News and Features

  • A Black transmasculine person with a face mask and rainbow bandana sits surrounded by indoor plants.

    October 30, 2025

    Disabled And Here: Interview with lucky

    “For me, trans pride means I’m existing despite it all!!! I am loving deeply and getting as free as I can each day, because that’s what I need, want, and deserve. Transgender people and T4T love should just get to exist in all their iterations, showing up just as they are.”

  • A Black person with glasses and pink buns smiles mid-twirl, surrounded by bubbles outdoors.

    October 23, 2025

    Disabled And Here: Interview with Nocturne

    “Pride to me is the courage to be yourself completely. It’s the courage to make the mistakes that are needed to learn who you are for yourself, and not be what society has forced on us.”

  • Graphic with Community Care Awards in hand lettering

    April 14, 2025

    2025 Community Care Awardees

    Thanks to your nominations, Affect gave away four $670 awards in February and March! The 2025 Community Care awardees include Neairra Morgan, Tenisha Davis, and A'misa Chiu.

  • Masked disabled people of color holding protest signs.

    February 3, 2025

    2024: lots of work behind the work

    2024 was a challenging year — Affect struggled with a lot of change behind the scenes and had to work hard to keep things running smoothly.

  • 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.

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