We’re launching a small COVID-19 emergency relief fund to support local disabled Black, Indigenous, people of color during the pandemic.
“Because body modification is a pre-colonial art and based in self-reclamation, it is most precious to people whose bodies are under constant scrutiny and policing from multiple oppressive entities on systemic, cultural and interpersonal levels.”
“The barriers that people put in place, whether they’re intentional or unintentional, cause the disability. Sure, some of us are born different, but what causes the inability to interact with society is simply because [non-disabled people] adjusted the entire world to [their] liking.”
“The greatest way someone could support me would be to decolonize your ways of thinking and moving through the world. It would be extremely helpful if you called out someone’s behavior when they’re saying something racist or bigoted of any kind.”
“I think a lot of people, me included, tend to focus on production as a means of determining worthiness. We’ll tell ourselves we’ll reward ourselves with an activity we love only once we’ve done all our chores or completed some huge project, but really letting ourselves enjoy what we love can help build capacity for doing all our required work.”
“With the new lupus diagnosis, I am now much more attuned to my needs in ways that I never bothered to pay attention to before. When I get too tired or weak to work or socialize, I take breaks.”
“A space that does not explicitly welcome Black, Indigenous, People of Color (or disabled BIPOC) is not an accessible space for all. The University of Oregon needs to continue making strides to honor and include BIPOC, not maintain oppressive structures.”
“It’s been amazing being involved with such a brilliant group of women/folks [through WOC Zine]. I’ve literally watched some members grow up in the group. They joined the collective in their 20’s and now in their 30’s! Whenever I wonder if I’ve ever contributed anything to this earth, I think about the wonderful community of women of color/folks I’m part of.”
“People treat diagnosis like it’s everything and if you don’t have a diagnosis, that means you don’t have [a disability]. It’s like: no, my symptoms didn’t all suddenly disappear just because you haven’t been able to come to a consensus on what to call this.”
“One of the biggest misconceptions that I run across is people thinking that all autistic people are the same. I think those misconceptions are rooted in how little we’re allowed to participate in media about us. There’s a very narrow view perpetuated by films and television that most, if not all of us, are savants.”