By Alice Wong: Disability Activist, Media Maker, Consultant
Conversations on disability politics, culture, and media.
Today's episode is all about podcasting with two disabled podcasters: Bri M. (@powernotpity) and Thomas Reid (@TSReid). Bri is the creator of the Power Not Pity podcast and Thomas is the creator of Reid My Mind. Both Bri and Thomas...
Today’s episode features an interview with Jeff Thomas, an urban Iroquois photographer, artist, researcher, public speaker, and curator based in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. Jeff will talk about racism, indigeneity, colonialism and how his photography re-contextualizes historical images of First...
Today’s episode is about disabled lawyers with Hamza Jaka (@HamzaAJaka) and Britney Wilson (@labelleverite). Hamza is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley’s School of Law. Hamza shares his experiences requesting accommodations for his LSATs, the gatekeeping nature of the legal...
Today’s episode is on Young Adult (YA) literature with Marieke Nijkamp (@mariekeyn) editor, author, founder of DiversifyYA and former senior Vice President of We Need Diverse Books. Marieke and I talked in 2018 about her second novel titled Before I...
Today’s episode is on care work with Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, a writer, cultural worker, teacher, and trainer based in the Pacific Northwest. Leah will discuss her recent book that came out in October 2018 titled, Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice....
Today’s episode is on design with my guest Liz Jackson (@elizejackson), founder of The Disabled List, a design organization that engages in disability as a creative practice. Liz will talk about her work with the design community, how material objects...
Today’s episode is on disability studies, an interdisciplinary field that examines disability as a social, cultural, and political phenomenon from variety of approaches. I speak with two scholars, Dr. Sami Schalk (@DrSamiSchalk) and Dr. Subini Annamma (@DrSubini), about their research,...
Today’s episode is on mental health and people of color. My guest today is Dior Vargas (@DiorVargas), a Latina Feminist Mental Health Activist and the creator of the People of Color and Mental Illness Photo Project. Dior will talk about...
Today's episode continues with our ongoing series highlighting disabled writers. My guest is Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay), a writer, speaker, and appearance activist based in Melbourne, Australia. Carly is the author of a new book titled, "Say Hello," and she'll talk...
Today’s episode is about disabled “fakers,” that is, the misconceptions and stereotypes of disabled people exaggerating or faking their disabilities. I talk with Doron Dorfman, incoming Associate Professor of Law at Syracuse University College of Law, who conducted two case...
Today’s episode is about is employment with two professors from the University of Illinois at Chicago about their research. First, Rooshey Hasnain will talk about a recent pilot project in partnership with the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services called ADOPT...
Today’s episode is about is about D/deaf people in prison. My guests are Claudia Center (@Claudia_SF) and TL Lewis (@talilalewis). Both Claudia and TL will talk about a case filed by the ACLU on June 20, 2018, on behalf of...
Today’s episode is about disabled writers with Keah Brown (@Keah_Maria), journalist, freelance writer, and creator of the hashtag #DisabledAndCute. Keah will talk about representation of disability in media and pop culture, tips for writers starting out, and a little preview...
Today’s episode is about sex education with Julia Bascom (@JustStimming) and Robin Wilson-Beattie (@sexAbled). Both Julia and Robin talk about what inclusive sex education looks like, bodily autonomy, and the right of all disabled to have pleasure and sexual expression....
Today’s episode is about food accessibility with Shona Louise (@shonalouiseblog), a disabled writer and activist from the UK. We talk about what food accessibility means for disabled people’s independence and health. We also discuss criticisms of pre-cut and prepared foods...
Today’s episode is about political participation featuring interviews with two disabled activists. First, I speak with Reyma McCoy McDeid (@RunReymaRun), Executive Director of the Central Iowa Center for Independent Living in Des Moines and a former candidate for state legislature....
Today's episode is about disabled entrepreneurs. First, I talk with 3 sisters in business together: Mary, Hannah, Emma Layden (IG: @lovebilinyc). Second, I talk with Tinu Abayomi-Paul (@tinu), a writer and a disabled entrepreneur who provides coaching services to other...
Today’s episode is about mentoring featuring two dynamic disabled mentors: Yolanda Vargas (@meekyetmighty) and Judy Heumann (@judithheumann). Both Yolanda and Judy share what mentoring means to them, their experiences mentoring others, and the mentors they had throughout their lives. Disability...
Today’s episode is about intersectionality featuring a conversation with Sandy Ho (@IntersectedCrip) and Jean-Luc Pierite (@neshoba78). Both Sandy and Jean-Luc will share what intersectionality means to them and their involvement with the Disability & Intersectionality Summit which will take place...
Today’s episode features an interview with musician, performer, and songwriter Gaelynn Lea (@GaelynnLea), winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk contest in 2016. Gaelynn talks about her activism, what it’s like on the road, accessibility in music venues as a disabled performer,...
Today’s episode is about disabled refugees featuring an interview with Dr. Mansha Mirza, Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Along with Dr. Rooshey Hasnain, Mansha is Co-Principal Investigator for a project called PRIDE, Partners of Refugees in...
Today’s episode is about disabled inventors, featuring an interview with Jane Hartman Adamé (@keelacup), Co-Founder and Co-Inventor of Keela Cup, a new menstrual cup designed for all types of bodies and abilities. Along with Co-Founder and Co-Inventor Andy Miller, Jane...
Today’s episode is about film criticism with two disabled film critics, Kristen Lopez (@Journeys_Film) and Angelo Muredda (@amuredda). Kristen and Angelo discuss how they became film critics, the challenges of being a disabled film critic, and why film criticism is...
Today’s episode is about robotics featuring an interview with Kavita Krishnaswamy, a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Kavita will share how she got into robotics and the access barriers she faces in STEM...
Today’s episode features disabled people in STEM with guests Liz Henry (@lizhenry), Jennison Asuncion (@Jennison) and Josh Miele (@BerkeleyBlink). Liz, Jennison, and Josh share how they got into tech, their STEM educational experiences, and their recommendations on how the tech...
Today’s episode is on chronic pain with guests Alecia Deon (@AConjureWoman) and Sarah Blahovec (@sblahov). Alecia shares her experiences getting prescription medications and accessing healthcare as a person with sickle cell anemia. Sarah talks about some of the major misconceptions...
Today’s episode is on the future of independent living with my guests Eli Gelardin (@EliGelardin) and Allie Cannington (@AllieCannington). Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement driven by people with disabilities that started in the 1960s. As a result,...
Today’s episode features a conversation with two disabled actors working in New York City: Shannon Devido (@shannondevido) and Ryan Haddad (@RyanJHaddad). Both are triple threats-- actors, writers, and performers. You’ll hear them talk about why they love acting and how...
Today's episode is about activism, disability justice and community organizing. My guest is Sarah Jama (@SarahJama_) an organizer focused on disability justice and anti-racism based in Hamilton, Ontario. You'll hear how Sarah became an activist and the various approaches she...
Today’s episode is about paratransit with my guests Denise DiNoto (@deescribes) and Jess Moye (@Avg_Rarity). Our last episode was about public transit and paratransit is specific type taken by some people with disabilities and older adults. Denise and Jessica share...
Today’s episode is about public transit with my guests Maria Sotnikova and Alejandra Ospina (@superaleja_). Maria describes what it’s like using the MARTA transit system in Atlanta, Georgia and Alejandra shares her experiences riding the subway in New York City’s...
Today’s episode is damn funny with comedians Maysoon Zayid (@maysoonzayid) and Danielle Perez (@DivaDelux). Maysoon and Danielle share how they got started in comedy, the barriers they face in the entertainment industry, what they find funny, and the role of...
Today’s episode is about Asian American women and mental health with guests Emily Wu Truong (@emilywspeaks) and Jessica Gimeno (@JessicaGimeno). You’ll hear Emily and Jessica talk about their personal stories, experiences within Asian American communities, and their mental health advocacy....
Today's episode is about storytelling with Cuquis Robledo (@cuquis_robledo) and Emily Ladau (@emily_ladau). Cuquis and Emily both work at Rooted in Rights, a media organization that produces stories on disability rights issues. They will share what makes a good story,...
Today’s episode is about accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act with Lia Seth (@LiaSeth) and Dara Baldwin (@NJDC07). Lia shares her experiences navigating public spaces as person with an invisible disability and a recent experience at a music venue...
Today's episode is about invisible disabilities with Tiffany Peterson @TiffanyAndLupus and Linda Williams @EndInvisibility. Tiffany and Linda share their lived experiences as women with invisible disabilities, the misconceptions about invisible disabilities, and the need for language and symbols about disability...
There are plenty of documentaries about disabled people but very few are directed, written, or produced by disabled people. Today’s episode features a conversation with two filmmakers: Jen Brea of … Continue Reading Ep 16: Disabled Filmmakers
Today's episode is about the latest Star Trek tv series, Star Trek: Discovery. Guests Andrew Pulrang (@AndrewPulrang) and Day Al-Mohamed (@DayAlMohamed) join Alice in a conversation about disability representation in Star Trek: Discovery, what we hope to see the from...
Today’s episode is about emergency preparedness and disabled people. 2017 has been a trying year in more ways than one. Evacuation and preparedness doesn’t look the same for people … Continue Reading Ep 14: Emergency Preparedness
Today’s episode is on autonomy with Kim Sauder, a blogger and PhD student in critical disability studies who is passionate about disability rights, activism, advocacy & scholarship. Kim and Alice … Continue Reading Ep 13: Autonomy and Disabled People
Today’s episode is on advocacy, intersectionality & mental health with Victoria Rodríguez-Roldán, Director of the Trans/Gender Nonconforming Justice Project and the Disability Justice Project at the National LGBTQ Task … Continue Reading Ep 12: Advocacy, Intersectionality & Mental Health
Today’s episode is about crip bodies and crip aging. Alice speaks with Patty Berne and Leroy Moore, two people who have a lot of wisdom to share about their bodies … Continue Reading Ep 11: Crip Bodies and Crip Aging
Today’s episode features two Deaf and disabled media makers on YouTube: Rikki Poynter and Annie Segarra. Rikki and Annie talk about the creative process and work behind creating accessible videos, … Continue Reading Ep 10: Deaf and Disabled Women on YouTube
Today’s episode is on Medicaid and Community Living. Alice is joined by filmmaker, writer, activist Dominick Evans and non-profit program specialist, activist, fashionista Andraéa LaVant about their experiences with Medicaid in their … Continue Reading EP 9: Medicaid and Community Living
Today’s episode is on disabled people in public service. Maria Town, Director of the Mayor’s Office on People with Disabilities for the City of Houston and Walei Sabry, Housing … Continue Reading Ep 8: Disabled People in Public Service
Today’s episode is on violence and disabled people. Activists Mahdia Lynn and Dustin Gibson join Alice for a conversation about police violence toward people with disabilities, police accountability, and … Continue Reading Ep 7: Violence and Disabled People
Today’s episode is on labor, care work, and disabled queer femmes. Writer and cultural worker Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha and social justice activist Stacey Milbern join Alice in a conversation … Continue Reading Ep 6: Labor, Care Work, and Disabled Queer...
This episode celebrates the science fiction drama Orphan Black (BBC America) which ended in the summer of 2017 with their fifth and final season. Alice talks with superfans Maelee … Continue Reading Ep 5: “Orphan Black,” Reproductive Justice, and Disabled...
This episode is on disabled people in media and representation. Alice talks with social justice journalist s.e. Smith and Vilissa Thompson, a disability rights consultant, writer, and advocate. There are … Continue Reading Ep 4: Disabled People in Media &...
This episode is on immigration and the Latinx disability community. Alice talks with two activists from Chicago and Oakland: Michelle Garcia and Alicia Contreras. There’s little known or written … Continue Reading Ep 2: Immigration and Disability