Hello DTTS listeners!
First, a warm welcome to our newest subscribers — thank you so much for joining us.
February can be dreary here on the east coast of the U.S., but the time hiding out from the cold has allowed me to reflect on the growing role that community, and specifically the disability community, has played in my life. As I’ve shared in past newsletters, isolation and exclusion marked much of my childhood and early adult life. But growth into my disability identity has afforded me new opportunities for connection and learning that I could have never imagined.
It's also given me the chance to be a voice for access in the spaces where I live and work. For example, I was thrilled to be invited by the National Center for State Courts to participate in a Tiny Chat about disability access and the courts, bringing together my passion for disability inclusion and access to justice.
Disability identity has also brought me into community with other BIPOC disabled media makers, some of whose work I’m delighted to share this month.
I’m committed to holding this space to uplift the tireless work and celebratory moments of my community. If you have news to share, please don’t be a stranger! Leave your updates in the comments, or email us at downtothestruts@gmail.com.
And a reminder if you haven’t listened yet, two episodes of season 6 of Down to the Struts are now out. Listen in on my conversations with two brilliant members of the disability community — consultant and activist Andraéa LaVant, and artist Bhavna Mehta.
Building Your Knowledge
And now, exclusively for subscribers to this newsletter, here’s a sneak peek into the work of the other three season 6 guests not featured in our teaser.
Check out these articles to learn a bit more about Denna Lambert, Haben Girma, and May Wong!
NASA Trio Take Flight in Support of Disability Inclusion in Space
(SpaceRef)
Denna Lambert is a woman in STEM, a diversity, equity and inclusion leader, a mom, and most recently — a space traveler. Here’s her take on the momentous implications of bringing disability inclusion to the stars and beyond:AstroAccess ambassadors are taking methodical and strategic steps to answer questions, adapt to barriers, and demonstrate the strength and perseverance of disabled explorers. And along the way, we are developing solutions to improve life for individuals with disabilities here on Earth.
Haben Girma is a tireless advocate for access. In this piece, she chronicles her experiences as the first deafblind student at Harvard Law School. She illustrates the barriers facing students with disabilities in higher education, and the possibilities for these students when institutions place access at the center of their mission.
If you want to soak up more of Haben’s wisdom, check out her memoir, and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.Blind Accessibility Review of As Dusk Falls – Consider Me Impressed (Ross Minor)
For all of the disabled gamers out there, I’m delighted to dive into the topic of accessible gaming with May Wong, one of the designers on the acclaimed As Dusk Falls. I’m not a gamer myself, but I’ve learned so much about how designing with intentionality can transform the experience.
Down to the Struts alumni corner
It’s been a privilege to build community with all of the guests who’ve joined me on the podcast. I’m excited to launch this new segment, the “DTTS Alumni Corner” to feature updates from past guests chronicling their contributions to the disability community. If you are a past guest and subscriber to this newsletter, please do share your news!
This month, I’m delighted to share that DTTS alum Roger Ideishi was named to the Kennedy Center’s Next 50 list of people creating social change through the arts. Congratulations, Roger!
Other great listens
Another new addition to the newsletter — I’ll be sharing podcasts and podcast episodes created by BIPOC disabled media makers that I’m enjoying. If you have media you’d like to share, please send it our way!
Here are two fantastic podcasts to check out:
As always, thank you for reading, listening, and supporting. We’ll be back in your inboxes next month with more updates from the podcast and the disability community!
In solidarity,
Qudsiya