Qudsiya interviews Eli Dvorkin from the Center for an Urban Future about the new report, Access Opportunity: Expanding Economic Opportunity for New Yorkers with Disabilities. New York City experienced a nearly 10% increase in the unemployment rate among city residents with disabilities from 7.4% in 2019 to more than 17% in 2021 as a result of the pandemic-induced economic downturn. This is not inconsistent with national trends—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate for people with disabilities in the U.S. rose from 7.3% in 2019 to 10.1% in 2021.

Qudsiya and Eli explore some of the reasons why disabled New Yorkers continue to struggle with job placement, despite a slow economic recovery and the role that policymakers and city government leaders can play to ensure that the city is leveraging the talents of and advancing economic mobility for its disabled residents. Eli also lifts up exemplary models from other cities around the country and urges greater investment in the well-being of disabled people as a cornerstone to building a more inclusive and accessible city for everyone.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

Qudsiya is joined by youth activist Lou Paniccioli, an Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies fellow, secretary of the Young Democrats of America Disability Issues Caucus, and vice chair of the New York Young Democrats Disability Issues Caucus. They talk about Lou’s journey to political activism as his chosen tool to affect social change, and the role models that have guided him along that path.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

Qudsiya is joined by Mamadi Corra, Professor of Sociology at East Carolina University (ECU). They discuss Professor Corra's research on access for people with disabilities in the US federal judicial system, his approach to disability and scholarship and his advice for disabled people of color pursuing an academic path.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

In this episode, Qudsiya is joined by Jennifer Natalya Fink, professor of English and the director of the program in Disability Studies at Georgetown University. They talk about Jennifer’s new book, All Our Families: Disability Lineage and the Future of Kinship.

This is a powerful reflection that documents the erasure of disability from our family narratives, the damage that this can cause as we navigate our kinship ties, and how applying the principles of disability justice to bring our disabled ancestors back into our family lineage can help us hold our communities closer in webs of care.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade has sent shockwaves around the world. In this special bonus episode of Down to the Struts, Qudsiya is joined by journalist Sara Luterman. Sara and Qudsiya discuss a first-of-its-kind poll conducted by Data for Progress about disabled people’s views on abortion, the history of reproductive autonomy for disabled people in the U.S., and the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization for disabled communities.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

In the first episode of season 5, Qudsiya is joined by musician Precious Perez. They talk about her experiences as a disabled artist and musician, her participation in the newly-launched advocacy coalition, RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), and her vision for a music industry that centers and elevates disabled artists and music professionals.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

With support from the Disability Visibility Project, Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid are gathering information about disabled podcasters and podcasts focused on disability and accessibility (or “disability podcasts” for short). They will use your answers to develop an online listing of podcasts and resource for disabled podcasters to find each other and find audiences.

Down to the Struts will return for its fifth season on June 14. Listen to the trailer for a preview from this season’s guests, including a disabled musician, educator and youth activist, a social psychologist and more.

If you're excited for the upcoming season, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

Dr. Arielle Silverman was the very first guest on Down to the Struts. Now, the disability researcher and consultant returns for a very special bonus episode. Arielle joins Qudsiya to talk about her new memoir, Just Human: The Quest for Disability Wisdom, Respect and Inclusion.

Arielle tells Qudsiya about what led her to write Just Human, her own journey as a blind person, and how she's translated her rigorous research and personal experiences into a framework for disability inclusion.

The season 4 finale gets a little meta - Qudsiya is joined by Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid to talk about disability and the world of podcasting!

Cheryl and Thomas tell Qudsiya about the early days of disabled podcasting and audio production; their creative process; and a new initiative they are launching in collaboration with the Disability Visibility Project to create a learning and collaboration hub for disabled podcasters and members of the disability community who want to pursue podcasting. They also discuss the power of the collective, and the failure of mainstream podcasting to capture the authentic voices and stories of disability.