Inclusivity Thread!!! 💗💗

[Barbio]

Happy Juneteenth!

 

I feel like Amber Ruffin deserves a shout-out. She's a fun, energetic comedian who does a lot of educational segments on her shows. (You may remember her as the comedian who was supposed to perform at the last White House Correspondent's Dinner before she got pulled from that gig). Here are a couple of (older) videos of her talking about Juneteenth:

 

 

[daveb]

She is really good on the U.S. version of "Have I Got News For You", too.  

(along with Roy Wood, Jr. as the host, and Michael Ian Black as the other regular on the show)

[Gentle Giant]

I just discovered this amazing artist who is based in Abuja, Nigeria. Her name is Jacqueline Suowari. She uses ball point pens to create her art. (I also like using ball point pens for drawing, but have not at the large scale she does) Here is a video about her.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcVowBgUCQA&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD

 

[Barbio]

Happy Pride Month!

 

Today marks ten years since the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. NPR had some interesting interviews & articles about the anniversary and the impact that the ruling has had on people's lives since then:

 

An article that includes a map on how state laws changes after the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/26/nx-s1-5445033/obergefell-legal-same-sex-marriage-us-map

An interview with Jim Obergefell himself, sharing his story and his hopes/fears for LGBTQ+ rights in America going forward [TW for mention of suicide]: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/26/nx-s1-5439207/gay-marriage-obergefell-hodges-10th-anniversary

Tangently related, but still really cool- A documentary that tells the stories of some older lesbian couples: https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2025/06/26/g-s1-67930/hidden-once-hidden-twice-senior-lesbian-photos

 

[Barbio]

I'm a couple days late, but happy Disability Pride Month!

 

 

[Image ID: A meme with three panels. A character in the first panel asks, "What about pride month"? The second panel has a progress pride flag and a character saying, "You've already had pride month". The third panel has the same character from the first panel with a disability pride flag saying, "We've had one, yes, but what about a second pride month"?]

[daveb]

Not just characters, Merry and Pippin and Aragorn from Fellowship of the Ring.   

(and the "second breakfast" meme)  

 

Happy Disability Pride Month!  🌈  

[Barbio]

23 hours ago, daveb said:

Merry and Pippin and Aragorn from Fellowship of the Ring.  

Thank you! I couldn't think of their names 😅 (/hasn't seen the movie)

[daveb]

41 minutes ago, Barbio said:

Thank you! I couldn't think of their names 😅 (/hasn't seen the movie)

No worries. I'm a big Tolkien nerd/fan.  

[lovely_xm07]

Hey guys, so it’s the Fourth of July here in the states, but I’m not exactly feeling patriotic considering the state of the country and recent events. Soooo let’s talk about something else! 🤩🤩🤩

 

Did you know today is Alice in Wonderland Day?? 💙🤍🐇♠️♥️♣️♦️

Yep, today is the day we celebrate world of imagination and madness on Alice in Wonderland Day on July 4. The amazing fictional world, created by Lewis Carroll in 1865, is the telling of a young girl who faces worldly obstacles at a tender age. More than a century later, the book continues to enjoy popularity amongst the masses not only for its original story and characters but also because of the subsequent movies that have been made of it. People also enjoy other adaptations like theater performances as well as the numerous types of Alice in Wonderland merchandise available today. 
 

 

 

 

 

Why We Love Alice in Wonderland Day?

 

It’s a celebration of books!

 

If you want to expand your mind, reading books is the way to go. Books will not only help you learn lessons and open your mind to new horizons, but they will also become your friends that you can always turn to when you need to escape the world.

It’s a celebration of life’s adventures!

 

Alice’s adventures expose the readers to the limitless possibilities that life has to offer. Her vulnerability, dependence, bravery, and determination are a reminder of her humanity in the seemingly fictional world. These qualities lead her to overcome the obstacles in the end.

It’s a celebration of imagination!

 

The unabated usage of imagination in “Alice in Wonderland” is what makes the book great. As children, we enjoyed it for its exciting events, but as adults, we can relive our childhood by indulging in this world.

[daveb]

One of my favorite childhood books! I still have a soft spot for it. I have a few different versions of the books now, with different illustrators and/or annotations.  

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY OMNISEXUAL VISIBILITY DAY!! 🩷🖤💙

 

 

What does omnisexual mean? 

Omnisexuality is an identity that is often misunderstood and underrepresented. It is an orientation where someone is attracted to people of all genders, with gender being a contributing factor towards attraction. Some omnisexual folks experience attraction to different traits in different genders, and some may have a gender preference.

What is the significance of Omnisexual Visibility Day?  

 

Omnisexual Visibility Day is a day of recognition for those who identify as omnisexual. It is an opportunity for people who identify as omnisexual to come together, celebrate their identity, and raise awareness about the challenges of being omnisexual. 

The day is also a chance to educate others about omnisexuality, recognize and honor the contributions of omnisexual people, and create spaces for meaningful dialogue and support. By raising awareness about omnisexuality, the day seeks to promote acceptance and reduce stigma associated with the community. 
 

 

 

Just some videos of TikToks explaining and talking about omnisexuality.

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!!

 

Disability Pride Month is a time to honor the identity, culture, and contributions of the disability community. It’s about more than accommodations or legal milestones. It’s about visibility, belonging, and the right to exist without shame.

Unlike disability awareness efforts that often focus on deficits or diagnoses, Disability Pride centers identity. It challenges the idea that disability is something to be hidden or “overcome,” and instead embraces it as a natural and meaningful part of human diversity.

The word “pride” is intentional. It echoes the language of other civil rights movements, not to draw direct comparisons, but to affirm that disabled people have long been excluded from narratives of strength, progress, and leadership. Disability Pride Month reframes that story.

 

Disability TikTok video compilation explaining disability pride month and showing people with disabilities of all kinds.

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL NON BINARY PEOPLE’S DAY!!! 
💛🤍💜🖤

History of International Non Binary People’s Day!! 

This day is commemorated annually to raise awareness of the difficulties that non-binary people face around the world. The inaugural commemoration of the day took place in 2012. This date was the most suitable to celebrate non-binary people as it falls between International Men’s Day and International Women’s Day. The Public Universal Friend, a genderless missionary who later discarded both birth name (Jemima Wilkinson) and gender pronouns, was the first person to identify as non-binary in 1776.

The Intersex and Genderqueer Recognition Project was founded in 2012 to campaign for gender options on official documents to be expanded. James Shupe became the first individual in the U.S. to have a non-binary gender on official documents in 2016. Between 2010 and 2014, the wider legal recognition of non-binary people in Australian law followed the recognition of intersex people in 2003, with transgender activist Norrie May-Welby taking legal action against the New South Wales Government Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages to recognize Norrie’s legal gender identity as non-specific. Argentina became the first country in South America to legally accept non-binary gender on all official documents on July 21, 2021, when it included non-binary gender symbolized as “X” on its national ID card.

While the U.S. does not recognize a non-binary gender identity on a federal level, Oregon was the first state to do so in 2016. Following Oregon’s lead, California approved legislation in 2017 that allows residents to declare themselves as non-binary on official documents.

 

💛🤍💜🖤 // 💛🤍💜🖤 // 💛🤍💜🖤 // 💛🤍💜🖤 

Non binary is an umbrella term. Other terms to describe non-binary people include genderqueer, gender fluid, agender, bigender, demigender, and pangender.

It's not 50 percent masculine or feminine. To be non-binary, you don't have to be equally "masculine" and "feminine." Being non-binary does not rule out the possibility of having a different gender identity.

Remember to use proper pronoun usage. They/them pronouns are not used by all non-binary people.

[Barbio]

I'll add that nonbinary folks have always existed, even before the Public Universal Friend in 1776. The word "nonbinary" is relatively modern, but the concept is as old as humanity itself!

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DRAG DAY!! 🪩

The very first drag queen was a former slave in the 1800s who “reigned over a secret world of drag balls” in Washington, DC, and everyone needs to know about him.

 

 

Historical researcher and journalist Channing Gerard Joseph is a former drag queen and professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He wrote a book called House of Swann: Where Slaves Became Queens about the incredible life of William Dorsey Swann, who Joseph believes was the very first self-described drag queen.

 

In a piece for The Nation, Joseph wrote: “Born in Maryland around 1858, Swann endured slavery, the Civil War, racism, police surveillance, torture behind bars, and many other injustices.

 

“But beginning in the 1880s, he not only became the first American activist to lead a queer resistance group; he also became, in the same decade, the first known person to dub himself a ‘queen of drag’ – or, more familiarly, a drag queen.”

 

Joseph first discovered Swann in a Washington Post article from April 13, 1888, headlined: “Negro Dive Raided. Thirteen Black Men Dressed as Women Surprised at Supper and Arrested.”

 

It emerged through other news stories from the time that this was not the first gathering of “men dressed as women” organized by Swann, known to his friends as “the queen”, but it was likely the first time the public and the media were aware.

 

When the police stormed in that night, Swann tried to stand up to them, and Joseph describes the moment as “one of the first known instances of violent resistance in the name of LGBTQ rights”.

 

Swann had been born into slavery, like most of the people in attendance at his balls, and had been freed after Lincoln signed the compensated Emancipation Act in 1862.

 

His gatherings had many similarities to the modern ballroom scene; their community was organized into a family-like structure, led by “mothers” and “queens”, and the drag balls features exaggerated dance moves and dance contests.

 

The revelation that men had been gathering wearing “female” clothing was shocking and confusing to the public and experts alike. Swann and his friends were described by one psychiatrist as a “lecherous gang of sexual perverts”.

 

He was falsely imprisoned for running a brothel for 10 months in 1896 after one of his parties, but Swann asked for a pardon from President Grover Cleveland for holding the gathering.

 

Although his request was denied, Joseph described it as a “historic act”. He said: “It made Swann the earliest recorded American to take specific legal and political steps to defend the queer community’s right to gather without the threat of criminalization, suppression, or police violence.”

 

After Swann retired from the drag scene he had created in Washington, DC, his little brother began making costumes for the drag community. He continued until his death in 1954.

 

Joseph said: “Coming of age at a time when an entirely new form of freedom and self-determination was developing for African Americans, Swann and his house of butlers, coachmen, and cooks—the first Americans to regularly hold cross-dressing balls and the first to fight for the right to do so—arguably laid the foundations of contemporary queer celebration and protest.”

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY NON BINARY AWARENESS WEEK!! 💛🤍💜🖤

Okay so, today is actually the last day of non binary awareness week. Sorry. 🥺 But here’s a link understanding non binary and the importance of this week as well as a couple of videos of non binary people across the spectrum.

 

Understanding Nonbinary Identity and Why Awareness Matters

 

Non Binary and Androgynous TikToks 💛🤍💜🖤

 

Agender TikToks 🖤🩶🤍💚🤍🩶🖤

 

Genderfluid TikToks 🩷🤍💜🖤💙

 

Bigender 🩷💛🤍💜💙

 

Demigirl TikToks 🩶🩷🤍🩷🩶

 

Demiboy TikToks 🩶🩵🤍🩵🩶

 

Genderqueer TikToks 💜🤍💚

 

Pangender TikToks 💛🧡🩷🤍🩷🧡💛

 

Trigender TikToks 🩷💜💚💜🩷

 

Phew. 😮‍💨 This is quite a bit but hopefully it’s a good introduction to the non binary spectrum. Sorry for the ad in the beginning of most of these. 😅 As you can tell, I got all of these from the same channel. 

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!! 

Let’s talk about the disability pride flag!

 

 

Created by Ann Magill, a writer who has cerebral palsy, who was in grad school when ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) became law in July 1990. Often penning work on disability and social equality, she had a knack for flagging injustices. In 2010, she attended an underwhelming event for the 20th anniversary of the ADA. The lackluster celebration, in her opinion, did not garner the attention needed to strengthen awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities. She visualized making a disability pride flag and, finally, was fiercely motivated to do so following a horrific attack on a disabled-serving facility in Japan in 2016.

“My first design idea was to make the stripes zigzag… to represent how disabled people have to maneuver around all the barriers we face. We have to go this way, and then we have to go that way, and then we have to go this way and then we have to go that way. And that’s how we move through the world,” Magill described on The Accessible Stall podcast. The disability pride flag started to go viral in 2019.

 

Members and allies of the disability community praised the flag’s concept yet offered constructive feedback. While well-intentioned, the bold colors and zigzag construction of the initial design caused a strobe-like effect on computer and phones screens which was off-putting for those with migraines, seizures, sensory sensitivities and other conditions. Thus, in 2021, Magill unveiled an updated and more accessible design of the disability pride flag featuring muted hues and softer angles.

🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶 // 🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶 // 🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶

Black: The black background, which is more so like a faded charcoal base, ignites the mourning of disabled persons victimized by ableism or lost to disability-fueled violence, abuse/negligence and death. The dark shade also illuminates the rage and protest against the mistreatment of people with disabilities.

Diagonal band: The light, connected band of stripes cut straight through the darkness. The slanted formation is a symbolic contrast to the vertical walls and horizontal ceilings that resonate with feelings of isolation among some members of the disability community.

 

Red: Represents those with physical disabilities.

Gold: Represents those with cognitive and intellectual disabilities and other neurodivergence.

 

White: This stripe connects to people with invisible disabilities and/or undiagnosed conditions.

Blue: Represents those with psychiatric disabilities such as anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders.

Green: Represents those with sensory disabilities such as blindness, deafness, lack of smell, lack of taste and other sensory conditions.

[Mother Goose]

I didn't know there was a disability pride flag, the story behind it is really beautiful

[daveb]

I'm glad she listened to the feedback about the zig-zag!  

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!!

 

Let's highlight some books written by disabled authors. There is no better way to learn about the disabled community than by disabled people. Disability is a vibrant and multifaceted spectrum encompassing diverse conditions and experiences (from the visible to the invisible).

It's vital to challenge the dominant societal narrative that portrays disability as something separate or lacking — it's quite the contrary. Whether you're a part of the disabled community or an able-bodied person, every book on this list covers a shared human experience or call to action.

 

 

“Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally" by Emily Ladau

 

“Demystifying Disability” is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand and support disabled folks. It’s an approachable guide to being a thoughtful, informed ally — with the added bonus of actionable steps and language shifts. 

Not only does Ladau share her experience of having the same disability as her mother — offering a new and eye-opening perspective that I had never come across before — but she also highlights an often overlooked form of discrimination: airline discrimination.  
 

 

“Black Disability Politics" by Sami Schalk

 

“Black Disability Politics” by Sami Schalk delves into the intersectionality of disability and Black activism, exploring how disability issues have been and continue to be central to the fight for racial justice. Schalk sheds light on the often-overlooked legacy of Black disability politics, which differs in language and approach from the mainstream white-dominated disability rights movement.

In the context of the Black Lives Matter movement, this book addresses the crucial submovement called Black Disabled Lives Matter. By drawing on archival research from influential organizations such as the Black Panther Party and the National Black Women’s Health Project, as well as interviews with contemporary Black-disabled cultural figures, Schalk uncovers the common qualities of Black disability politics.

She emphasizes the importance of grounding public health initiatives in the experiences and expertise of marginalized disabled individuals, enabling them to work in anti-racist, feminist, and anti-ableist ways.

 

 

“My Heart to Find: An Aces in Love Romantic Mystery” by Elin Annalise
 

Meet Cara Tate, a devoted crime fiction reader who, at twenty-five years old, is shy, asexual, and yearning for love. However, her chronic Lyme disease has brought her brain inflammation and OCD, instilling a deep fear of physical contact with others. 

Compounding her challenge is the difficulty of finding other aces — especially with no guarantee of a connection. Despite these obstacles, Cara finds solace in one man she knows, someone who shares her asexuality and sparks a special feeling within her. With the possibility of a hug (or more) on the line, Cara must gather the courage to defy the grip of her OCD.

In “My Heart to Find,” Elin Annalise delivers a narrative that authentically represents asexuality and chronic illness, specifically Lyme Disease and Encephalitis-induced OCD — also known as PANS — which was only officially recognized as a disability in 2013.  

Annalise’s storytelling and heartfelt exploration of love, identity, and personal growth makes this book a compelling and important read. It sheds light on the struggles faced by those with chronic illnesses and asexuality, offering both validation and insight to those within these communities while fostering understanding and empathy among able-bodied readers.  
 

 

“Lakelore” by Anna-Marie McLemore

“Lakelore,” a mesmerizing young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, invites readers into a world where two non-binary teens find themselves entangled in a magical realm beneath a lake. As the boundaries between their two worlds blur, Bastián Silvano and Lore Garcia must strive to protect the delicate balance of their lives above water.

McLemore’s storytelling shines in this enchanting tale, where the lake’s hidden world — rumored to be both air and water — holds secrets and ethereal landscapes. Bastián, who has experienced both sides of the lake, and Lore, whose life was forever changed by a single encounter with the submerged realm, are the only ones who truly know its wonders.

However, when the world beneath the lake starts to emerge, threatening to expose their deepest secrets, Bastián and Lore must unite and take action. But there’s a significant obstacle: They haven’t spoken in seven years. Reconciliation and trust become crucial as they navigate the challenges ahead and confront the very vulnerabilities they strive to conceal.

One of the special aspects of “Lakelore” is the powerful representation it depicts. McLemore draws from their own experiences as a trans dyslexic person with ADHD.

 

Through Bastián’s journey, readers witness the emotional exploration of starting hormone replacement therapy, beautifully depicted with vivid imagery and profound sensitivity. 

The incorporation of Mexican culture, exemplified by the mythical wood-carved creatures known as Alebrijes, serves as a coping mechanism for Bastián’s ADHD, adding rich cultural layers to the story.

[Barbio]

Just learned about this protest yesterday. It was called "The Capital Crawl", in which a group of disabled folks crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capital building to demand passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.

 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/iconic-civil-rights-protest-you-dont-know/

 

Also, wow- I didn't realize that the ADA wasn't passed until 1990! I would have guessed it was more like mid-70s or mid-80s!

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!!

 

3 hours ago, Barbio said:

Just learned about this protest yesterday. It was called "The Capital Crawl", in which a group of disabled folks crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capital building to demand passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.

 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/iconic-civil-rights-protest-you-dont-know/

Speaking of which…

“All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything” by Annette Bay Pimente and illustrated by Nabi Ali

 

“All the Way to the Top” by Annette Bay Pimente is an empowering autobiographical picture book that takes readers on a remarkable journey alongside lifelong activist Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins. 

Through stunning illustrations, we witness Keelan-Chaffins’s unwavering determination and role in the historic Capitol Crawl — a moment that became a catalyst for change in the disability rights movement. 

 

For able-bodied readers, it offers an opportunity to gain insight into the struggles faced by people within the disability community and the fight for equal rights. It’s an empowering and motivating reminder for those within the community that disability should not limit us.

 

This is the story of a little girl who just wanted to take action, even when others tried to stop her.

 

 

“Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life” by Alice Wong
 

In the midst of her challenging healthcare journey, which led to the loss of her ability to speak, Alice Wong fearlessly released this book as a testament to the immense power that our voices and stories hold. 

In traditional Chinese culture, the tiger is admired for its confidence, passion, and ferocity. In the “Year of the Tiger,” the animal symbolizes duality — being both the powerful king (and queen) of the jungle while at the same time embodying qualities of softness and gentleness.

Drawing from a rich collection of original essays, previously published work, conversations, graphics, photos, and commissioned art by disabled and Asian American artists, Wong uses her unique talent to curate a compelling scrapbook that showcases her life as an Asian American disabled activist, community organizer, and dreamer. 

 

She traces her origins, shares her personal story, and creates a space for disabled individuals to engage in meaningful conversations with one another and the world. The book beautifully explores the complexities of disability and the constant fight for equality, while also highlighting the importance of leaning on community and sharing the burden of advocacy.

 

Often, society tends to view disability as a static moment, assuming that individuals are either born disabled or experience a single tragic event that leads to disability. However, Alice reminds us that disability is dynamic and ever-evolving, shaping our lives in various ways as we age.

 

“Show Me a Sign” by Ann Clare LeZotte
 

“Show Me a Sign” by Ann Clare LeZotte is a captivating novel that sheds light on a lesser-known period in Martha’s Vineyard history, where a unique sign language connected both deaf and hearing islanders. 

 

Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language, which developed as its own distinct dialect, showcased the richness and complexity of sign language as a robust communication system. I found it eye-opening to discover the existence of different sign language dialects and appreciate them as fully-fledged languages in their own right.

The story revolves around Mary Lambert, a proud descendant of the island’s first deaf settler. Growing up in a tight-knit community where sign language is widely used, Mary has always felt a sense of belonging. 

 

However, things begin to change when tragedy strikes her family, tensions escalate between English settlers and the Wampanoag people, and a relentless scientist arrives seeking answers about the island’s deaf population. Mary’s fight for survival against his cruel experiment forms the heart of this novel.

 

“Show Me a Sign” explores the profound themes of ability and disability and reminds both able-bodied individuals and the disability community of actively creating space for all — regardless of ability and background. 

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!! 🩶❤️💛🤍💚🩵🩶

Let’s define ableism today.

 

Ableism refers to discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities, often manifesting in the form of treating them as inferior or denying them the same opportunities and rights as non-disabled individuals. This can include physical barriers, stereotypes, negative attitudes, or exclusion from social, economic, or political participation.

The challenges faced by people with disabilities aren’t highlighted as people within the is community are often overlooked when talking about oppression. Some people like to think ableism doesn’t exist. Some examples of ableism range from blatant hostility and aggression to less obvious everyday interactions. Some examples of these include:

- asking someone what is “wrong” with them

- saying, “You do not look disabled,” as though this is acompliment

- viewing a person with a disability as inspirational fordoing typical things, such as having a career

- assuming a physical disability is a product of laziness or lack of exercise

- using public facilities that are for people with disabilities, such as parking spaces or toilets

- questioning whether a person’s disability is real

On a larger scale, some examples of ableism include:

Ableist language: There are many examples of ableism in everyday language. Terms such as “dumb” and “lame” were originally used to describe disabilities, but today, people use them as synonyms for “stupid” or “bad.” People also misuse words in a way that trivializes conditions. For example, a person may say, “I am so OCD.”

Inaccessible design: Designing buildings, public spaces, products, and technology that only caters to nondisabled people is an example of ableism. This includes websites that have no text enlargement feature, buildings that have no ramp for wheelchairs, and sidewalks with obstacles that make walking more difficult.

Education discrimination: Schools refusing to make disability accommodations, failing to understand a disability, or trying to “teach” a child not to have theirimpairment are all examples of ableism in education. For example, a teacher might punish a child for their dyslexia rather than adapt how they teach.

Employment discrimination: Employers may be biased against those with disabilities, believing they make less productive workers. They may also refuse disability accommodations to existing employees or allow workplace bullying to go unpunished.

Ableism affects everyone. It shapes how people think about physical or mental differences, which anyone can acquire during their lifetime. It also damages society as a whole by:

- reducing access to transport, education, and the internet

- increasing levels of unemployment

- increasing poverty

- fueling bullying, harassment, and violence

- causing unnecessary institutionalization

Anti-ableism means actively working to dismantle ableism. It begins with recognizing that ableism exists, that it causes serious harm, and that nondisabled people benefit from this system. This is known as privilege. Some ways to begin practicing anti-ableism include:

- learning about disability — what it means and how it affects people

- learning about ableism, ableist stereotypes, and the history of disability rights activism

- listening to people with disabilities share their experiences

- challenging ableism as it happens, for example, by correcting a myth or stopping bullying

- giving people with disabilities a platform, or “passing the mic,” instead of speaking for them

- advocating for accessibility and inclusivity and enacting policies or laws that counter ableism

 

🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶 // 🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶

[lovely_xm07]

Hey, guys! This post isn’t Disability Pride related, and I know Women’s History month ended long ago, but I still wanted to highlight this historic event. 
 

For the first time in U.S. history, there were more births among women 40 and older than among teenage moms!! 🤰🥳

 

More older women becoming first-time moms amid U.S. fertility rate declines

 

“We're witnessing generations of women breaking cycles in real time. Teen girls are being given tools to delay motherhood and older women are embracing it when they're ready. Both ends of that spectrum are worth celebrating. There's also something beautifully radical about women.” - @MarthaAhumuza

 

 I just found this story to be so beautiful and so empowering for so many women. As well as all the women who decide to not take that step at all in having kids. Overall, we are seeing more women gaining more autonomy over themselves!

[Peaseblossom o7]

I have mental disability. It’s gotten worse but now it’s getting better. It isn’t going away but I’ll be able to better handle my limitations. I don’t know what I’m capable of, in the ideal case. I’m worried that I don’t count, that my disability is just privilege, as in, that I’m not really supposed to be accommodated. I feel like I don’t deserve it.

[Picklethewickle]

On 7/25/2025 at 5:25 PM, Peaseblossom o7 said:

I’m worried that I don’t count, that my disability is just privilege, as in, that I’m not really supposed to be accommodated. I feel like I don’t deserve it

That's the ableism talking. Here's a trick I learned on the internet: If you ever feel like you don't deserve something, just picture it as Trump trying to take something away from you so he can build himself another statue. Hold onto everything you can get, accommodations included. Trump doesn't deserve that statue, and you have the power to keep it from him.

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!! 🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶

 

According to the CDC, there is an estimated of over 61 million people with disabilities in the U.S. It is the largest and fastest growing minority in America. Unfortunately, there is still rampant ableism in America. Let’s hear from people all over the country who have both visible and invisible disabilities about what they wish people outside the community knew, misconceptions that they encounter and things they wish people would stop doing or saying.

 

What do you wish people outside the disability community knew or understood?

 

“That having a disability can be a positive part of who you are. My disability has shaped my career and has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people!” — Arielle Silverman, 39, is blind. She is director of research at the American Foundation for the Blind.

 

“Ableist ideas and beliefs affect people with disabilities in all aspects of life, including employment, healthcare, education, housing, transportation, etc. These ideas and beliefs create systems that discriminate and oppress people with disabilities.” —Theo W. Braddy is paralyzed from the neck down. He is executive director of The National Council on Independent Living.

 

“Autism can be an incredibly debilitating disability— there’s an extremely high prevalence of loneliness in the autism community. Individuals with autism die 16 years younger than the average human. 85% of college educated autistics are unemployed. I like to say that with autism I can excel at the extraordinary, but I can really struggle with the simple.”—Russell Lehmann, 33, has autism, OCD, depression and anxiety. He is a speaker, poet and activist.
 

“Recognizing the importance of accessibility and inclusivity is vital. For example, having ramps and wider doorways not only benefits wheelchair users but also individuals with mild cerebral palsy, who may experience difficulty with coordination or movement on one side of their body. This promotes equality and empathy for everyone. —Ashley Glears, 30, has cerebral palsy with right hemiplegia. She is a chapter associate at The Arc of the United States.
 

What do you wish people outside the disability community would stop doing and/or saying?

 

“Stop asking Deaf people if we can read your lips. Communication is the responsibility of all parties in a conversation. Asking the Deaf person to read your lips places all the responsibility for communicating on the Deaf person.” —Sheryl Emery, 64, is deaf. She is President of National Black Deaf Advocates.

 

“I wish people would stop constantly infantilizing adults with disabilities, especially those who are nonspeaking or minimally speaking.” —Elizabeth "Lizzy" Graham, 34, has Asperger’s/Autism, ADHD, Anxiety with OCD tendencies, eczema and obstructive sleep apnea. She is service coordinator for Medicaid HCBS Waiver Services at The Arc of Prince George's County.
 

“One thing that I wish people would stop assuming is that people who experience disability are living off the government. This is not the case at all. We need the assistance to live a normal life like everyone else in the world and we are trying to make something for ourselves with the support we have provided to us.” —Ric Nelson, 40, has cerebral palsy. He is an executive director of Peer Power.

 

“I wish people would refrain from making assumptions or judgments about individuals with disabilitiesbased solely on their appearance or perceived limitations. It's important to approach each person with respect, understanding, and open-mindedness.” —Ashley Glears

 

What's a misconception people have about you and your abilities?

 

“That I am lacking something or 'living in darkness.' Or that I am perpetually afraid of the world around me just because I can’t see it. My life experience is rich with many other sensations, thoughts and emotions that have nothing to do with vision or lack thereof.” —Arielle Silverman

 

“There are Deaf people in almost every profession. Don’t assume because a person cannot hear that they are incapable.  Not everyone lip reads and we do not have better sight to make up for not being able to hear. We enjoy music, we drive. The biggest barriers we face are attitudes.” —Sheryl Emery

 

“Society has taught me from a young age that I can’t show my autism in public. So, a lot of my struggles are in my house, alone. A lot of the struggle is behind the scenes.” —Russell Lehmann

“One big misconception is that I am not able to follow directions, learn, or be employable. I want to work, so I can be independent and get my own apartment.” —Marcus Stewart, 23, has Down Syndrome.

 

Russell Lehmann’s story:

He was a 5th grade dropout. Now he’s teaching at UCLA and raising awareness about disabilities.

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH!! 🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶

 

 

Alice Wong is a Chinese-American disabled activist, writer, editor, and community organizer. Wong fights for access and representation for people with disabilities from all backgrounds.

Alice Wong was born in 1974 and grew up in Indianapolis with her parents and two younger sisters. Her parents had immigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong. Wong was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a condition where certain nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord break down, causing progressive weakness and atrophy in the muscles in the trunk of the body. She stopped walking around the age of seven or eight. 

Today, she uses a motorized wheelchair and a BPAP machine, an assistive ventilator device. Growing up, she was usually the only physically disabled student in her class, as well as one of just a few Asian-American students. Feeling that she stuck out in undesirable ways, Wong struggled with internalized racism and the urge to blend in with the crowd during her childhood.

It was in her twenties that Wong shifted from wanting to blend in to fighting for access and visibility on her own terms and to enact systemic change. Wong attendedIndiana University at Indianapolis, where she studiedEnglish and sociology, graduating with a B.A. in 1997.

 

 

In 2013, President Obama appointed Wong to the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency that advises the U.S. government on policies, programs, and practices that affect people with disabilities. She served on the council until 2015. 

Wong launched the Disability Visibility Project in 2014. It began as a partnership with StoryCorps to offer opportunities for people with disabilities to record their own oral histories. It grew into an online community that documents and amplifies disability media and culture. Wong, who never felt represented in popular culture while growing up as an Asian-American girl with a disability, wanted to help people tell their stories without the filter of the media, an act she hoped they would find empowering.    

Wong has been a partner in four other disability access projects: DisabledWriters.com, a website that connects editors with disabled writers and journalists; the (no longer active) #CripLit, a series of Twitter discussions with novelist Nicola Griffith; #CriptheVote, a nonpartisan hashtag that promotes political participation among people with disabilities; and Access is Love, a campaign that frames accessibility as an act of love rather than a burden. Wong is also a board member of 18 Million Rising, an advocacy group that promotes civic engagement for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

Wong’s writing on disability issues has been published in numerous media outlets across the country. She has edited two anthologies that feature essays written by people with disabilities, and expects to publish her memoir, Year of the Tiger, in 2022. 
 

Disability Visibility Project:

https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com

[lovely_xm07]

On 7/25/2025 at 1:47 PM, lovely_xm07 said:

Hey, guys! This post isn’t Disability Pride related, and I know Women’s History month ended long ago, but I still wanted to highlight this historic event. 
 

For the first time in U.S. history, there were more births among women 40 and older than among teenage moms!! 🤰🥳

 

More older women becoming first-time moms amid U.S. fertility rate declines

 

“We're witnessing generations of women breaking cycles in real time. Teen girls are being given tools to delay motherhood and older women are embracing it when they're ready. Both ends of that spectrum are worth celebrating. There's also something beautifully radical about women.” - @MarthaAhumuza

 

 I just found this story to be so beautiful and so empowering for so many women. As well as all the women who decide to not take that step at all in having kids. Overall, we are seeing more women gaining more autonomy over themselves!

 

America's tanking birthrate is not a win for feminism. It's a sign we are in trouble.

Hey guys, I’m posting this because I made a post in the Inclusivity Thread not exactly celebrating the low birth rate but more just of the notion that women over 40 are having kids at a higher rate than teenagers. Which at first, I thought was good (which to an extent it is), but of course, with this current regime, I don’t want to act like it’s all fine and dandy. I hope no one took that post the wrong way as I wasn’t aware of how bad the actually rate was and how that could affect us.
 

I, of course, have empathy to all those women out there who wanted kids but couldn’t because of Trump and the years before where it was harder to afford kids because of the economy. I just hope you all understood where I was trying to come from when initially hearing this news.

[Picklethewickle]

54 minutes ago, lovely_xm07 said:

I just hope you all understood where I was trying to come from when initially hearing this news.

We understand. You were reflecting on bodily autonomy and choice, with consideration that being a teen mom is a difficult thing that often springs from a lack of opportunties and free choice, where as having a kid later can be a more stable option. We didn't think you were trying to make a commentary on population trends or the economy.