Sara Acevedo, a disability studies scholar and activist, dives deep into the language surrounding disability. She shares her transformative journey in advocacy, sparked by her experiences at a summer camp for disabled adults. The conversation explores the empowering reclamation of the term 'crip' and contrasts the social and medical models of disability. Acevedo emphasizes the significance of neurodiversity and provides practical insights on how non-disabled individuals can better understand disability through the lens of those with lived experiences.
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Sara's Disability Journey
Sara Acevedo shares her journey from studying French linguistics to disability studies. Her experience working with disabled individuals at a summer camp inspired her to pursue education in this field.
insights INSIGHT
Power of Language
Language is a powerful institution that carries weight and potential for liberation in the disabled community. It can also lead to brutalization when used insensitively.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Reclaiming 'Crip'
Sara explains how the term 'crip' transitioned from being used negatively to being reclaimed by the disability community. It has evolved to include cultural and political meanings.
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First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
Alice Wong
This book is a comprehensive collection of essays, poetry, interviews, fiction, and podcasts written by disabled authors. It is divided into four sections: 'Being' (daily challenges of living with a disability), 'Becoming' (following a life-affirming path), 'Doing' (accomplishments and their impact on society), and 'Connecting' (overcoming isolation). The essays address various issues such as relationships, ableist society, visibility in popular culture, disability activism, and more. The book celebrates the lives of disabled people and makes a powerful political statement about the need for disability justice and representation[1][4][5].
Care Work
Dreaming Disability Justice
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice, by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, explores the crucial role of care work in creating a more just and equitable society for disabled people. The book examines the intersections of disability, race, gender, and class, highlighting the experiences of marginalized communities. It challenges traditional notions of care and advocates for a more radical approach that centers the needs and desires of disabled individuals. Piepzna-Samarasinha's personal narrative and insightful analysis provide a powerful framework for understanding the importance of care work in disability justice. The book's impact lies in its ability to inspire readers to engage in transformative justice and create a more inclusive world. The book's call for collective action and mutual support resonates deeply with readers seeking to build a more just and equitable society.
Skin, Tooth and Bone
Skin, Tooth and Bone
The Basis of Movement is Our People
Since Invalid
Skin, Tooth and Bone, by the disability justice collective Since Invalid, delves into the multifaceted experiences of disabled individuals, challenging societal norms and offering a powerful counter-narrative. The book explores themes of embodiment, identity, and resistance, highlighting the importance of intersectionality and collective action. It emphasizes the need to move beyond the limitations of the medical model and embrace a more holistic understanding of disability. The authors' personal stories and insightful analysis provide a crucial framework for understanding disability justice and its implications for social change. The book's impact lies in its ability to empower disabled individuals and foster a more inclusive society.
As the team works on season 10, we wanted to bring you something extra special. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be recasting listener favorites from across all nine seasons of the podcast, highlighting one episode from each season that you, our listeners, particularly enjoyed.
First up is season 1, “The Language of Disability” with disability studies scholar and activist, Sara Acevedo. Qudsiya often points new listeners to this episode as a foundational primer on the concepts of disability justice, the social versus the medical model of disability, the term “crip”, and many other critical concepts that help us understand the disabled experience.
After you listen, please remember to send your audio or written testimonials sharing about what Down to the Struts has meant to you. You can email them to downtothestruts@gmail.com.
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