Episode 45: Digital Accessibility

In this week's episode, co-hosts Keith and Maddie talk with The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies' Co-Directors Shaylin Sluzalis & Germán Parodi. The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led, 501(c)(3) organization that prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs before, during and after disasters and emergencies. We chat about how their work started, how Floridians with disabilities can stay safe during hurricanes, how other emergencies disproportionately impact disabled people, and resources to take precautions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and flu season.

Relevant resources:

• The Partnership’s website: https://bit.ly/3uUvobE 
• Disaster hotline: https://bit.ly/48y9b0Y 800-626-4959 Hotline@disasterstrategies.org 
• Weekly stakeholder call and events: https://bit.ly/3ImOryI 
• The Partnership’s resources, including your rights during a disaster: https://bit.ly/49SXGCk 
• Local weather alerts: https://bit.ly/3wxqj9E 
• Having a plan & emergency kit list: https://bit.ly/3eTEXgh 
• Find your local emergency management office and resources: https://bit.ly/49WBGqg 
• Special Needs Registry Shelter: https://bit.ly/3IjgW07 
• Disability Information and Access Line: https://bit.ly/3Ij5dPd  or by phone 888-677-1199
• Find your local Center for Independent Living: https://bit.ly/48D0S3N 
• DRF vaccine clinics: https://bit.ly/3qVCve6 
• DRF vaccine assistance: https://bit.ly/3kAlqo2 
• Masking bloc – local support groups, free masks, guidance, etc.: https://bit.ly/3uWBSXz 

In this episode of You First, we talk with Jen White Johnson (she/they), a renowned artist, educator, and disability activist who uses the arts as a medium to champion the life, joy, and experiences of the disabled and neurodivergent community. Jen discusses their journey as someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, the barriers for disabled Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to getting a diagnosis, and the impact of their son being diagnosed with autism. They talk about the need for more disabled BIPOC representation in visual media, their efforts to bring disabled artists to the forefront, and how they work to deconstruct ableism in the classroom. Jen discusses their artwork that celebrates Disability Justice and celebrates Disability Joy through visual arts, digital design, zine-making, installations, and more.

Episode 62 Relevant links mentioned: 

• Jen’s website
• Disrupt and Resist Exhibition
• Critical Design Lab Disability Solidarity Statement
• An Anthology of Blackness: The State of Black Design
• Disability Justice Culture Club 
• Anti-Ableist Art Educator Manifesto
• Homie House Press 
• Disability Visibility
• Krip Hop Nation
• Sins Invalid 
• Jen's Zine Workshops
• Black Feminist Future Collective

Two Disability Rights Florida education advocates, April Katine and Daysi Ortiz, join Keith in education planning for students with disabilities. The three discuss the importance of individual education plans (IEPs) and transition planning and offer tips on how parents can more effectively find success throughout the process. Tune in to learn about the various services available under IEP, how to prepare for IEP meetings, the significance of periodic re-evaluations, the importance of maintaining written records, and how to best collaborate with your child's IEP team.

Relevant links: 

• Transition site 
• Education section of our website
• Find your P&A (if out of state)
• Florida Vocational Rehabilitation
• Florida Agency for People with Disabilities
• Florida Division of Blind Services
• Family Network on Disabilities
• The Family Cafe
• Blogs on education
• Previous podcast episodes

In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie discuss the impact of language on disability rights and inclusion with advocates Lawrence Carter-Long, Damian Gregory, and Laura-Lee Minutello. The conversation highlights the #SayTheWord disability campaign, personal experiences with disability-related language, government services, marketing, and legislation affecting the disability community. They discuss person-first versus identity-first language and how language influences societal perspectives and policy-making. They emphasize that people with disabilities are integral to society, and their considerations must be included in policy-making. 

Relevant links: 

• Follow Lawrence Carter-Long 
• Follow Damian Gregory
• Follow Laura-Lee Minutello
• Article about the #SayTheWord disabled campaign
• Disability Rights Florida blog: Disability is Not a Bad Word: Why ‘Unique Abilities’ Isn’t as Nice as it Sounds

In this bonus episode, You First Podcast host Maddie talks with 5 guests about various legal and medical precedents that have led to the division between the disability and LGBTQ+ communities. The history between the LGBTQ+ community and the disability community is often at odds with each other. Historically, LGBTQ+ identities were viewed as mental illnesses, and many within the LGBTQ+ community rightfully rejected this. However, debility and harm from LGBTQ+ oppression and discrimination leading to worse health outcomes can cause disability. In fact, despite trans and non-binary people being explicitly listed within the ADA as unable to qualify for ADA protections, developing legal precedent finds that gender dysphoria can be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is much to unpack within these histories, and our guests will thoroughly explain how these communities have been pinned against each other. The guests will also speak to how these histories have led to the anti-LGBTQ+ and ableist legislation we are seeing today passed in Florida and across the country. We want to uplift the experiences of disabled & LGBTQ+ identifying people and discuss the often-unspoken history between these two communities as a way to regain power and comfort in these identities.

• Full Webinar on YouTube

In this episode, guests Ashley Shew and Mallory Kay Nelson discuss the concept of technoableism, the history of disability and technology, and the importance of involving disabled people when developing new technologies. They highlight the challenges surrounding the definition of disability, the impact of assistive technology on people with disabilities, and the potential problems that may arise during its implementation, such as the pressure for disabled individuals to conform to an ableist standard. The episode also addresses accessibility, acceptance, and representation of disability in society, the media, and within disability communities.

Relevant links from the episode:

• Ashley's book: Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement
• Ashley's website
• Mallory's website
• Mallory's Patreon
• Follow Ashley on social media: Twitter and Bluesky
• Follow Mallory on social media: Instagram and Twitter

In this episode, co-hosts Maddie and Keith talk with Dr. Bill Bronston and Marlene Sallo about Willowbrook State School, its exposé, and its impact on the disability rights movement. The episode starts with our conversation with Dr. Bronston, a doctor who worked at Willowbrook and ultimately was vital in the lawsuit against New York State, ultimately officially closing the institution in 1987. He tells the insidious and harrowing story of abuse, violence, murder, and monetization of disabled folks warehoused at Willowbrook State School and what efforts he's currently involved in to advocate for healthcare for all and deinstitutionalization. Then, we hear from the National Disability Rights Network's Executive Director, Marlene Sallo, about the impact Willowbrook and the deinstitutionalization movement have had on the disability community and the ongoing fight for disability rights.

Content Warning: strong language, explicit mentions of violence against and death of disabled people, institutionalization, medical trauma, and eugenics.

The episode starts with Dr. Bill Bronston's interview, then we hear from Marlene Sallo starting at 1:28:10.

Relevant links:

• Dr. Bronston's Book: Public Hostage Public Ransom: Ending Institutional America
• Geraldo Rivera's 1972 expose of Willowbrook State School 
• CA Physicians for National Health Program
• OurHealth.pub
• National Disability Rights Network website

You First podcast co-hosts Keith and Maddie are joined by disability activists and legal scholars AJ Link, Jalyn Radziminski, and Haley Moss, who identify as neurodiverse and disabled. They shared their personal stories and insights about their experiences with law school, advocacy, careers, and more. The guests discussed how their unique perspectives benefit and challenge them in their work and highlighted areas of accessibility and inclusion that professionals and educators in the field may not be considering. They also offered advice to young, disabled, and neurodivergent individuals who may be interested in pursuing similar professions.

• Coelho Center for Disability Law
• National Disabled Law Students Association and the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association
• Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals
• National HBCU Pre-Law Conference

In this episode of You First, we chat with our friend Beck DeTrempe who is doing some awesome peer led community building in Florida. They founded Basically Wonderful, which is a grassroots organization run by Queer + Disabled folks in Orlando, Florida, USA. Their mission reads: Our hope is to create peer-led spaces for marginalized communities where folks are free to express themselves and build friendships with peers who have similar lived experiences. We are creating intentional spaces for both Disabled & LGBTQIA+ folks to commune and thrive in identity-driven spaces. We have a great conversation about the programming they offer, such as community spaces, book clubs, arts events, media clubs, and much more. We also discuss how they center Disability Justice, accessibility, accountability, and inclusion to provide community spaces that are inviting for all.