Hello DTTS community, and welcome to another year of Getting Down to It!
It’s finally here — your first taste of Season 6! If you haven’t already, check out the teaser, and be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app so you can get new episodes in your feed as they’re released. You’ll have a front-row seat to six in-depth conversations about disability, design, and intersectionality. This season, we’ll cover the arts, immigration, accessible gaming, and so much more.
I don’t know about you, but 2023 has come in fast and furious for me, with the launch of the next podcast season, the start of my second semester teaching at CUNY Law School, and a couple of other very exciting projects. I can’t wait to share more about these with all of you. I’m not much of a believer in new year’s resolutions, but I do like to take time to reflect on the previous year and set the tone for the year to come.
I’m saying it out loud for accountability to my community — my word for 2023 is “action.” That means acting to be part of the solution when I see a problem. It means following through on the actions that I commit to. It means acting to care for myself and others.
I spent so much of my adult life bound inside a cocoon of inaction because of structural inequities and internalized ableism. Now, supported and empowered by my disability community, I want nothing more than to spread my wings and act on the things that mean the most to me. Action might take different forms throughout the year, but I’m hoping it's my vibe throughout.
Whether it’s a resolution, a word of the year, a set of intentions, or nothing specific at all, I hope 2023 brings each of you whatever it is you wish for.
Building Your Knowledge
Here are a few pieces to help you get to know the three disabled visionaries featured in our teaser a little bit better.
At New SDSU Exhibition, Artists Flip the Script (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Season 6 guest Bhavna Mehta was featured in the exhibit, Script Rescript at San Diego State University. Check out this article to learn more about Bhavna’s work, and how she uses art to unpack our relationship to our bodies.A Scoping Review of Needs and Barriers to Achieving a Livable Life Among Refugees with Disabilities (Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work)
Researcher Mustafa Rfat has created a tremendous resource for anyone interested in reforming the refugee resettlement process to be more accessible and inclusive for refugees with disabilities. We need to ensure that the people who have sought refuge in the U.S. have the resources necessary to access employment, healthcare, and generally be included in the fabric of our society. Mr. Rfat offers a pathway to achieving this vision.Meet the Black Woman Advocating for Greater Disability Visibility
(MSNBC)
Andraéa Lavant is a powerhouse. She is an activist, film producer, consultant, and so much more. I love this article because it describes Andraéa’s transformative journey to arrive where she is now. Personally, I resonated with the message of what is possible when we lean in to our disability identities.
I cannot wait to share my conversations with Bhavna, Mustafa, and Andraéa, plus all of the other amazing guests who have so generously shared their stories this season!
Before the first episode comes out on February 7th, I have a small ask. If you are enjoying this newsletter or the podcast, please help us reach more people. By leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, or by sharing a link on your social media page (or with a friend), you can bring these important conversations to someone who may not have found it on their own. Our whole team and my incredible guests are so grateful for your support!
Thanks for reading our newsletter this month. We’ll be back in your inboxes next month with more updates from the podcast and the disability community.
In solidarity,
Qudsiya