Choose to be Curious Ep. #304: Curious in Mind & Body, with Qudsiya Naqui
Nov 5, 2025
Join Qudsiya Naqui, a blind law professor and disability advocate, as she delves into the intersections of curiosity, disability, and community. She shares her journey discovering tandem cycling and adaptive sports, emphasizing the power of teamwork and empathy. Qudsiya redefines disability and promotes values of interdependence and collective access. Through her lived experiences, she encourages curiosity about our own bodies and the importance of listening. This insightful conversation opens up dialogues on social design and the diverse expressions of disability.
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Self-Description Creates Access
- Self-description provides nonvisual social cues that foster connection and conversation.
- Qudsiya Naqui values self-description because it levels the social playing field for people with low vision.
Disability Is Broad And Variable
- Disability describes a wide range of experiences that alter how people access the world.
- Naqui cites the ADA's broad definition: physical or mental impairment substantially limiting major life activities.
Finding Tandem Cycling After Vision Loss
- Naqui took up tandem cycling after vision changes made solo running unsafe and discovered adaptive sports.
- Tandem cycling reintroduced athleticism, community learning, and creative solutions for continued participation.