News and Features

  • A Black person laughs while sitting back in their rollator and holding a cane.

    October 17, 2024

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Claudia

    “My home is decorated with my old broken walkers. I have a small collection of canes with bright patterns that are covered in stickers. The walls are covered in art, ribbons, bookcases, photos of loved ones. I curate my clothing and my home, so that I will often be able to have my eye see something that delights me.”

  • A masked Latinx person stands on a sidewalk with their cane.

    October 10, 2024

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Fabián

    “Our current systems are constructed to isolate sick and disabled QTBIPOC from one another, especially with the disregard for COVID precautions, as many act like we’re living in a post-pandemic world...[M]asking is an act of solidarity with disabled BIPOC worldwide — a reality I wish more people, both in Portland and beyond, would acknowledge.”

  • A Native and Latinx woman sits outdoors in a chair and smiles at the camera.

    October 2, 2024

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Jesenia

    “I coined the term Collaborative Spoonie Model for the way we have been working and building communities and events honoring our spoons...I want people to learn what it is to BE in community with each other, to not ‘throw us away’, and to see what we can do when we believe together.”

  • A Black person with a buzz cut and glasses smiles at the camera.

    September 26, 2024

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Milo

    “It took years and years to understand that baking isn’t only an art, but also a science. Once I learned more about the science aspect – which ingredients react to others – I was able to enjoy the process of messing up and starting over. I view all mistakes as a learning experience and have been able to develop amazing recipes with that mindset.”

  • A Black woman with a nasal cannula smiling with hands loosely folded.

    April 11, 2024

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Miss Renée

    “Healed to me is not a PLACE. We are all on some level on our journey of healing — ON, not toward. As we journey, we learn through trial, error and grace... Nothing I’ve ever been through, no matter how painful, has ever been wasted because without fail, I’ll meet someone who will benefit from my personal experience.”

  • A masked autistic Black and Asian couple point out park sights on a date.

    December 21, 2023

    2023: a year that yeared

    2023 was relatively low-key here, which could be considered a mild success by disabled standards. By mainstream productivity or financial standards though, it would be more of a wash.

  • A Black woman with a lavender head scarf, pastel earrings, and white crop tank smiles and stands in the middle of a park.

    July 19, 2023

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Hesadiah

    “As a person who is highly passionate about advocating for social justice, I am particularly motivated to create more visibility for black and POC femmes who are disabled and/or neurodivergent.”

  • An Asian non-binary person with long hair looks neutrally at the camera while sitting casually on a bench in front of blooming flowers.

    July 14, 2023

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Artthew

    “I believe that if all of our basic needs were met and our communities were more connected, that would be the most accessible world. I dream of a world where all people are accepted and we are more connected with everyone and everything around us.”

  • A Black non-binary hiker looks through binoculars in a forest.

    January 27, 2023

    What Affect’s been up to

    2022 was the first year Affect operated without grants or sponsorships. Instead, we ran on a barebones $4,687 budget, funded solely by individual and org donations...

  • A bearded Black man with glasses gazes at the camera neutrally, wearing a peach shirt, septum piercing, small ear gauges, and navy bandana.

    December 30, 2022

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Andre

    “At this point, I have gathered a decent amount of documentaries in American Sign Language. I soon plan to release references for ASL documentaries through a series of Video Podcasts in American Sign Language. I plan to keep developing more ASL programming until all media is equally accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing [HoH] community.”

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