In this fourth installment of our Immigration Mini Series, we’re revisiting Qudsiya’s conversation with Set Hernandez, creator of the award winning documentary film "unseen," and the film’s protagonist, Pedro. Despite the headlines about mass deportation and ICE’s draconian enforcement practices, and the many conversations among advocates and policymakers about the need to reform our broken immigration system, the stories and lived experiences of undocumented people, and particularly those with disabilities, are almost always relegated to the shadows.

Unseen is groundbreaking as a film because it seeks to change this reality by centering the perspective of disabled immigrants. Through Pedro’s story, and the many hands of the undocumented, disabled, and LGBTQ team that brought the film to life, "unseen" is a powerful example of how storytelling and cultural work like films and, yes, even podcasts can inspire hope and compel action simply by allowing people to see themselves and their experiences in the stories of others. Exposing ourselves to these stories is more important than ever so we can remember that we are not alone

For more about Set, Pedro, and "unseen," check out the original episode page. You can also find more information and resources on immigration and disability, plus all the ways you can watch and share "unseen" by visiting the film’s website.

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This week, our immigration mini series takes a slightly different angle on the relationship between disability and immigration. We as a country have  spent the last year grappling with the Trump administration’s hateful and xenophobic rhetoric about immigrants, who have been framed as dangerous criminals and burdens on American society. But it’s important to remember that immigrants have been, and always will be, the lifeblood of our country.

This is clearly demonstrated in Bhavna Mehta’s reflections about immigrating to the U.S. as a graduate student in computer science, And how it compared with the experience of becoming disabled. It brings to mind the disability justice principles of cross movement and cross disability solidarity. We are all better off when we join hands across borders—Both geographic, and the borderlands that are our bodies.

To learn more about Bhavna and her work, check out the original episode page.

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In the next installment of our immigration mini series, we’re rebroadcasting the episode, “Empowering disabled refugees,” with Mustafa Rfat from Season 6. Since coming into office, the Trump administration has suspended refugee resettlement, strangled the asylum process, set the lowest refugee admissions cap ever, issued travel bans for immigrants coming from dozens of countries, and eliminated vital services for refugees resettling in the United States. All of these actions have disproportionate impacts for refugees with disabilities, who, according to some estimates, constitute nearly a third of the global refugee population.

Check out the original episode page for more about Mustafa Rfat and his research. Also be sure to read his latest article in the Lancet, which highlights the health harms that result from lack of communication access for asylum seekers in detention under the current administration’s deportation policies, which blatantly disregard disability rights laws.

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As the Trump administration Continues to unleash Immigration officers into our communities from Los Angeles to Minneapolis, to murder and terrorize undocumented people and citizens alike, we wanted to highlight the specific dangers that disabled immigrants face, and the disabling impacts of ICE enforcement and detention in this very special mini series on the intersection of immigration and disability.

We’ll start by reprising our season 2 premiere, Law, policy, and disabled immigrants, Featuring immigration and disability experts Katherine Perez and Roxana Moussavian. This episode is an excellent primer on the history of racism and ableism in the American immigration system, and how the targeting and exclusion of disabled immigrants continues to manifest in modern immigration law and policy. This is an urgent listen to help us all understand how we arrived at our current moment.

You can find more information and resources on the original episode page on our website. Also check out Qudsiya’s recent op-ed with esteemed co-author Conchita Hernandez Legorreta about the critical need to bring disability thinking into the movement for immigrant liberation.

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After Alice's passing late last week, we wanted to reshare Qudsiya's conversation with her. Alice Wong was a disabled activist, author and podcaster behind “Disability Visibility,” and the first person Qudsiya reached out to for advice on podcasting.
In their conversation, Alice tells Qudsiya what she’s learned about the visibility of the disabled experience in media and culture, and her desire to contribute to those narratives by telling her own story. They also discuss the need for more financial support for disabled creatives, as well as better representation in journalism and other media.

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To wrap up our 10th season, we’re delighted to share the second part of Qudsiya’s conversation with Blind Birder extraordinaire, Jerry Berrier. In the second half of their chat, Jerry introduced Qudsiya to the vast diversity of birdsong, including particular birds he enjoys listening to in his local area in Massachusetts, plus lots of fun facts about birds and their behavior.

He also shared several resources that you can use to enjoy and learn more about the birds in your community, including Merlin Bird ID, Larkwire, All About Birds, and Jerry’s website, birdblind.org.Listen to part one here.

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This Disability Pride Month isn’t just about celebrating the disability community: it marks a season of resistance. Our very existence is under threat, from drastic cuts to the social safety net, to vile attacks on the autistic community, a full-on assault on transgender lives, and the terrorizing of immigrants.

But this is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that those who face oppression and state violence have leaned on each other to challenge the forces that seek to erase us. In her powerful new essay, “We Are Not Ok…And We Will Keep Resisting,” disability justice activist Conchita Hernandez Legorreta powerfully captures the pain, joy, and resistance of living at the intersection of immigration and disability.

Her story, like so many others, is one of trauma, state violence, and exploitation. But it is also a story about care, community, joy, and resistance.

Please take care when listening, as this episode includes depictions of trauma and violence.

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We have a few more surprises in store for you this season, including this very special, two-part bonus episode. Qudsiya sat down with Jerry Berrier. Jerry is a member of Birdability.org, an organization dedicated to making birding accessible to all. He is also a member of the Bay State Council of the Blind.

Jerry and Qudsiya explored the world of blind birding, chatted about Jerry’s work to develop nature trails that are accessible to all, and how he and a group of other blind birders planned the first ever national blind birder bird-a-thon in May 2025. Be sure to stay tuned for part two of their conversation, coming in a couple of weeks. We promise you, it'll be a hoot!

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For our season finale, we'll travel across continents for Qudsiya’s conversation with Priti Salian, a journalist, media consultant, and trainer based in Bengaluru, India. Priti’s work focuses on gender equality, disability, and inclusion through the lens of human rights and solutions based journalism. She is the creator of the acclaimed newsletter Reframing Disability.

Priti and Qudsiya discussed Priti’s interest in disability coverage in India, her groundbreaking research as a fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism about the representation of disabled journalists in Indian newsrooms, and solutions for ensuring that disabled journalists thrive and that disability coverage reflects the diversity and dynamism of the disability community in India and beyond.

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Over the last few episodes, we've talked about disability rights, history, the law, and intersectional movement building. Today we're going to dive into another important aspect of the disability experience—disability culture.

We'll listen in on Qudsiya’s conversation with Dagny Brown and Mika Weissbuch, two of the three co-directors of the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center, or DCC. Dagny and Mika recounted the DCC origin story, their vision for its role in San Francisco and beyond, and Qudsiya, Dagny, and Mika talked about why creating a shared space and experiences for people of all backgrounds, regardless of whether they identify as being disabled or not, is a powerful tool for breaking down stigma and confronting ableism.

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