Everything You Know About Disability Is Wrong

Tiffany Yu is a disability advocate, entrepreneur, and author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto. She started her career at Goldman Sachs before becoming a leader in disability inclusion.  

After acquiring a disability as a child, she struggled with loneliness and self-doubt. Over time, she turned her experiences into advocacy and founded Diversability, a community that celebrates disability pride and fights stigma.  

She works to break barriers, share personal stories, and create more inclusive spaces. Through her efforts, she shows that disability is diverse and that working together can create real change.

Key Moments

7:00 Overcoming Isolation and Disability

14:13 Collective Advocacy in Action

22:00 Disability Language Made Simple

23:25 Safe Spaces 

35:34 Beyond Assumptions: Tiffany’s Story

49:16 Mental Health 

01:02:22 Reaching Young Readers

Connect with Tiffany Yu

Twitter: https://x.com/imtiffanyyu 

Website:http://tiffanyyu.com/ 

The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: https://www.tiffanyyu.com/book 

Experiencing the world isn’t just about sight, it's about tasting, touching, hearing, and smelling, too. Using all our senses helps us connect more deeply to the world around us.

Dr. Hoby Wedler is a chemist, entrepreneur, and advocate for inclusivity. He holds a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from UC Davis and founded the Wedland Group to explore how our senses shape emotions and connections. He creates unique food and drink experiences that help people appreciate the little things in life. He also works to break stereotypes about disability, inspiring others to reach their full potential.

Dr. Wedler is also the founder and CEO of Hobie and Company (Hobie and Co online), part of Wedland Group. His company offers amazing blindfolded tasting experiences that help people explore their nonvisual senses. He shares his passion for sensory experiences on TikTok, where he has around 200,000 followers. Lastly, he runs Emotitec (emotitec.com), a company based in Italy.

Key Moments

09:14 Embracing Unseen Experiences  

16:17 Empowerment Through Disability  

19:19 Redefining Independence  

28:24 Diversity Fuels Success  

34:43 Supporting Blind Children  

39:47 Parents Presuming Competence

52:36 Sensory Experiences Founder

Connect with Dr. Hoby Wedler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hobywedler 

CEO at Wedland Group: https://wendland.efsadvisors.com/ 

President at EMOTITECH: https://emotitech.com/ 

"Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not real."

Onyinye Udokporo, CEO and founder of Enrich Learning, dives into a conversation that’s both eye-opening and deeply personal, exploring the differences between UK and US disability cultures. From how each country approaches accessibility and support to the ways people talk about neurodivergence, it’s clear that culture shapes the disability experience in ways we don’t always realize.

A big theme in this discussion is the power of language—how the words we use can either create understanding or reinforce barriers. Onyinye shares why being intentional with language isn’t just about being polite; it’s about making the world more inclusive and accessible for everyone. This conversation is a reminder that small shifts in how we speak and think about disability can make a huge difference.

Key Moments

00:37:03  Initial Rejection

00:38:53 Mother’s Screening

00:44:50  Shared Experience

00:45:30 Cultural & Generational Factors

10:15 Neurodivergence vs. Mental Health

30:00 Empowering Language

45:15 Authentic Conversations

55:00 Cultural Pressures

1:05:00 Dyslexia Advocacy

1:30:00 Access Through Tutoring

1:35:00 Reclaiming “Inspiring”

Connect with Onyinye Udokporo

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/onyinyeudokporo

Personal Website: onyinyeudokporo.com
Company Website: enrichlearning.co.uk

Richard Jacobs is a dedicated gamer and member of the esports team QuadGods. He discusses his journey of resilience, the pivotal role gaming plays in his life, and the misconceptions he faces as a disabled individual.

Richard shares about the power of community and how his streaming “family” has allowed him to harness his competitive spirit and embrace his emotions. 

Key Moments

13:32 - Inspiration and belonging.

21:57 - Supports family through streaming.

31:24 - Prefers controller over keyboard/mouse.

43:23 - Handles losses calmly; focuses on perseverance.

59:44 - Builds deep community connection.

Connect with Richard Jacobs
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breadwinner1007/

Website: https://quadgods.com/the-players

Humor can educate and challenge, but it must highlight issues without mocking the disability community. In this episode, we explore how satire can play into advocacy and ask, “What exactly makes good satire?”. 

Steven Verdile, Founder of Squeaky Wheel Media, shares his insights on the critical intersection of disability and content creation. Steven discusses the significance of focusing on specific issues, particularly those impacting the disabled community, and the protective measures taken to ensure writers' safety. 

Key Moments

06:27 Humor exposes accessibility challenges.

08:41 Accessible platforms empower disabled writers.

23:11 Disability experiences and representation vary.

38:13 Humor addresses disability policy.

49:07 Steven’s school experience.

Connect with Steven Verdile
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-verdile 

Website: https://thesqueakywheel.org/ 

Squeaky Wheel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesqkywheel/?hl=en

Navigating a medical system that dismisses your pain ignites a fire to advocate for others who are overlooked.

Annie Segarra is an activist and content creator dedicated to disability rights, body positivity, and social justice. Annie opens up about her deeply personal experience living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), discussing the emotional and physical toll of navigating a medical system that often dismisses or misdiagnoses those with chronic illnesses. She shares her frustrations with being gaslit by medical professionals and the resilience it has taken to continue advocating for herself.

Key Moments

2:54Accessibility in spaces

18:27 Living with EDS

31:28 Experiencing medical gaslighting

52:45 Advocating for inclusive training and support

Connect with  Annie Segarra
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniesegarra 

Website:https://invisibleproject.org/annie-segarra/ 

Your co-hosts Lily Newton and Erin Hawley return with a candid "Just Between Us" segment on this episode of Everything You Know. They discuss the importance of authentic storytelling in media, using recent casting choices in "Wicked" and Disney adaptations as a jumping-off point. The hosts explore why representation isn’t enough without real inclusion and the need for self-accommodation to destigmatize accessibility. Lily and Erin also reflect on highlights from the past year, sharing their "All I Want" asks for better support.

Key Moments

00:00 Authentic casting matters

03:44 Frustration with film clichés

11:38 Tart cherry juice helps sleep

14:20 Joining Easterseals' campaign

17:14 Destigmatize accessibility

Connect with Lily Newton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-newton-3b0b5b229

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/

Connect with Erin Hawley

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhawley2

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/

Advocacy is not just about raising awareness; it’s about creating real change.

Madison Tevlin is an actor, Host, Model, and Advocate. She is known for her impactful work in the "Assume That I Can" campaign for World Down Syndrome Day and her role in "Champions" alongside Woody Harrelson. Madison shares her wonderful journey and passion for music and storytelling.

Madison talks about her upcoming podcast, "21 Questions," featuring stars like Paris Hilton and Nelly Furtado. Madison opens up about the challenges of breaking stereotypes associated with Down syndrome and emphasizes the importance of community support in her life.

Key Moments

00:00 Multi-faceted journey

06:24 Music and family enhance wellness

17:53 Opening up about Down syndrome

22:19 Perfect fit for the roles

27:26 Redefining Stereotypes Through Storytelling

45:25 Education integration fosters community

Connect with Madison Tevlin
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/madisontevlin/?hl=en 

Website: https://www.madisontevlin.com/ 

Humor is a bridge to understanding; it transforms conversations about disability into moments of connection.

Pamela Schuller is a passionate disability advocate and stand-up comedian. Pamela shares her journey with Tourette syndrome and how humor has helped her tackle tough conversations about disabilities.

Pamela opens up about finding the right balance between vulnerability and oversharing, the challenges of accommodating disabilities in public spaces, and her unexpected shift from stand-up to storytelling. Pamela discusses the impact of her experiences on her mission to create more inclusive environments.

Key Moments

08:05 Challenging stereotypes.

14:27 Humor fosters resilience.

17:37 Goals: laughter and inclusivity.

30:53 Accepting emotions reduces judgment.

43:45 Tourette's and performance.

Connect with Pamela Schuller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelaschuller 

Website: https://pamelacomedy.com/ 

Rachel Lowenstein, Founder and Culture Expert at Rachel Lowenstein Consulting and Divergent Convergent, joins Lily Newton and Erin Hawley on the show. Rachel talks about why neuro-inclusion is a crucial part of workplace accessibility and how her work with Divergent Convergent is making a difference. 

Rachel also opens up about her own experiences with finding her true identity, avoiding burnout, and shifting from a corporate job to running her own business. In this episode, Rachel shares her thoughts on creating inclusive work environments, the challenges of traditional corporate settings, and the importance of community support.

Key Moments

13:41 Impact of Inclusive Marketing

26:34  Building Authentic Friendships

35:47 Mentor’s Advice: Pay It Forward

47:35 Remote Work and Inclusion

Connect with Rachel Lowenstein
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-lowenstein-49431a38

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelissan/?hl=en 

Divergent Convergent: https://parsnip-tetra-f2ny.squarespace.com/