode of Your Radical Truth, host Margaret Mary O'Connor shines a spotlight on one of those voices. Meet CJ Janzen—“The Singing Speaker”—a queer, disabled advocate, storyteller, and artist living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a severe chronic illness that leaves them mostly bedbound. From working as a paramedic and scuba instructor to launching {dis}ABILITY Unleashed, CJ's life defies convention. Their journey of surviving childhood abuse, alcoholism, and complex chronic illness is matched only by their resilience and determination to create inclusive spaces where disabled artists can thrive. With a mantra of “Choose to live joyously within the tempest of adversity,” CJ uses story, song, and strategy to challenge stigma and ignite hope. In this heart-opening interview, they speak candidly about brain fog, living with limited energy, and finding purpose in creative advocacy. Whether organizing Disability Pride Month events from bed or writing for anthologies like Start Over and Pillow Writers, CJ is committed to amplifying the voices too often left out. They remind us that joy, connection, and meaning are still possible—even in the hardest moments. To learn more, visit www.YourRadicalTruth.com/035-CJ-Janzen 

On this episode we get to meet and listen to Sydney Elaine Butler. I definitely believe Sydney is unstoppable for many reasons. First, growing up she had a speech disability as she will describe to us. Also, however, along the way she was diagnosed with other disabilities including being on the autism spectrum. Like all of us who are different from the “norm” Sydney had her share of challenges from others. However, she learned to deal with them and move forward.   In college she decided to get a degree in business and eventually she determined to enter the human resources field. After being out of college for only a bit over a year and during the time of the pandemic, Sydney formed her own company, Accessible Creates. She consults with companies and company leaders primarily about disabilities and she helps to create better retention and overall attitudinal environments for employees with disabilities.   We discuss many of the issues faced in the workplace and beyond by people with disabilities. I believe you will find Sydney's views and attitudes quite refreshing and often innovative. I hope Sydney has offered some takeaways you can use in your own worlds.       About the Guest:   HR Professional | Founder, Speaker, and HR/DEIA Consultant at Accessible Creates | DEIB Facilitator | They/Them Pronouns   It is Sydney's understanding that their professional purpose must be to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be successful regardless of barriers in their way and that they must as a professional remove these barriers. Sydney conducts training and consulting for other companies on how to be more Accessible and Inclusive from a Human approach and how to recruit and retain more diverse individuals through the lens of Intersectionality/Human Resources as well as other areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in an authentic manner at the company they founded called Accessible Creates due to understanding the barriers that exist within the workplace for diverse individuals.   Ways to connect with Sydney:   https://linktr.ee/sydneyelainebutler Website: https://www.accessiblecreates.ca/   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well and a gracious hello to you, wherever you happen to be today, I am Michael Hingson, and you are listening to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected mean, and it's deliberately called that, as I've explained a few times before, because most of the time when people talk about diversity, they never talk about disabilities. They talk about sexual orientation and gender and race and so on, but disabilities get left out. In fact, I talked to one person on this podcast who said, when I observed you don't mention disabilities. Oh, that social justice. It isn't the same. Heck, it's not anyway. Leaving that aside for the moment. Our guest today is someone I've been looking forward to chatting with for a while. In her name is Sydney. Elaine Butler, and Sydney is in Canada, and she has formed a company actually called accessible creates Cindy. Sydney is very familiar with disability. She has some and I'll leave that to her, to you know, to talk about, but she brings an empathy and understanding. I think that's extremely important, and that all of you will appreciate listening to. So let's get on with it. And Sydney, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset and really glad you're here.   Sydney Elaine Butler ** 02:43 Thank you so much for having me. Michael, well,   Speaker 1 ** 02:46 it's my pleasure, and we're really glad that you're able to finally get here. We've been working on this for a while, and we've had to postpone a few times. Sydney's had one thing or another going on, but that's okay. We, we, we are unstoppable, so we always find a way to succeed, right? Exactly. Well, why don't you tell us a little bit, maybe, about the early Sydney, growing up and some of those things. Yes, to start at   Sydney Elaine Butler ** 03:11 the beginning, right? Oh, where do I start? Um, so growing up, I first knew I had a speech impediment, and so I couldn't say my R's properly, and sometimes I would speak too fast. Sometimes still do tell me to slow down if I need to, but I sometimes I wouldn't speak because I was too scared to say my R is wrong and to speak too quickly. And so I had to go to speech therapy from a young age, and didn't understand that it was really different. You know, I just realized that all my other classmates living class to go do this, but it was mindful, and it's what I knew. I also walked on my tippy toes a lot. So then I had to start going to physical therapy, and I was also playing soccer, and my parents told me a lot of different things to get me active and to get out there. And then we also the Girl Guides of Canada, which is like, equivalent to Girl Scouts in America. And so I enjoyed that, and that's when I started to really find, find my voice and find what I'd like to do, and start becoming more outgoing and starting to exploit when things   Speaker 1 ** 04:27 Ah, okay, so was the speech impediment a manifestation of something else or what?   Sydney Elaine Butler ** 04:36 Yeah, so my dad also had a speech impediment growing up. I think it was just, it wasn't, I think in hindsight, it was tied to my neurodivergency, but didn't really know what that meant at the time, and at the time, we've seen a separate and knew that, I think a lot of people think that the speech impediments, i. Or something you go out of and think about a lot of kids have speech impediments, and so sometimes now it still manifests as I stutter sometimes, because then my brain goes too fast and my mouth can't catch up. Yeah. And so just realizing that my brain thinks a little differently, and I think that had a part to   Speaker 1 ** 05:17 play in well. So along the way, you discovered that you were also involved with other disabilities, I guess,   Speaker 2 ** 05:25 yes, and so I think I also I kind of had depression when I was in high school. And so I think that led to me not knowing, you know, if I wanted to be alive or not, frankly. And so back to other disabilities and understanding that all these different things. So like, I felt like had to almost do the camouflage and blend in to like, for example, I say, would hang out with the nerds and be more nerdy, or hanging over the jocks and be more of a jock. And it didn't really have a sense of self. I think that played a role in that, in my mental health and being having other disabilities.   Michael Hingson ** 06:08 How did your parents handle all of that?   Speaker 2 ** 06:12 I think they just treated me as you know, their child, you know, and they, for example, they would want me to go on to teach therapy. Oh, I need physical therapy now, because I'm walking my tippy toes and my my calf were too tight. And so they just did the best they could, and tried, you know, a lot of people, I think they never tried Kindle that was different. They just okay, this is what city needs to do the best and he can. And so I am very thankful for them for that, because I never felt like I was different. I just knew I had needed to get different things to be successful, but I didn't really know the details and the depth of what was happening.   Speaker 1 ** 06:55 When, when did you figure all of that out? Or when did doctors or whatever, finally come up with a diagnosis that made sense.   Speaker 2 ** 07:05 Yeah, I think when my after, shortly after, I started college, and I was like, kind of, I'm still living at home, but really think that kind of becoming more independent, seeing that I could do some things I could do really well, and other things I was struggling with, and then going to the doctors, explaining the things I was experiencing, and really understanding that, oh, okay, this and that, you know, finding out what is happening with me and how to best help myself and help and being patient with myself. Because I think a lot of times you can get so frustrated because you don't know exactly what's wrong, but you know something's wrong. And so I think by getting that, helping doctors, and getting help, even just expressing my limitations, and also I was, at the same time myself, helping kids, teens and hours with disabilities, and I related to them so much. And so I think that's what prompted me to go to the doctors in the first place and be like, I relate more to this population. Why is this and why am I so good at my job working with these individuals, we were others that I felt like, I was like, don't and so just seeing that, oh, yeah, that makes more sense, that, you know, autistic and all these different things that make up who I am,   Speaker 1 ** 08:22 right? So how long ago was it that you were in college?   Speaker 2 ** 08:28 I was so I was in college. I started in 2015 okay? And I graduated in 2018 and then I went to university from 2018 to 2020 because my college actually offered, the university offered a duty completion program, and so that was really beneficial. So   Speaker 1 ** 08:46 you were fairly recent in in the process, I've had some people on unstoppable mindset who were in their 30s before someone was able to accurately diagnose that they were different because they had autism, and I know that it is, for example, autism, and I know that for the longest time, people just didn't know how to to understand it or describe it. So at least in a sense, I guess although it still took a while for them to figure out with you still it was, it was better that it happened now than years ago when they weren't able to explain it or or even really understand it.   Speaker 2 ** 09:32 Yeah, and I think this is misconception that I think previously in the years, like you said, it was more like either there was very specific criteria around what they thought autism was, but now we understand it's a spectrum and how it impacts, you know, people that you know, males versus females. And so I think it's like, oh, you know, the lack of empathy is seen associated with autism. But like you said at the beginning, I have lots of empathy. And I think have hyper empathy, you should have to use a thing in females that are autistic.   Speaker 1 ** 10:07 Okay, so what did you get your college and university degrees in?   Speaker 2 ** 10:13 Yeah, so I studied Business Administration, human resources. So my aunt actually, she was human resources on a cruise ship. And I thought at first, when I was applying for university and in college, I because at college first, because I thought I was actually going to be environmentalist, because I high level. I've always wanted to change the world. So I thought, you know, with climate change and global warming was like, I want to be an advocate and talk about, you know, what's it better do to help the planet? But I didn't have the math grades for that. That was one of my strong suits and so. But I also took business as an elective in school. Like, oh, this seems like an interesting elective. I'll take it, and actually did quite well in it. And I like people helping people. And I thought, you know human resources, even though we know they mostly help the employer, I can also help people in the workplace. And there's so many different diverse aspects of human resources. And so that's why I decided to study human resources in school.   Michael Hingson ** 11:18 You just avoided the math part of business, huh?   Speaker 2 ** 11:20 There is, there was still math in business. But it's funny because I actually took statistics during my college and that that math made a lot of sense to me, like my brain. I became a statistics tutor, actually, and it was so funny seeing the one eight, the 180 of how I did math in high school versus how? And now I'm doing math while also paying for COVID Now,   Speaker 1 ** 11:46 well, at least you made it through, yes, which is, which is pretty cool. So when you, when you got out of college and university, what did you do? How soon? Well, let me just ask, What did you do? Start with that. So   Speaker 2 ** 12:05 I graduated from university in 2020, December, and so that was quite a challenge, as you can imagine, because I was actually supposed to have an internship that summer, and then the world shut down. And I remember I had an interview on my mom's birthday, March 18, which is the day the world shut down. And then they sent me an email that Friday and said, if it wasn't for the pandemic, for what's the COVID variant of the COVID virus that's going around, you would be getting the shop. This is a tip, but unfortunately, now we're closing our doors because of the pandemic. Yeah? And that was very frustrating, because I was like, I could have had this traditional and it was HR. Was it HR position mixed with statistics, and I just mentioned my love of statistics. And so it was going to be perfect, right? But it didn't happen. And so then I had another interview the last week of before I graduated from my degree. And again, I said, if you just had a little bit more experience in human resources, you would have got the job. And so if I got that job back when I had the internship, I would have bought this job. And I was very frustrated and but I didn't let that stop me. I was like, Okay, what kind of HR jobs do I want to have? What impact do I want to leave on human resources? Because right now, the market is a mess. You know, a lot of people losing their jobs and don't have jobs and love companies are still closed from the pandemic, because we're still very much in the thick of it in December of 2020, and so I started attending human resource webinars, volunteering with other we actually have a local HR association here where you can get your designation from, and I was part of it, and they got a discount because I was a student not too long ago. And instead of volunteering with them, seeing how I consist, and then they actually had a big conference, and I met someone there that helped them. He had to take down 500 emails. He's like, Oh, can you take down 500 emails? Because we're not going to finish this webinar on time. Can you take down 500 emails? And I'm there, kind of with my new COVID Puppy in bed, because I didn't have my camera on, just taking down all the emails. He said, Oh, can you send it to me? And so I sent him the email. And so actually worked at the HR startup. He had a little bit because he messaged me. He's like, I'm impressed that you took down this email so fast. Do you want to come work at an HR startup with me? And at the time, new grad, wanted to get my feet wet. Want to see what happens. And so I joined there, um, but he was bootstrapping, and so he can only pay me peanuts, basically. And I was also, he's, like, he's, I encourage you to look for traditional work, but you can also get getting some experience here. I. And so I did that. And then also, then I actually applied for summer job, virtually and remotely, for a nonprofit organization called Skills for change. And I was like, I'm passionate about accessibility and disability inclusion and HR and human resources. And I was their HR clerk for eight weeks because the Canadian government actually paid for it. They have a Canada Summer Jobs Program, but they gained funding, and I made the recruitment process more accessible. I during Obama's session, I talked about disability pride month, because I was there during Disability Pride Month, and really that I posted that on LinkedIn and some research like, Hey, do you want to come speak about neurodiversity in the workplace? I saw your presentation that you posted on LinkedIn, and I was like, okay, so I did that. And I really liked doing presentations and so and then I realized I could do more by starting my own company. I applied for a traditional job still, but maybe I can get my foot in the door by starting my own company doing little trainings about HR, disability inclusion, neurodiversity. What does that look like? And, yeah,   Speaker 1 ** 16:15 so when did you so that's how you started accessible creates.   Speaker 2 ** 16:18 It was kind of informally starting accessible creates, you know, just like, it was kind of like planting the seed, I say. But then it was just like, I also, I was like, maybe I can make like, wellness bracelets as well. And like, they all these different things, and make fidget toys, and have all these different proponents. And then it kind of branched off to okay, I can do presentations. Oh, I think people also looking for consultants that have a unique skill set to look at policies and procedure, to look at job descriptions. And so it kind of took off into a world of itself,   Speaker 1 ** 16:53 all right, well, and so you're, you're still doing it.   Speaker 2 ** 16:59 Yes, it's going to be three years a month from today, actually. Wow, August 31   Michael Hingson ** 17:06 Wow. It'll be how long on August 31   17:09 two years, three years, which is cool.   Speaker 1 ** 17:13 Well, so you're, you're obviously having some, some good success with it.   Speaker 2 ** 17:20 I feel very lucky, but I'm also like, the amount of nos you get as a business owner or someone just trying to put your services out there, like, this is what I have to offer. And so I feel you're so lucky. You got all these opportunities on like, the amount of people that say no to me, or, you know, the things you don't see behind the scenes. And so just keeping at it and building my network and building my connections is so important. And so and finding people, I think sometimes, as business owners and entrepreneurs, we want to help everyone, but we can't help everyone, right? And so finding that niche, okay, who can I really support here in this area?   Speaker 1 ** 17:59 So what are you finding? Are the areas or the kinds of places where you specialize?   Speaker 2 ** 18:05 Yeah, I found like, because, again, I have that human resources background and so leveraging that. I think it's funny because when I first started it as, okay, my I'm going to do, I was kind of advertising as I have HR knowledge with like, also have this expertise of disability understanding, disability inclusion, accessibility in neurodiversity. And now it's kind of been like, now people like, Oh, you're the neuro diversity person that talks about neurodiversity there in Canada or talks about disability inclusion. I can also do human resource consulting. They're like, oh, we need an HR consultant, but we want to sprinkle in those other things. And so people that are looking for that niche is really cool and really impactful, and also looking at policies and procedures, I think is because it's a huge undertaking and to really and so finding the niche of clients that they know they need to modify the policies and procedures, but they just kind of overwhelmed, and don't know where to start. And so that's where I come in, yeah.   Speaker 1 ** 19:08 And so you're able to help create policy or modify policy. And yes, what's, what's probably, would you say the biggest misconception that you have encountered when you're dealing with companies regarding the whole idea of disabilities,   Speaker 2 ** 19:26 yeah, I think the biggest misconception is that it's only the entry level position that people with disabilities want jobs, especially because actually most people with disabilities that actually were more likely to get post secondary education and to continue getting educated. And so it's really interesting to see the bias that employers have against people with disabilities. And think, Oh, you get, you know, this funding from the government to help, you know, pay people with disabilities that can't work, but that's not enough money. They're like, Oh, that's enough money you can live on that you can. Live on that and really understanding that if someone wants to work, they should be able to work. And that accommodation is not you getting more to do your job, it's leveling the playing field to make sure you can do your job and be successful at your job, and everyone deserves that. And   Speaker 1 ** 20:17 how are you able to change attitudes and perceptions about that?   Speaker 2 ** 20:24 Yeah, I really kind of challenge like, Oh, what do you currently think of disability, you know, and really making them think internally and like, you don't have to say it out loud. You don't have to, you know, just getting them thinking, why do you have this misconception of disability? What does what disability representation Have you seen in media, right? And so what really challenging what they think of when they think of disability. And so I remember, I was actually talking about HR strategy and accessibility strategy and merging them together at a conference I spoke at last year. And I was like, Oh, I left my cane at home. You can't tell today. And there was such because they were kind of like they were paying attention. But they weren't, like, folio paying attention. You can tell them about folio paying attention. So I made that joke, and then everyone was kind of like, there was like, a little bit of Lacher in silence, and then they were completely interested. It's like, okay. They're like, Oh, yeah, wait. Why did I, you know, have this misconception of what a disability looks like? And so it's like, let's get get into it,   Speaker 1 ** 21:31 and at least then you're able to open the discussion. You know, I've talked about it on unstoppable mindset a few times, but I have a different definition of disability than than most people. And I'll explain very briefly. People keep saying to me, well, disability, I say, disability doesn't mean a lack of ability. And they say, Well, of course it does, because disability starts with dis, and I say, Well, okay, but what about disciple, discern, discreet and so on. They all start with this, and they're not negative. No, disability isn't a lack of ability. And over the last year, a few things have happened that caused me to to come up with a different definition. And mainly it came about because I was at a hotel in Hollywood, California last year at three in the afternoon when we lost power in and around the hotel, and suddenly everybody started to scream, and they're running around trying to find or reaching for flashlights and smartphones and so on. And I realized disability is something that everyone has sighted. People have a disability, and their disability is their light dependent and and the reality is that we need to recognize that, in fact, everyone has a disability. Every single person with eyesight has the disability of being light dependent. Now, at the same time, you cover up your disability, because Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb, and we have worked so hard to create light on demand that disabilities are covered up. Disability of light dependence is covered up. It is until it can't be, because suddenly the power goes out or whatever. But the reality is, everyone in this world has a disability. The thing is that disability is a characteristic that manifests itself differently for different people. It doesn't mean, though, that you don't have it. Of course, most sighted people won't necessarily buy into that, until suddenly they're stuck without light for a good period of time. It doesn't change the fact, though, that their disability gets covered up.   Speaker 2 ** 23:50 That's that's a very good point. Michael, I think again, that what is the perception of what a disability actually is and how someone interacts with it, and then how it impacts how someone shows up in the world and how the world views them. And so I think really understanding that, again, it's a spectrum it impacts, and then this is so many different types of disabilities, and what does it actually mean to be disabled?   Speaker 1 ** 24:19 Well, and that's and that's exactly it. That's why I use the definition that everyone has a disability. It's just that it manifests itself differently for different people. And we need to start to recognize that, and if we really intellectually recognize that, then we begin to change our thought about what a disability is and recognize that maybe it has nothing to do with how well people think or how well people can work. We just need to use and find alternatives when necessary. I mean, look at look. At most buildings, office buildings, they have lights so that people can see where to go, to walk down a corridor, or they have Windows people can look out, or sometimes open for heater or whatever. But typically, they don't necessarily open, but they have a lot of different kinds of things to accommodate light dependent people, computer monitors, but they won't necessarily buy a screen reader for a person who is blind, even though that screen reader might not even cost as much as a monitor. Today, you have coffee machines that are touch screen we provide so many accommodations for employees based solely on eyesight, for example, or right handedness, or any number of other kinds of things. And we we really need to learn as a society to move beyond that. But that's where the challenge is, of course, isn't it?   Speaker 2 ** 25:58 Yes, I think it's a we're constantly making accommodations and making adjustments or making things easier for humans, you know. And how does accessibility play a role in that, and making sure that everyone has the ability to access what they need to access, and to do it the best way they can.   Speaker 1 ** 26:19 So how would you in and, of course, I've, I've perhaps messed this up by coming up with the definition of disability that I did. How would you find accessibility? How would you define it? Today,   Speaker 2 ** 26:34 I feel like disability is more like I feel like people think it's like the medical condition you have or the experience you have, but I really think it's like the barriers that people put in place, you know, and like the editorial barriers someone's values is towards someone that looks different or appears different, someone's barrier the barriers to accessing different tools and different resources and really understanding that in disability can be permanent, it can be temporary, it can be situational, kind of like you were getting at with that everyone has a disability and that it it can it looks different every day, and that there's No one size fits all right, have disability, and it's embedded ability as a spectrum.   Michael Hingson ** 27:26 So then, how would you find accessibility?   Speaker 2 ** 27:30 Yeah, so I think accessibility is synonymous for a lot of people, for people providing access, for people with disabilities, but I define accessibility as people have resources they need to do their day to day or to be successful girls that have a disability or not,   Speaker 1 ** 27:52 Right? And it's all about education, isn't it?   27:58 Yes?   Speaker 1 ** 28:02 So in the HR world, what could, what could HR do, and how can we deal with making human resources more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities?   Speaker 2 ** 28:19 I think right now, Human Resources HR is trained to really, oh, look, we recruit, we want to recruit more people with disabilities. We want to hire more people with disabilities, but understand that there's 25% only 25% of people that have disability actually disclose in the workplace that they have a disability, and disclose to human resources they have a disability. And meanwhile, there's probably a lot more than that in the organization and in the workplace. And so we're looking, okay, what are your retention strategies look like for developing people that have, you know, disabilities? What is, why is, you know, looking at management? Why is it? Oh, you're doing good this job, this promote you to management. Okay, not everyone wants to become a manager, or it isn't, you know, have the skills become a manager. Okay? What a you know? What other approaches you can use to develop an employee? How can you look at your culture to evaluate how people with disabilities are treated and how they feel? Is it is in finding out where those gaps are, or most people with disabilities having those issues with management, because management's not understanding how to better accommodate and support employees with disabilities. Is it the co workers making that experience as human resources themselves causing these issues, and really figuring out where the issues lie for that particular organization, and increasing learning how to better increase retention?   Speaker 1 ** 29:41 So what do you? What do you do with accessible creates and so on, to really help in the education process and to helping with with truly having more of a higher retention for persons with disabilities? Yes.   Speaker 2 ** 29:57 So I, for example. To audit the policies and procedures, see how they regards to accessibility. They have any language around accessibility, because a lot of organizations, you know, there's the ADA in America, and they have that in their policies and procedures. Meanwhile, the ADA is just the bare minimum and just coming to actually get a lawsuit. But what are the best practices you're actually implementing? Do you have an accommodation policy procedure so people know how that can be accommodated, and managers and resources know how to best accommodate that employee, you know, and then also providing provide coaching. So brand coaching, if you know, for example, for the narrative version to our disabled employee and they need a bit more assistance knowing how to better advocate for their rights and advocate for themselves in the workplace. So also working in conjunction doing a management training on okay, if your employee comes to you with this information, what, what do you do and how to address that, and how to make sure that someone feels safe enough to disclose or discuss disclose that they need support from you to better do their job, yeah?   Speaker 1 ** 31:01 How do you deal with the employer, or even someone in HR, but somebody in authority at a company that says, Well, yeah, you raise good points and we'll implement them, but it takes time. We just can't jump into it.   Speaker 2 ** 31:18 Yeah? I I say, you know, like good things take time, but really understanding that, I think a lot of times, sometimes they scared to make the wrong choice and make the wrong decision. But I think also, just like by not doing anything and not taking the time to do things, take time, we all know this, and being able to be transparent with your employees. Hey, we're implementing this thing. Because I think a lot of times management, or, you know, human resources, are doing these good initiatives, but they're not communicating that to the fellow employees what's being done. And so I think just being transparent and being able to be flexible and be open with, you know, the employees, and being honest, yeah,   Speaker 1 ** 32:06 it is hard, because people really tend to think that we got to move slow. But the reality is, if you don't take the leap and start recognizing you're treating some people in a substandard way, and make the conscious effort to change it, then you won't. I mean, we have, we have seen so many shifts in the world. Smartphones came along, and everyone adopted them very quickly, because they saw the value of it. And I've dealt with people who are interested in making their internet websites more accessible, and some of them say, well, we got to do it, because if we don't, we'll get sued. And some people say, and rightly so, we've got to do it because it's the right thing to do. But when you then switch that to Well, what about hiring people with disabilities and so on, or what about changing attitudes within your organization? It's Well, that just takes more time, and I question whether it really should take more time, or should you really adopt a policy and then work to bring people up to it. Yeah,   Speaker 2 ** 33:23 I think it's kind of a mix of both, you know, I think it's obviously, it's going to take time, but also, what are you putting in place to get it most efficiently and get it as quickly as possible, to make it as much people understand, to make to really break down those barriers and to get people having these discussions and having these conversations and just challenging what the norm was in the organization, and why do we have these preconceptions of what disability is in the workplace, and disability inclusion and things are going to take time, and that's okay, but Really understanding okay how are you saying yourself and your organization are for the best success to better support all people in the organization? And   Speaker 1 ** 34:08 that's really the issue, isn't it? Because it's all about conversation. It's all about education. And the biggest problem I see in general in terms of dealing with people with disabilities within organizations or anywhere with the law, with whatever is that we just don't engage in the conversation, and probably some of that is fear. Oh my gosh. I don't want to become blind like them, and it could happen to me. I gotta avoid that, or or any other disability I might end up in a wheelchair. I don't want to do that. And so there's, there is a level of fear that enters into it, but also it is just having the conversation and starting to really make people more aware of you. What disabilities really are and what they're not, and doing more of a concerted effort to make that conversation happen, I think we'll do more to help educate and get people to move and realize maybe our attitudes and our ideas aren't what we thought they should be. Yeah,   Speaker 2 ** 35:19 and it's like understanding, why is there that fear? You know, it's like because of what how media portrays it. It's because of stories you've heard, you know. And we all have our different struggles, you know, going back to your point about what you said, you know, we all have disability in some ways. We all have different struggles. We're all human beings. We all have good and bad days. And so what is the fear stem from? And, you know, people, a lot of people, are scared to say the wrong thing, but the worst thing you can say is nothing at all, right? And, you know, and so I think, like, well, I don't want to say the wrong thing about disability. I don't want to, you know, the cancel culture, or wherever they call, you know, these days, yeah. And so it's just like, the worst thing you can do is not say anything, because, you know, just negative your own growth and the organization's growth by not even wanting to make those mistakes. And you know the difference between intention and impact. You know, it's maybe so impact someone if you say the wrong thing, but be like, Hey, I'm learning. You know, even if you're a management or human resources, I'm learning every day. Can you know I'm going to make mistakes? And again, that transparency piece is so important, because we all know we're humans, we're going to make mistakes. And I think sometimes an organization, they really put managers and human resources on a pedestal that it shouldn't be the case because Ken, we're all human. At the end of the day, we're all, you know, here to do a job, and we're going to make mistakes, and that's okay. And so really coming off the pedestal be like, I'm learning. I want to do better how you know, and being vocal and being transparent about that is so crucial.   Speaker 1 ** 36:56 I think you raise a really good point. And I think that that the issue is, as you said, saying nothing is the worst thing that you can do. But I also think whether some of us who have disabilities, in the traditional sense of the word, if I'm going to use that, some of us don't want to be teachers. We're tired of having to explain. But the reality is, we are the best teachers. We are other than are. We're the best information providers, and we really should understand and be patient, because if we know that really, people behave as they do because it's an educational issue and they haven't got the education, who's in a better position than we are to address that and and so I agree with what you're saying. One of the things that I hear all the time is, well, you're visually impaired, which I think is the worst thing that anyone can say about anyone who has any kind of eyesight issue. We're not visually impaired, visually we're not different. We're not visually different and impaired, we are not it's like Deaf people have learned if you say deaf or hearing impaired, they're they're liable to execute you on the spot. They recognize that it's deaf or hard of hearing and slowly, although not nearly fast enough, blind people are starting to learn visually impaired is the wrong thing to say, because it contributes to the lack of understanding. Because you say impaired and we're not blind, and low vision is a lot more relevant, and certainly not not negative. But if we aren't willing to help educate, then we're doing our own disservice to all   Speaker 2 ** 38:47 of us. Yeah, I think to your point that you know, it's like, sometimes we're tired of explaining things and don't want to advocate, but we're the best teachers, and we're also giving that space to it's like, do you want to share? Do you want to talk about your experiences? Do you feel comfortable? Do you feel up to talking about it? Hey, I don't feel like talking about it right now. Little time, and that's really okay, or little time, oh, I'm willing to educate you today and explain my experiences to you. And so I think there's sometimes too much pressure that of people like, oh, I always say, I'm like, ask people questions. People want to answer your questions, but they don't have capacity. You don't have the energy to answer your questions. That's okay. But hey, another time and be okay with that. Yeah. And I think just giving as human beings, giving each other compassion and giving each other that grace so important to drive this work forward.   Speaker 1 ** 39:46 Well, I think it is important to to find a mutually agreeable time. And maybe that's part of the discussion is I really would rather not talk about this now. Can we set up a time to talk about it and and. So working toward that, I think, is extremely important to be able to do, because we are going to be, by definition, the best educators in terms of disabilities. And you can also get different people with a disability who will say different things. There are still some people who like visually impaired, but that's what the professionals have ingrained at us, and it's a process to get that out of our psyche and recognize that it's low vision and blind and not visually impaired. I would prefer just blind. For anyone who has lost enough eyesight that they have to use alternatives to print to be able to function, I would prefer just to use blind. But the reality is that's probably a larger step than most people are willing to take today. So blind and low vision works for a while, but at some point, we're going to have to recognize there's nothing wrong with being blind or there's nothing wrong with being in a wheelchair, or there's nothing wrong with being deaf or being a person somewhere on the autism spectrum, there's nothing wrong with any of those. It's just that we're going to do things differently than you're used to? Yeah,   Speaker 2 ** 41:22 I think language is so important too, because, like, the you know what the professionals say, what the all the research is saying, but it's a What does that person identify with? But you know what they identify and what is their experience like? And really talking to them, to, you know it's like. And I think a lot of times we we even when we're educated, this is my personal experience. This is how I want to identify with a person with a disability, or I identify as a disabled person, you know, we preface that, and so I always make this joke. I'm like, people like, oh, do I say he's visually impaired? Do I say, you know, he's low vision? Do I say he's blind? It's like, well, his name is Michael, so call him Michael, you know, yeah,   Speaker 1 ** 42:04 and, and you can always ask, yeah, but his name is Michael, and that's really the issue. One of the discussions that I've been involved with of late is sort of related to the whole first person language. It's about descriptions. I notice in your bio you have a description, long, brown, curly hair, wearing a silver necklace and a red blouse. What do you think about the whole concept of providing or needing to provide, descriptions, especially if you're in a meeting with people who don't see   Speaker 2 ** 42:42 Yeah, I think it's important. And I think and asking the person, do you want a description? I think, I think there you go. I think sometimes, by people want to just, it's politically acceptable, but really talking to the person, hey, do you need to pick up description to me, but what will make you most feel most comfortable? He was asking that to anyone. What can I do in this meeting to make you feel most comfortable? What do you require of me to get the best experience out of this? And so just asking the person, and   Speaker 1 ** 43:14 that's really the key, isn't it. There's nothing wrong with asking personally. I don't need descriptions. Now, I've never been able to see with eyes, so it's never been an issue for me. But I do know that there are people who have become blind later in life who may want descriptions and and that's fine. The other side of it is, is it really going to add value say to a meeting? That is, does a description of a person really make you more comfortable? And I don't, you know, I don't know the answer to that for a lot of people. I do know, for me, it just takes time away from the meeting. But that's but that's me, and I understand that the one of the reasons I brought it up was that a couple of weeks ago, I was involved in the meeting, and after the meeting, one of the people wrote to everyone who was there and said, You know, I went online trying to find descriptive words for people with disabilities to provide those same descriptions for people with disabilities, but I can't find them, and most of us said, Why do you need them? Because the reality is, there are a lot of different disabilities. There's no one real answer, and I do agree that we shouldn't hide who we are, but we can take this descriptive symbolism and and beat it to death so often too. Does it really make sense to have descriptors of people with with a disability?   Speaker 2 ** 44:58 Yeah, I think I. Yeah, it's like, what, who is the person you know getting and what does that look like? And so I think understanding that, I feel like there's so many things and so much information coming out about disability right now, how to be most inclusive, that sometimes we forget the nuance of just the human experience, yeah, and   Speaker 1 ** 45:23 yeah, well, and that's what we essentially told the person who asked the question, that it's not and a number of people did. It's not really relevant to do it for disabilities as such. But I think your point is, is also well taken. You can always ask, and if somebody wants a description, then give them a description and and then move on. But it is, it is something that I I've been in meetings, and I've heard way too often you'll have 10 or 12 people in the meeting, and they're asked without finding out whether people want it when you first speak, give a description of yourself. By the time you're done with that, you've wasted another 10 or 12 minutes of the meeting, which is only an hour long anyway. And what have you really gained from that? And and again, I understand that there are some people who might like that, because they used to see but I but I think that we can take it to an extreme, which doesn't help. Yeah, I think   Speaker 2 ** 46:31 really understanding, what are the needs? What are the what's the reason behind the meeting? What are the needs of the meeting? Who's attending the meeting? Do they know? Do they do the people need it? They not need it. And again, providing even, like, for example, closed captions. But like, I think closed captions are so important in the thing like, oh, it's for people only, people that are hard of hearing and but it's like, for example, sometimes it's like, oh, it's better for me to process information if I see it written, instead of just hearing it or hearing it and seeing it. And so it's a cool what is it adding to the meeting instead of, you know, yeah, what's the value   Speaker 1 ** 47:13 and things like closed captioning? I absolutely can understand. And I think that meetings should have closed captions. And I don't care what the meeting is, we should get into that habit. And the other, the other thing I would would say is that, again, descriptions are a different situation, because what does it really add to the meeting and but again, some people may really want it. So it's a it's a question to ask and then go from there. But I would say closed captions. Another one is one of my favorites. Somebody created this terminology, no Braille, no meeting. That is to say, especially when a blind person, for example, is involved. But I would say in general, it would be better to do this, and that is, if you're going to have a meeting, don't bring handouts to the meeting, disseminate them in advance. Because if you have a meeting and you're giving people handouts and you're talking, they've got to split their time between listening to you and reading the handout. And I don't care what handout it is, you could take a few minutes early enough to disseminate handouts so that people can all be prepared. But especially that works for people like me who aren't going to read those handouts, because you're going to create them from a copy or anyway, or you're going to print them in a multiple way, but probably don't have access to a Braille embosser or some way to get them to me. And so the reality is that documentation should be provided in advance, and I think again, it's a habit that we should all get into, then we don't have to worry about it when somebody comes along who really needs to have those, those services.   Speaker 2 ** 49:03 Yeah, I completely agree. I remember, I think I started doing that a couple years ago. It was like, why I even myself? You know, I like to be okay with the agenda. I like to know the agenda, know what we're going to talk about. And so I have Knowing that ahead of time is so important. And you we all have such busy lives, so even if you don't have a like you said, traditional disability is going to help you better prepare for that meeting and feel more at ease going into that meeting and going into this conversation. And it helps everyone at the end of the day.   Speaker 1 ** 49:34 Sure, it does. Were you ever treated poorly or have any real challenges because of the fact that you have a disability?   Speaker 2 ** 49:44 Yeah, I think, like I mentioned the beginning, my, my speech impediment, my, I think people would make fun of my the way I would speak and so, and I just like, I don't talk like that. You can, you know. And. That made me feel very uneasy. And then also, going back to, you know, dealing with depression in high school, people didn't understand, really, what it was to have depression, and so like, Oh, it's just all in your head. Or, like, and then I would kind of do some kind of reckless thing because I didn't like I said I didn't care if I lived or died. And so they were like, oh, and kind of make fun of me and or use it to their advantage to put me in other situations that weren't not the best for me. And so this also led to complex PTSD, and so just understanding that when sometimes people don't fully understand something that more likely to make fun of you, and not because, again, the impact work is intent, right? So sometimes they just kids being silly and not knowing really what they're doing, but sometimes in demolition attack of using someone's disability against them, right?   Speaker 1 ** 51:06 As as you may know, I worked in the World Trade Center and escaped after, well, on September 11, after the buildings were hit, and people, even to this day, say to me, Well, you didn't know what happened, did you? And I said, No, not at the time. Well, of course, you didn't, because you couldn't see it. They revert to that type, even though, in reality, the building where it was struck was 18 floors above us on the other side of the building. And so one of the things that I say to people is, well, the last time I checked Superman and X ray vision are fiction, and the fact of the matter is, on my side of the building, no one knew what happened when we were going down the stairs. Not one single person anywhere around us knew what happened, because they were all on the other side of the building from where the plane was hit, and typically many floors below where the plane was hit. So of course, nobody saw it, but, but they want to revert to type when it comes to dealing with, say, a person who's blind. Well, of course, you couldn't see it, so you wouldn't know. And that is just unfortunate, because, again, I think it contributes or comes from the lack of education. Yeah,   Speaker 2 ** 52:21 I think a lot of the whenever someone says something, sometimes it just like becomes for that misunderstanding, the missing, that the lack of education. That's why education is so important. In disability, you're talking about anything because, and sometimes I feel like people almost like the fear or the unknown fill in those gaps, and it can cause huge problems. Yeah,   Speaker 1 ** 52:48 what is one thing that you wished people knew? Well, it's really two questions, one about disabilities and the other is about accessibility.   Speaker 2 ** 53:00 I think I wish for people knew about disabilities, is that I think the ability that it's a spectrum and that impacts people differently, and can impact impact the individual themselves differently every day again. You know, for example, if I didn't get enough sleep, it could contribute to other environments, factors that make my conditions act up, and for accessibility, I think that, yes, accessibility is an ominous with, you know, people with disabilities and giving resources people with disabilities, but accessibility allows us all to have the resources And the tools we need to be successful, and that it's kind of the bare minimum of what you should be doing. Yeah.   Speaker 1 ** 53:50 And I think for me, if there were one thing I wish people knew about disabilities, is it's okay to ask. It's okay to want to know more. And I always will. If people ask me a question, I will, I will answer. One of the things that I encounter often is I'll be anywhere from an airport to a hotel to a store, and a child wants to come up and pet my guide dog. And the parents will say, Oh, don't go pet that dog. That dog might bite you don't know anything about that dog, as opposed to saying it's a guide dog and the dog is working. Now, some people do say that, but a lot of people don't. For me, my policy is if I hear a child asking, especially when parents respond in the negative way, I will always stop take the harness off. Say no, it does okay. They can visit with the dog, and then it gives me the chance to to say when the harness is on, the dog is working. It's got a job to do, because the dog make sure that I walk safely. But the dog. Dog isn't going to bite you, and I don't want you to be afraid of dogs just because, but you should always ask. It's okay to ask and do that. I think that's that's really important, but oftentimes parents continue to create a fear level that we don't need to have. So if a child wants to interact with my dog, I will always stop. If an adult wants to. If I have time, I will stop, and if I don't, I will not stop. And I'll say, here's why I'm in. I'm in a hurry. I've got to get here. I really don't have time. I wish I did, but I will, whenever I can, I will stop and let people interact. I'll take the harness off because the dog needs to relax too, and the dog knows when the harness comes off, they can visit, and they know that they're supposed to focus. But even so, when somebody pets pets, a dog, even in harness, they're going to look, because the dog really likes the attention. So it's a matter of of dealing with it. But by the same token, the bottom line is that I think, again, it's all about education. So I don't mind letting people pet the dog, but only when the harness is off. When I've had a couple of times that people would ask, and I say, not right this moment. And then they go right ahead and pet the dog. And I know that they pet the dog because the dog is looking and I can feel the leash move. And when that happens, I will give the dog not a hard one, but a leash correction, saying, leave it. And the people will say, Oh, don't yell at the dog. I was the one that was petting the dog and said, No, you don't understand. You got the dog in trouble. The dog knows better. I'll deal with the dog, then I'll deal with you. But, but, you know, it's, it's an educational process, but with kids, I'll always stop. I think it's important that children learn what guide dogs are and that that they are friendly. The only thing I would say is, I hope they're not holding an ice cream cone at the time, because they'll lose the ice cream cone. What would you tell your teenage self if you could go back right now and do that?   Speaker 2 ** 57:01 I would tell my teenage self that be authentically you, because, like I said, I felt like I was a chameleon in high school. And so by being more me, embracing my differences, embracing who I am, embracing all these different things that make up who Cindy is, and really living into that, and also giving myself with a bit more grace and compassion, because I guess I could do some things and things I couldn't do, and now understanding okay, there's some things I can do and Some things I can't do, and that's okay, and that I'm worthy, and that I think, yeah, I think that's it   Speaker 1 ** 57:49 okay. I think that's fair. Well, if people would like to reach out to you, maybe take advantage of your your services and so on, and interact. How do they do that?   Speaker 2 ** 58:01 You You can send me this. I have a form or a website that you can fill out, and my website is and my website is accessible, creates.ca   Speaker 1 ** 58:10 so accessible creates.ca so they can go there, and they can reach out and so on and and take it from there. Yes. And they can write you and ask you all sorts of questions,   Sydney Elaine Butler ** 58:23 if they choose, if they choose.   Speaker 1 ** 58:25 Well, Sydney, I want to thank you for being here. This has been a lot of fun and educational, and I've learned a lot, and I really appreciate your time. I'm glad we finally were able to make this happen, and I hope all of you out there come away with a little bit of a different view of disabilities and all of us who typically experience that then, then you had before. Love to hear your thoughts. Love to get an idea of what you think. Please feel free to reach out to me. You can reach me at Michael h i@accessibe.com that's m, I C H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I b, e.com, or you can go to our podcast page, w, w, w, dot Michael hingson.com/podcast, and Michael Hinkson is spelled M, I C H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s, O n.com/podcast, wherever you're listening or watching on YouTube, please give us a five star rating. We value your ratings, and would really appreciate you taking the time to rate and comment. We love your comments. We love getting your feedback, and so would definitely appreciate you doing that. If you know of anyone who ought to be a guest on our show, our podcast and Sydney, including you, if you know anyone who ought to be a guest, please let us know. Reach out, introduce us. We're always looking for people who want to become guests on unstoppable mindset. And so with that again, Sydney, I want to thank you for being here. This has been a. A lot of fun. Any last words that you want to say?   Speaker 2 ** 1:00:03 Yes again. Thank you so much, Michael for having me on your podcast, and I look forward to seeing how I hope. I look forward to keeping in touch and seeing other conversations   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:20 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Some people view social media as a source for finding inspiring and uplifting messages. Sometimes, those messages aren't what they seem.Support the showJoin the Mailing List: Subscribe NowApply to be a guest: Guest ApplicationBad Attitudes Shop: badattitudesshop.etsy.comBecome a Member: ko-fi.com/badattitudespod Email badattitudespod@gmail.comFollow @badattitudespod on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterAll available platforms hereWatch my TEDx talkBe sure to leave a rating or review wherever you listen!FairyNerdy: https://linktr.ee/fairynerdy

Discover the best Disability Pride Books curated by Cindy Otis from The Stacks Bookstore, who offers readers a virtual tour of her disability-inclusive space.Cindy Otis's journey to opening The Stacks offers a vital and well-thought conversation about her own limitations in accessing bookshops and what was top of mind for her customers when designing an accessible and welcoming space for all, especially those with disabilities in Savannah, Georgia. From ramps to fonts to her bookshop's tagline, Cindy's thoughtful design choices ensure every reader can enjoy the magic of books. Her small business journey will mesmerize you.Get her top five book recommendations to celebrate Disability Pride Month all year long!  But the best part is that you can support her shop through your purchases today in today's special Disability Pride Month book list. Let's shower Cindy's  shop with some love this month. Meet Cindy OtisCindy Otis is a writer and the author of the novel At the Speed of Lies, which is now out with Scholastic, and the critically acclaimed nonfiction book True or False, published by Macmillan.Her other written work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, the New York Times, CNN, and Teen Vogue. She previously served as an intelligence analyst and manager at the CIA. She is not just a bookseller but a champion for inclusivity and accessibility in the literary world.Mentioned in this episode:PLEASE NOTE: ALL PURCHASES FROM TODAY'S SHOW SUPPORT THE STACKS BOOKSTORE SHOP THE DISABILTY PRIDE BOOK LISTAt the Speed of Lies by Cindy L. OtisTrue or False by Cindy L. OtisCindy's TikTokThe Stacks: How a Small Bookstore Plans to Make Big Waves on Waters AvenueThe Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo NetzBeing Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith HeumannKiss Quotient by Helen HoangTrue Biz by Sara NovicThe Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-JonesThe Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with HeartDOWNLOAD TODAY'S SHOW TRANSCRIPTConnect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonFollow The Stacks Bookstore on Instagram or TiktokConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals NewsletterBuy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation) 

History was recently made in Congress. For the first time, a member addressed colleagues on the floor – using Artificial Intelligence. From July 25, 2024, here's Democrat from Virginia – Jennifer Wexton: I hope I can be a voice, even an AI voice, for Americans facing accessibility challenges and other disabilities because, too often, people only see us for that disability. In truth, we are so much more. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this Disability Pride Month and in celebrating the strength and perseverance of the disability community. Why did Congresswoman Wexton need Artificial Intelligence to speak? How did AI pull it off? And what was did she sound like before AI cloned her voice? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast “The Weekly.” Find C-SPAN's “The Weekly” wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your co-hosts Erin & Lily have a special in-person segment for the first time ever on the podcast. They Kick things off by discussing the significance of Disability Pride Month and the joys of creating content together as friends who are both disabled.They also discuss some light-hearted topics like newfound interests—Erin's evolving relationship with pizza and Lily's dive into the world of fantasy books, including some great disability representation in certain titles. They get real about the power of virtual friendships, especially within the disability community, and how these connections help navigate their experiences authentically.Timestamps09:19 Embracing wheelchair for comfort21:02 Public perception and aging with disability26:21 Masculinity, ableism, and disability31:51 Susan B. Anthony's advocacy35:09 Government, ableism, and organizing change48:18 Theater accessibility solutions52:19 Budget pushback on accessibility59:55 Theater, friendships, and communityConnect with Lily NewtonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-newton-3b0b5b229Website: https://www.easterseals.com/Connect with Erin HawleyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhawley2Website: https://www.easterseals.com

In this episode of Disability Inclusion: Required, host Emily Ladau welcomes Rebecca Williford, Esq., President & CEO of Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), for a conversation in honor of Disability Pride Month and the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rebecca shines a spotlight on the important work of DRA, a national nonprofit disability rights legal center that fights systemic discrimination against people with disabilities through impact litigation.Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank you to Recording Artists And Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD) for connecting these talented disabled musicians with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum.

This episode is about disability pride month. I got be part of this rare uquie  webinar

If you are disabled and are reading this: We see you. We affirm you. We love you. The world would be boring as heck without people like you in it. This episode of Reading Freely is all about Disability Pride Month and celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anniversary, signed into law in 1990. Listen as ACLU of Maryland staffer, Nicole McCann, takes us through why we must center disability accessibility and inclusion in everything we do. And provides great resources for anyone looking to strengthen their understanding of disability accessibility. Check out the written version: aclu-md.org/en/news/waving-my-disability-pride-flag-all-around For more information: sinsinvalid.org/blog/10-principles-of-disability-justice mdod.maryland.gov/mdtap/Pages/social.aspx

Solidarity. Agency. Creativity. Those are just some of the words that describe Chicago's disability arts scene. It's Disability Pride Month, which honors the history and experiences of disability communities. But disabled artists are pushing the city's creative scene forward on a year-round basis. Reset sat down with painter Riva Lehrer, media artist Andy Slater, and dancer Robby Lee Williams. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Your co-hosts Erin & Lily have a special segment today called “Just Between Us!” Today's episode is all about the importance of Disability Pride Month. They share their thoughts on why it's crucial to celebrate being disabled and not just focus on ableism. Erin & Lily also discuss how pride in their identities as disabled people and as friends empowers them. We hope you enjoy today's real (and unfiltered) episode. Happy Disability Pride Month!Timestamps04:06 Claiming pride in queer and disabled identity.06:46 I understand the need to educate, but...13:14 Navigating disability pride in online content.14:12 Discussion on sharing disabled experiences and challenges.18:06 Experience of cultural recognition.21:38 Embracing disability pride, simplifying routines for ease.28:25 Being proud of oneself fights ableism.Connect with Lily NewtonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-newton-3b0b5b229Website: https://www.easterseals.com/Connect with Erin HawleyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhawley2Website: https://www.easterseals.com/

July is Disability Pride Month and today we're exploring autism through an episode of The Stoop podcast, hosted by KALW's Hana Baba and Leila Day. When we think about autism diagnosis, we often think about kids. But when you're Black, a lot of the time you won't know you're autistic until you're all grown up.

We're marking Disability Pride Month by revisiting my 2022 interview with Dr. Joel Snyder, a pioneering force in the field of audio description. Dr. Snyder delves into the origins and evolution of audio description, a crucial service that makes visual media accessible to those who are blind or have low vision. He shares his journey from theater and voice work to becoming a key advocate and innovator in the field, highlighting the importance of audio description in theaters, museums, television, film, and streaming services.Dr. Snyder explains the meticulous process of creating audio description, emphasizing the need for vivid, imaginative, and succinct language that complements the original artwork without overshadowing it. He discusses the growing acceptance and implementation of audio description across various art forms, including dance and opera, and the significant role that technology and advocacy play in its expansion.  Today's podcast offers a profound look at how audio description enriches the cultural landscape for all and underscores the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in the arts.

LACHI is a multifaceted artist, celebrated for her prowess as a singer, songwriter, and producer, as well as her advocacy for disability visibility and rights. Born with a visual impairment, LACHI has used her platform to challenge and redefine the narratives surrounding disability in the music industry. Her unique blend of electronic pop, soul, and dance music has earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base worldwide. Beyond her musical achievements, LACHI is a prominent speaker and activist, working tirelessly to promote inclusivity and accessibility in all aspects of life. Particularly fitting in July, which is Disability Pride Month, her inspiring journey and unwavering commitment to her craft and community make her a powerful and influential figure in both the arts and social advocacy realms. --- --- --- HOLISTIC GODDESS Holistic Goddess is a sanctuary for those seeking holistic health solutions. Visit https://holisticgoddess.com/?ref=crvifyla and use the code 'Understood' for 15% off site-wide, no limit of use, and applies to subscriptions and one-time purchases. --- --- --- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rachel on Instagram!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RachelUchitelNYC Executive Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Carmona Please like, share, subscribe, and give us a 5-star review! Do you have show ideas, media requests or sponsorship opportunities? Email the show at: ru@missumedia.com Listen on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch every episode on YouTube & Rumble “Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel Podcast”  Check out Rachel's Patreon: https://patreon.com/MissUnderstoodwithRachelUchitel?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

In this week's episode I welcomed back Aubrey Smalls. Aubrey is an actor, filmmaker, and content creator with dwarfism who uses his platforms to educate people about what it means to be a little person and dwarfism history. We discuss how the historical beliefs, behaviors, perceptions and prejudices towards people with dwarfism have persisted and evolved through to present day in a world where conversations are now being driven by algorithms and the mainstream media and how it impacts the dwarfism community. Follow Aubrey: Instagram: @theaubreysmalls , @dwarfismhistory TikTok: @aubreysmalls Website: https://www.dearaverageheightpeople.com Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.

In this episode, Patty celebrates Disability Pride Month with guest Melanie Dunn, a double amputee and program director at the Aimee Copeland Foundation. Melanie shares her extraordinary journey through countless surgeries to finding healing in nature. Discover how the foundation's flagship program, All Terrain Georgia, is transforming lives by providing all-terrain vehicles to individuals with disabilities, enabling them to explore state and national parks. Don't miss this motivational story and details on how you can support this life-changing initiative. Find more about Melanie: www.aimeecopeland.org       www.allterraingeorgia.orgFacebook@allterraingeorgia (instagram) Sweepstakes Your Daily Chocolate is in the top 10% of podcasts worldwide, so let's boost it up even higher. Take 10 seconds today and share the show with some friends that you know will love it, and make 2024 an even brighter year for those you care about. Please consider supporting this podcast with a modest contribution here - just hit the "support" button to continue to hear good news from big name inspiring guests - Ad free! Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter at yourdailychocolate.com for extra content and all sorts of good stuff. If you like the show, please rate and review, or share it with anyone you think would like a little good news in their life. You can also subscribe to Your Daily Chocolate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your preferred platform. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patty-deutsche/support

Kimberly Cohn, the Chief Marketing Communications Officer for Easterseals of Southern California and Andy Arias, a national policy expert for marginalized communities, join Hal to discuss Disability Pride Month.

It's Friday, July 26th, A.D. 2024. This is The World View in 5 Minutes, written by yours truly and heard at www.TheWorldView.com. Filling in for Adam McManus, I'm Ean Leppin. Hope emerging in Indonesia International Christian Concern, or the ICC, reports that residents living near the Tesalonika Church in Indonesia rioted and demanded that the church cease its worship activities. The footage of the rioters went viral on social media this week. A representative of the church stated that the church had been gathering inside a home because their lease for their previous place of worship had expired. Churches that meet in larger cities in Indonesia can generally worship openly; however, churches in smaller villages are increasingly challenged, threatened, and attacked. The ICC goes on to say, “Muslims are increasingly leaving Islam to follow Jesus, and devoted Muslims are taking notice. At the same time, religious tolerance is increasing in Indonesia and some churches are finally gaining approval to construct their own buildings after years and even decades of waiting.” Please pray to praise God for the growth of Christianity in Indonesia and to give boldness and strength for those who continue to face persecution. Jesus prayed for the church in John 17:16-19: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” Pro-life groups branded terrorists? Are pro-life Americans and groups branded as terrorists by the US Army? In a word … yes. Lifenews.com reported that journalist Sam Shoemate exposed a terrorism briefing held at Fort Liberty where they listed several pro-life organizations as terrorist organizations. Shoemate posted this on X on July 10th. They specifically named US Right to Life and Operation Rescue as terrorist organizations. The military facility has since recalled the slide that was in the presentation and revised it. In their own post on X, they said, “After conducting a commander's inquiry, we determined that the slides presented on social media were not vetted by the appropriate authorities, and do not reflect the views of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty, the US Army or the Department of Defense. These slides will no longer be used, and all future training products will be reviewed to ensure they align with the current DoD anti-terrosism guidance.” Ted Budd, a senator from North Carolina, issued a letter in response on July 12th, saying, “The Army must fully renounce this attack on pro-life Americans and conduct a full investigation to ensure similar materials aren't being used at other installations.” It has been revealed that these slides have been in use for the past 7 years at Fort Liberty. Articles of impeachment filed against Kamala Harris WGN News reports that six Democrats have joined House Republicans in voting to condemn the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris in her role as US border czar. Earlier this year, GOP Lawmakers impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his failure to secure the border. Representative Andy Ogles from Tennessee has filed articles of impeachment against Harris. In an interview with Fox News Representative Ogles said this. CLIP: "We have a crisis…failure" Ogles goes on to say that this is not only his duty, but that time is also of the essence! CLIP: "I have an oath…if you will" Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” First US House member to deliver floor speech using AI voice clone As reported by AP News, a rare neurological disorder called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, or PSP, took the voice of Representative Jennifer Wexton from Virginia. A new AI technology made it possible for her to speak before the House on Thursday! Rep Wexton spoke as a voice for other people with disabilities during Disability Pride Month. She also became the first House member in history to speak using an AI clone of her own voice. Here is part of her statement. CLIP: "I also never…so much more" Boy in foster care allowed to stay with disabled brother Finally, reported on Good news network.org, Dawson and his older brother Dalton were two brothers who were in the foster system together. Staying together was very important to Dawson because his brother Dalton has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, is non-verbal, and a quadriplegic. Keeping them together in the adoption process would be very challenging! But thanks to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a couple from Florida, and the grace of God, the boys are now together and in a new home with a loving family. That couple is Steven and Robbin. Robbin says that she couldn't have asked for better sons. She says, “Dawson is the person he is because he got the opportunity to keep his brother. It's half of him-that's his heart.” As for Dawson, he wants to grow up to be a doctor so that he can take care of people that have needs similar to that of his big brother. Close And that's The World View on this Friday, July 26th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. Or, get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

We've missed you all! We're back with our 5th season!  Given the state of our world, Mom and I are centering the urgnecy of rooting in God's radical love; our guiding verse of scripture this season is 1 Cornithians 13:13 - "And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Throughout this episode, we discuss embodying God's call to love radically, building beloved community, connecting more deeply with God in prayer (and some ways to do this), while also centering prayer for the many who are suffering in Palestine (hostages both Israeli and Palestinian), Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and here, within the U.S. as we live through election season.  Mom and I also uplift some upcoming guests this season - Lindsey Krinks, co-founder of Open Table Nashville (outreach and advocacy for persons experiencing homelessness)  and author of Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets, Kaitlin Johnstone, co-founder of Kind Cotton (tees and merch. that powers the distribution of inclusive books for kids across the country), Porsche Veu (@ThePoeticActivist - poet, speaker, educator and artist) and Christians for a Free Palestine, among others. And this Disability Pride Month, we hear the voice of disabled Chrisitan civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer who said: "Nobody's free, until everybody's free."   Resources Mentioned during this Epsiode: Three Ways to Show Up for Disability Pride Month, a blog post written by our co-host, Emelda "E" for her  small business and communinity, When Motherhood Looks Different, LLC, inspired by her daughter Nai who is neurodivergent.  Check out this article on disabled voices of faith to start learning from today, including My Body is not a Prayer Request by Amy Kenny and Dr. Hardwick, The Autism Pastor.  Friends of Congo Munther Isaac and Christ at the Checkpoint  Sudanese American Physicians Association  Rabbis4Ceasefire  Pray with our Feet Shop:  Check out our online shop - official podcast tee, Pray with our Feet, The Revolution Needs our Joy tee, our water bottles, and more! Use the discount Code CELEBRATE5  for free shipping until Sunday, September 1!  Move It Forward Monday IG Live Series - @PrayWithOurFeet New season of our Move it Forward Monday IG Live series (now bi-monthly); the latest chat on Trauma-Informed Activism & Healing is with Kimberly Brazwell, founder of KiMISTRY, a story strategy firm that specializes in trauma informed social justice. One of her latest offerings (which is a series of books) -Jotnal Book (The Phoenix Edition), grounds us in this practice. Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer. 

VP Harris addresses educators at national convention in Houston; Recent SCOTUS ruling impacts VA and nation; CA advocates raise awareness for Disability Pride Month; Rural MN communities gain expanded public transportation options.

VP Harris addresses educators at national convention in Houston; Recent SCOTUS ruling impacts VA and nation; CA advocates raise awareness for Disability Pride Month; Rural MN communities gain expanded public transportation options.

Listen to our new Sitting Down with Dr. Dan episode! On today's episode, Dr. Dan and Parent Footprint audio engineer (and #GirlDad) Phil answer your new listener questions about Disability Pride Month, summer jobs, racism, and more. Every month Dr. Dan answers questions about parenting (and adulting, too!) on our Sitting Down with Dr. Dan episodes which drop the last Thursday of the month. Please email your parenting questions to podcast@drdanpeters.com or DM us on social media. We read every question and we want to consider yours for a future bonus episode. We love hearing from you! Follow us @parentfootprintpodcast (Instagram, Facebook) and @drdanpeters (X). Learn about more podcasts @exactlyright on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please support our podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4bqTWJ2 For more information: www.exactlyrightmedia.com  www.drdanpeters.com Dr. Dan's expertise and wisdom is not a diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on the Parent Footprint podcast should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Anyone seeking medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Please reach out to your doctor for advice or a qualified health provider regarding medical conditions, questions, or situations. The information provided on Parent Footprint and by Dr. Dan is for entertainment purposes only, and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Dr. Dan does not know your child, is not your child's doctor, and has not treated your child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peloton Interactive Instructor Logan Aldridge opens up to hosts Rob and Becs about the tragic wakeboarding accident that led to him losing his left arm when he was just 13 years old. Logan eventually had to learn to adapt to a new way of doing daily tasks like writing with his right hand as he was lefthanded before the accident. Inspired to be the best he could be physically, he started working out regularly, adapting exercises along the way. Now as an adaptive training specialist, Logan empowers other trainers and athletes to find ways to adapt workouts to meet each individual's fitness needs. He ran his first marathon last year and is setting his sights on running the TCS New York City Marathon on November 3.Join the Set the Pace team as we close out Disability Pride Month with Logan Aldridge, adaptive training specialist and Peloton Interactive instructor. FOLLOW NYRR: Instagram | Facebook | X | TikTok SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.DISCLAIMERSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, hosts Haley Moss and Dr. Lori Butts discuss Disability Pride Month, share life updates, and talk about the importance of simple joys. A TRANSCRIPTION FOR THIS EPISODE CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://differentbrains.org/disability-pride-month-spectrumly-speaking-ep-159/ ----------------- Spectrumly Speaking is the podcast dedicated to women on the autism spectrum, produced by Different Brains®. Every other week, join our hosts Haley Moss (an autism self-advocate, attorney, artist, and author) and Dr. Lori Butts (a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, and licensed attorney) as they discuss topics and news stories, share personal stories, and interview some of the most fascinating voices from the autism community. Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ http://differentbrains.org/category/spectrumlyspeaking/

Film critic tt stern-enzi shares his film and streaming picks with stories centered around persons with disabilities.

As we continue to celebrate Park and Recreation Month, we're excited to highlight a story that truly embodies our theme of “Where You Belong.” Today's episode is all about ensuring opportunities to recreate and spend time in nature are available to all, regardless of ability. And, it's perfect timing because July is also Disability Pride Month!   We are so thrilled to chat with Caitlin Marcotte, an operations specialist IV adaptive manager at Charlottesville (Virginia) Parks and Recreation, and Sarah Kyriacopoulos, a member of the Charlottesville community who has participated in the city's adaptive program for years. They both shared so much wonderful insight, and it was really inspiring to hear how the programs that Caitlin and the agency offer are having a positive impact on Sarah and others in the community. Tune in to the full story below to learn more about Charlottesville Parks and Recreation's adaptive recreation program. You'll also learn: What adaptive recreation is and why it's so important How Charlottesville Parks and Recreation is committed to serving the diverse needs of its community, especially its disabled population What types of adaptive recreation programs are available to the community (and there are a lot!) What programs Sarah enjoys and how they have benefitted her Why creating a sense of belonging really comes down to making space for building community And much more! Learn More: Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Adaptive Recreation Department Contact Caitlin Marcotte Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on Facebook  Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on Instagram Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on X Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on YouTube Pictured: Charlottesville Adaptive Recreation Department staff and program participants go on a whitewater rafting excursion on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Photo by RVA Paddle Sports.

How can we use this last week of Disability Pride Month to celebrate the unique insights into human and divine nature that disability can bring? For starters, we can learn from the wisdom of disabled activists and theologians, which is what you'll find in this episode. Click here for an episode transcript. Talking Points: (0:00) Intro + Eli Clare on intersectional pride (5:35) Pastor Lamar Hardwick: ableism = the fear of being human (9:10) Letiah Fraser: our fragile, mortal bodies are where we meet God (12:15) Rabbi Julia Watts Belser + Laura Sommer: disabled bodies' unique insights into the divine (22:00) John M. Hull: encountering God beyond light and dark (25:50) Bekah Anderson's meditation on the Body of God, "with every ability and every disability in the world"; wrapping up Other episodes that dig into disability: Our Pride Is Not a Sin: A disabled and Christian lens No End to Transphobia without Uprooting Ableism: Exploring embedded forms of oppression Goodness Embodied: An intersex, nonbinary first human and a disabled risen Christ Marginalized Bodies as Spectacle & the Good News in Jesus' Disabling Wounds Making Space for Gethsemane: Two trans & disabled theologians discuss what people in pain actually need How Shiva Gave Rudra Their Name: The life of a disabled nonbinary Fijian Canadian “We just want to be heard”: Dee on Chile, race, disability, and trans rights Eli and the Prophet Elijah ____ This show's theme song is "Aetherium" by Leah Horn. This episode also makes use of "Flies on the Prize," "Beaconsfield Villa Stomp," "I Snost, I Lost," and "His Last Share of the Stars" by Doctor Turtle.

Amanda McGrory, a four-time Paralympian and seven-time Paralympic medalist shares her journey as an elite athlete. She addresses the pervasive stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding disabled athletes and how they are often misrepresented in the media.Throughout the conversation, the importance of authentic representation in media and sports is highlighted, focusing on the significance of community support. She discusses her struggles with eating disorders and finding community through adaptive sports.Amanda discusses the critical need for authentic representation in sports and media, highlighting how real portrayals can create a more inclusive society. Her insights reveal that being a disabled athlete is just one facet of her multifaceted identity. Amanda advocates for a broader recognition of the everyday achievements of people with disabilities without sensationalism.Erin, Lily, and Amanda discuss disability pride and the power of community. Amanda shares about the lack of control she felt as a child and how that led to her struggles with eating. They talk about the power of finding community with other disabled people and how finding adaptive sports brought Amanda the community that led her to her own healing and sense of pride in her identity. Timestamps08:53 Amanda's athletic career trajectory.12:19 Athletes and inspiration are both complex issues.19:21 Realizing potential through disability and the inspiration narrative.24:55 The harm of overcoming narratives, Disability Pride Month.31:14 Amanda's unexpected career in broadcasting.34:12 Lived experience is crucial for understanding disability.39:15 Amanda's experience struggling with eating, finding support, and control.48:57 Airline staff often disregard the needs of disabled passengers.54:37 The importance of disability history.57:16 University of Illinois Galesburg campus program summary.01:02:18 Emphasizing the importance of accessibility, University of Illinois AccessibilityConnect with Amanda McGroryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-mcgroryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlechipped/?hl=enWebsite: http://www.amandamcgrory.com/

As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, Joyce takes time to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Judy Heumann a major American disability rights leader and activist. Originally aired: December 15, 2020, Joyce welcomes Judith Heumann, internationally recognized leader in the disability rights independent living movement, to the show. Judy worked with a wide range of activist organizations (including the Berkeley Center for Independent Living and the American Association of People with Disabilities), NGOs, and governments since the 1970s and has contributed greatly to the development of human rights legislation and policy benefiting disabled people. Judy discusses her new book, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, which was published in February 2020.

In this week's episode I sat down with Daisy Friedman. Daisy is a writer and director based out of New York City. Her history as a multi-organ transplant recipient has drawn her to create work that centers on the intersections of tradition, intimacy, embodiment, and disability. We discuss the spaces in between disabled and not, the power in telling disabled stories that are raw, visceral, and personal, the making and importance of her acclaimed short film As You Are, spoilers ahead, and much, much more. Watch As You Are: https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2024/05/07/as-you-are/ Follow Daisy: Instagram: @daisyfriedman_ Website: https://www.daisyfriedman.com Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this episode, Patty welcomes Matt Walker, president and CEO of Miracle by the Bay, an organization serving individuals with disabilities in Tampa Bay. Matt, born with cerebral palsy, shares his journey from playing baseball to surfing and leading community initiatives. He discusses an upcoming event to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act, aiming to raise awareness and provide resources. Learn about his impactful work and how to support his efforts in this inspiring conversation. Web: https://miraclebythebay.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/MiracleFL IG: https://www.instagram.com/miracle_by_the_bay/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGEhpaut9A4PLPAperpsAxg Your Daily Chocolate is in the top 10% of podcasts worldwide, so let's boost it up even higher. Take 10 seconds today and share the show with some friends that you know will love it, and make 2024 an even brighter year for those you care about. Please consider supporting this podcast with a modest contribution here - just hit the "support" button to continue to hear good news from big name inspiring guests - Ad free! Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter at yourdailychocolate.com for extra content and all sorts of good stuff. If you like the show, please rate and review, or share it with anyone you think would like a little good news in their life. You can also subscribe to Your Daily Chocolate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your preferred platform. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patty-deutsche/support

Text Us!In this episode of Raising Disabled we asked our Instagram and Facebook friends what "disability pride" means to them as the parents of disabled kids.  Disability accounts we recommend:  Accessible Adventures @accessible.adventures Joy Davis @everydaywithjoy The Autism Dad @theautismdad Callie Colwick @calliecolwick Megan DeJarnett @megandejarnett Nina Tame @nina_tame Rebecca Koltun @rebecca_koltun Thank you to the following friends of Raising Disabled for their comments: @hkwoodley @amber_l_robertson @mariespero @caelajeannettewrites @psykodrjulie @vkretchm @wheelstratedtales @scarlettandmama @littlefacelens Breanna Estebana Mental Health App mentioned in the show - FinchPlease subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media to know about upcoming episodes and to participate in this podcast.Instagram - @raisingdisabledpodcastFacebook - Raising Disabled Podcast

Booster Gold: There are rumors going around that Kumail Nanjiani could be Booster Gold and Mike has concerns. Gen Z Boss In A Mini: In this pre-Trump was almost assassinated world we lived in while recording this, this was the biggest thing on the Internet. COSTCO GUYS: We fall down the Internet hole go through the cycle of hate to love of AJ and Big Justice, THE COSTCO GUYS. FUCK YOU WATCH THIS!, THE BEAR!, CHILDISH GAMBINO!, LITHONIA!, NOBODY GIVES A FUCK!, DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!, LET'S GET IT STARTED!, SHOOTING!, VAXXED!?, BOOSTER GOLD!, DC COMICS!, RUMORS!, KUMAIL NANJIANI!, THE WALKING DEAD!, PEDRO PASCAL!, THE LAST OF US!, BLUE BEETLE!, GLEN POWELL!, MONKEY'S PAW!, DANNY MCBRIDE!, GIRL BOSS!, PROJECT MANAGER!, HR!, EMAIL JOBS!, DANCE!, CHANT!, VIRAL!, GEN Z BOSS IN A MINI!, ITTY BITTY TITTIES AND A BOB!, 5 FOOT 3 AND AN ATTITUDE!, SECRET PRODUCT AND A TRENCH!, NEW FRANK GREEN AND A TRENCH!, STANLEY BOTTLE!, FAKE TAN HANDS AND A HOOP!, FREAK IN THE SHEETS AND A CALCULATOR!, RALPH GREEN SWEATS AND A LOAF!, SCRUNCHIE ON THE WRIST AND A CONNIE!, COSTCO GUYS!, AJ!, BIG JUSTICE!, SAM'S CLUB GUYS!, BOOM!, RAP!, FLUORIDE STARE!, FATHER AND ON!, FYP!, PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS!, DOUBLE CHUNK CHOCOLATE COOKIES!, JACKULA'S CASTLE!, SEAFOOD!, TIKTOK WEIRDOS!, ORGANIC!, LEAN INTO IT!, SELF AWARENESS!, PISS ON THE PLANE!, AMERICAN AIRLINES!, URINAL TROUGH!, ARRESTED!  You can find the videos from this episode at our Discord RIGHT HERE!

Join us with our special guest, Ms. Jenny Abeling, the author of "A Kids Book About Long-Term Care." We discuss what long-term care is, why it's important, and how kids and families can support those who need it. Discover the significance of Disability Pride Month and learn how celebrating our differences makes our community stronger and happier. Ms. Jenny shares her insights on the tasks someone receiving long-term care might need help with, and how caregiving can be influenced by culture and language. We also talk about our personal experiences with long-term care and how small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Tune in to hear how we can all play a role in supporting our friends, family members, and community members who need long-term care. Don't miss the heartwarming stories and practical tips for making a positive impact! Stay tuned for our next episode featuring Ms. Dorothy McCleod and Dr. Horace Alexander from the Jamaica Cultural Alliance, where we'll learn more about the beautiful island and people of Jamaica. Please purchase the book, A Kids Book About Long Term Care: https://akidsco.com/products/a-kids-book-about-long-term-care Connect with us: Website: culturekidsmedia.com Email: hello@culturekidsmedia.com Birthday shoutouts and more: hello@culturekidsmedia.com Gal Pal Productions: https://www.galpalproductions.com/ Ms. Jenny Abeling: https://www.jennyabeling.com/

In this episode of Compassion & Courage, Marcus and Marvelyne discuss Disability Pride Month and the importance of inclusivity and equal rights for individuals with disabilities. They share personal experiences and provide tips on how to interact respectfully with people with disabilities. The conversation emphasizes the need for compassion, active listening, and understanding. Marcus and Marvelyne also highlight the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in improving accessibility and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Key Moments00:00 - Introduction and Disability Pride Month02:40 - The Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)06:31 - Personal Perspectives on Disability Pride09:18 - Active Listening and Compassionate Responses13:16 - Offering Assistance and Support19:02 - Curiosity and Respectful Questions25:22 - Continuing the Journey of Education and Advocacy Resources for you:More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/Learn more about Marcus' Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/Learn more about I'm Here on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Im-Here-Audiobook/B0D1W3JJBPConnect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/Connect with The Hotness on Facebook: https://bit.ly/FB-MarvelyneSubscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcastSubscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast Date: 7/15/2024Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare Episode number and title: Episode 148 – Understanding the Essence of Patient-Centered Care

In this week's episode it is just me and the microphone as I sit in my thoughts and feels and reflect on the Little People of America national conference that just took place in Baltimore. I explain what the national conference is, reflect on what the week meant to me and yes, there was certainly some laughter and perhaps tears. Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com/ Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

Continuing our focus on Disability Pride Month, I started thinking that we all are different, but is disability just another form of different? It's one thing for an adult to stare at me in my power wheelchair and make unintentionally insensitive comments such as, “I wish I had one of those today!” or “Do you have a driver's license for that?” The reality is adults should know better, but such comments open the doors for a constructive conversation and teachable moments. Yet how do we talk to children about people living with disabilities? About people who, in their minds, seem “different.” The immediate reaction from their mannerly parents often is a stern, aggressively whispered phrase like, “Don't stare! That's not nice.” Is this the ideal way for parents to react? How should parents handle these situations with their children? Join us for this episode as Dan and I have a thoughtful conversation with Erica Miedema about the best way to approach this subject with her almost 10-year-old son, Maximus. The three of us delve into different approaches to talking with children who are curious about people with disabilities and how to turn their questions into truly teachable moments. P.S. You may remember Maximus when he was our podcast guest who interviewed us in Episode 51: From the runway to Walk MS. :-) Here are links to sites to help you continue this conversation: • Respecting Differences: How to Talk With Your Child About Disabilities • 10 Strategies for Talking to Kids About Disabilities • People First Language ***** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

July is Disability Pride Month! Learn more about the history, experiences, and contributions of the disabled community by reading books by authors with disabilities.On this episode, we also introduce the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge.Teens and adults, from now through December 30, 2024, keep track of books you read or listen to by writing the title and author in the matching square. Complete all 25 squares for a chance to win a $100 Joseph-Beth gift card or an Amazon Kindle. You'll also earn an enamel pin (while supplies last).Carrie's PickIn How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir, Lexington resident Shayla Lawson explores what it means to travel the world as a Black, nonbinary, and disabled person. The reader accompanies Lawson (who uses they/them pronouns) on journeys that span from young adulthood to early middle age, from New York City to Tokyo to Zimbabwe and many other places.Pairing: Banana Pie, a recipe found in the Bermuda entry of library database AtoZ World Food. (To log in, enter your library card number.)Michael's PickWhen Chuck Tingle's Bury Your Gays opens, Misha Byrne, a writer for the famed Harold Brothers' Studios, is on top of the world. His short film has been nominated for an Oscar and his popular television series, Travelers, is about to wrap its third season with a grand finale where the two agents finally confess their feelings for each other.Except now, the studio higher-ups want him to axe that part and have one of his agents tragically die “for the algorithm.” This satirical horror novel about creating stories is layered yet fast-paced and compelling, using unease and disorientation to ratchet up the tension. Pairing: A flute of California 75.Jacqueline's PickStorm and Fury is a paranormal YA novel set in a supernatural world full of gargoyles, demons, and a girl, Trinity, who must be protected at all costs. Trinity is lonely because she lives in a gargoyle compound. Only her Protector, Misha, and her father figures, Matthew and Thierry, know the truth about her past and what she is. Though Trinity is actually more powerful than any of the gargoyles, she must learn to compensate for her vision losses as she prepares for a supernatural battle.Pairing: Homemade vanilla ice cream.

In the US, there is something often called a 'marriage penalty' for people with disabilities. We dig into the very complicated and often heartbreaking details of what this is, and why the system was designed this way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erica offers up some YA books led by disabled characters to celebrate Disability Pride Month. There's a queer Greek retelling, autistic changelings, and a little polyamory, as a treat. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. To get even more YA news and recommendations, sign up for our What's Up in YA newsletter! Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books and Links Discussed Disability Pride Month Iron Widow's character bios Disability Visibility for Young Readers by Alice Wong Icarus by K. Ancrum Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vast majority of care recipients are exclusively receiving unpaid care from a family member, friend, or neighbor. The rest receive a combination of family care and paid assistance, or exclusively paid formal care. Whether you're a paid home care provider, or rely on personal assistance to meet your daily needs, or a family member caring for a loved one, the nature of the working relationship depends on mutual respect and dignity. During this week's anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we'll revisit the dynamic and complex relationship of care receiving and giving. Learn more about the story and find the transcript on radioproject.org. Making Contact digs into the story beneath the story—contextualizing the narratives that shape our culture. Featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world. EPISODE FEATURES: This episode features Camille Christian, home care provider and SEIU member Camille Christian & Brenda Jackson, home care providers & SEIU members; Patty Berne, co-founder and director, Sins Invalid; Jessica Lehman, executive director, San Francisco Senior and Disability Action; Kenzi Robi, president, San Francisco IHSS (In Home Supportive Services) Public Authority Governing Body; Rachel Stewart, queer disabled woman passionate about disability and employment issues; Alana Theriault, disability benefits counselor in Berkeley, California; Ingrid Tischer, director of development, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF); and Alta Mae Stevens, in-home caregiver. MAKING CONTACT: This episode is hosted by Laura Flynn & Anita Johnson. It is produced by Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Salima Hamirani, and Amy Gastelum, and Contributing Producers, Alice Wong and Stephanie Guyer-Stevens. Our executive director is Jina Chung.  MUSIC: This episode includes Dexter Britain: The Time To Run (Finale), Gillicuddy: Adventure, Darling, Steve Combs: March, Jason Shaw: Running Waters, Jared C. Balogh: BRICK BY BRICK DAY BY DAY, Jared C. Balogh: INCREMENTS TOWARDS SERENITY, Nheap: Crossings, Cherly KaCherly: The Hungry Garden, Trio Metrik: Vogelperspektive, & Kevin MacLeod: Faster Does It. Learn More: UCSF: UCSF Study Projects Need for 2.5M More Long-Term Care Workers by 2030 SEIU: Longterm Care Workers Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund Disability Visibility Project Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network National Disability Leadership Alliance Senior and Disability Action Sins Invalid San Francisco In Home Supportive Services Public Authority Family Caregiver Alliance  

In this episode, Chelsea Bear, a content creator and disability advocate, shares her experiences and challenges as a lifestyle influencer. Chelsea highlights the importance of embracing her disability wholeheartedly and the sense of community and validation it brings. She discusses how Disability Pride Month encourages individuals to own their disabilities proudly, even on tough days.The co-hosts Erin and Lily resonate with Chelsea's experiences, sharing their struggles and triumphs in accepting their disabilities, while emphasizing the transformative power of community and shared experiences.The episode showcases Chelsea's impactful transition from a public relations professional to a dynamic social media advocate. Her authentic and organic approach to content creation, driven by personal stories and unfiltered passion, sets her apart. Chelsea candidly discusses the pressures of being a disability advocate and the balance between addressing systemic issues and sharing her narrative.Timestamps00:00 Intros and Audio Descriptions03:39 Addressing assumptions about living with physical disability.08:24 PR career taught communication and brand values.11:45 Creating social content to connect and share.15:41 Pressure to advocate for disabilities in lifestyle.17:29 Learning journey, advocacy, spread awareness, disability, daily impact.20:34 Discussion on disability experience and authenticity concern.24:25 Welcoming community addressing accessibility and disabilities.29:20 Accepting disability empowers connection and self-worth.30:50 Taking ownership of identity leads to pride.36:38 Social media expanded my disability community connections.38:29 Social media can connect and empower people.42:37 Learning to navigate health challenges with openness.45:53 Medical schools need to be more inclusive.49:56 Embracing disability transformed my life positively.Connect with Chelsea BearLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseabear/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realchelseabear/?hl=en Website: https://chelseabear.com/ 

Are there gender differences in hearing and hearing loss? What about in how we listen and who we listen to? Yes and yes. Give this classic episode a listen to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of Disability Pride Month, this week's episode examines personal triumphs and societal challenges of being a person with disabilities in STEM. Part 1: As a deaf person, Alma Schrage doesn't see a place for herself in the traditional academic world of science. Part 2: After a fall leaves Jennifer Piatek paralyzed, she must rethink how she defines herself as a scientist. Alma Schrage is a bee biologist currently involved in conservation research for the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee. Deaf since birth, Alma uses American Sign Language and English. She often uses her finely honed lipreading and guessing skills to understand the sign-impaired and supports early sign language access for deaf and hard of hearing children of hearing parents. Alma often talks like a book because that's where she learned most of her English. Her hearing aids are great for discrete Bluetooth music streaming at inaccessible conferences. Jennifer L. Piatek is a planetary scientist who studies impact craters on Mars, a college professor teaching geology and astronomy courses, and in general someone who is just trying to navigate the world from a wheelchair. These two stories have been adapted from the book Uncharted: How Scientists Navigate Their Own Health, Research, and Experiences of Bias, for the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ALWAYS need to be doing something productive to justify your existence on this earth? Does taking a break make you feel like you've committed an atrocious crime? Yeah, about that… consider this an intervention! In our busy world, there's a lot of pressure to always be productive. We've started saying things like "rest is productive" because we know we need rest to be more efficient. But does rest always have to be about giving yourself that wee bit of breathing room to make yourself more productive later? OR, hear us out, can rest just be... REST?

In this episode, I talk about why I choose to identify as a disabled person and how my disabilities affect my everyday life. July is Disability Pride Month, a time for disabled individuals to speak only about how they are thriving (or surviving) in a world where they have historically been treated as less than. In my personal experience, living with both BPD and Autism, as well as my chronic pain condition, is disabling. My life is made up of accommodations I have put in place that help me to not feel as overwhelmed as I am and I am not afraid to embrace the identity of being disabled because that's the reality I live in. Some people might not agree that autism or BPD can be disabling but I hope that this episode serves as a reminder that many disabilities are hidden; many times, we have been forced to push ourselves so hard to fit into the world that we can't even begin to understand what accommodations we need or how we are struggling. It doesn't have to be this way. Thank you so much for listening to my words and giving me the space to process my thoughts. Sending you all my love

Sexuality and disability! Invisible illnesses! Airline frustrations! How many of us are disabled! July is Disability Pride Month, and professor, researcher, activist, and Disability Sociologist Guinevere Chambers joins to bust myths and provide perspective on everything from the history of ableism to sign language to eyeglasses, the criminal justice system, caregiving, how to ask for what you need, handling curious strangers, disclosing disabilities, where ADHD and autism come into play, and how to follow this study path. Follow Guinevere Chambers on LinkedIn and YouTubeA donation was made to HEARD (Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf) and The Trevor ProjectMore episode sources and linksSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesOther episodes you may enjoy: Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), LIFE ADVICE: For anyone who is tired & needs some hacks, Traumatology (PTSD), Addictionology (ADDICTION), Fearology (FEAR), Systems Biology (MEDICAL MATHEMATICS), Virology (COVID-19), Carobology (NOT-CHOCOLATE TREES), Dolorology (PAIN)Sponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, stickers, totes!Follow @Ologies on X and InstagramFollow @AlieWard on X and InstagramEditing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn

The gang & I discuss our addictions, crazy current events, Fishtank Live, & much more 

July 1990 marked the passing of a landmark piece of federal legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, known as the ADA. To recognize this event and to celebrate Disability Pride Month, we are uncovering the legacy of disability rights leader, Phyllis Zlotnick (1942-2011). Zlotnick was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at birth. Beginning in the 1970's, Phyllis recognized she was being “shut out” of society, a phrase she used in her writings and public testimonies at the Connecticut State Capitol.  She dedicated her life to claiming the right to participate in public life.  Executive Producer Mary Donohue spoke to author Arianna Basche about the challenges Zlotnick faced in her early life, her influence on Connecticut's accessibility policies, and her involvement in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Basche is the Ad Manager for Connecticut Explored magazine and is a historian and museum educator.  Her feature story on Zlotnick will be published in the Fall, 2024 issue of Connecticut Explored magazine.   Warning for listeners - this episode contains some words that are not used now to describe members of the disabled community such as handicapped.  These are taken from historic sources such as period newspaper stories or written first-hand accounts.    Zlotnick's papers are held in the Special Collections Archive at the University of Connecticut. For more information, go to: https://archivessearch.lib.uconn.edu/repositories/2/resources/1016   https://blogs.lib.uconn.edu/archives/2017/02/24/vulnerability-empowering-advocacy-the-phyllis-zlotnick-papers/   Photo credit: Phyllis Zlotnick papers, Special Collections Archives, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.   Subscribe to Connecticut Explored today to receive the fall issue with Zlotnick's story- get your subscription delivered in print to your mailbox or digitally to your inbox. Subscribe at: ctexplored.org   --------------------------------------------------------- Historic preservationist Frederic Palmer named his East Haddam house and the 50 acres it occupies “Dunstaffnage,” after a castle with the same name in Scotland. The prefix "dun" means "fort" in Gaelic, which perfectly captures the sense of protected sanctuary Frederic created for his LGBTQ friends, neighbors, and family to gather and live unhindered by societal norms. On July 13th, Connecticut Landmarks is excited to celebrate Scottish culture with the first ever Mid-Summer Pipes & Cider event on the grounds of Frederic Palmer's Dunstaffnage. Sip cider and connect with Scotland during a trail walk around the beautiful Palmer-Warner grounds led by Coreyanne Armstrong and Portland & District Pipers. Enjoy local cider tastings from Yankee Cider Co. including a signature “Dunstaffnage” bourbon that will transport you to the Scottish Moors through hints of Highland peat smoke. Bring your friends to test your knowledge in a round of Celtic-themed pub trivia, with prizes for first- and second-place teams. The bourbon is aging, and the pipers are practicing! For tickets, please visit ctlandmarks.org/midsummer.   ----------------------------------------------------------- Grating the Nutmeg brings you top-flight historians, compelling first-person stories, and new voices in Connecticut history. Your donation will ensure that Executive Producers Mary Donohue and Natalie Belanger can bring you a fresh episode at no cost every two weeks!  Donate here:https://ctexplored.networkforgood.com/projects/179036-support-ct-history-podcast-grating-the-nutmeg   This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan at https://www.highwattagemedia.com/   Follow GTN on our Facebook, Instagram and Threads pages.   This is Mary Donohue for Grating the Nutmeg. Follow me on my Facebook and Instagram pages @WeHaSidewalkHistorian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg.            

Carina Ho is dancer and musician who performs under the moniker ONIKHO. Having trained in dance and music since childhood, Carina joined AXIS Dance Company, a physically integrated dance company that casts dancers with and without disabilities, shortly after sustaining a spinal cord injury. Over the next two years she toured the United States with them until she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship, for which she relocated to Montevideo, Uruguay to teach at the national dance conservatory El SODRE. During this time, Carina also began developing her music project, which melds her influences of classical, blues, and electronic music. Today she primarily tours as a musical artist, often collaborating with other disabled artists to promote the visibility of diverse bodies in the arts.Her book, Mighty Mara introduces readers to a little girl named Mara who aspires to dance despite her disability