Disabled And Here

Disabled And Here Collaborators

  • A Black woman with long braided hair smiles at the camera.

    March 12, 2021

    Interview with Dominique

    “...sometimes if I’m down, but I still want to draw, the expressions of the colors won’t be as vibrant. When I’m in a good mood, I love to use bright vibrant colors and give my character big smiles and bright eyes to match.”

  • A Black non-binary person sits in front of a yellow backdrop with their arms crossed and resting on their cane.

    November 27, 2019

    Interview with Leila

    “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.”

  • A Black woman wearing a head scarf sits on a rooftop deck, smiling and looking off to the side.

    November 21, 2019

    Interview with Rachelle

    “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.”

  • An Indigenous Two-Spirit person with a prosthetic leg standing in front of a vine-covered red wall.

    November 14, 2019

    Interview with Sky

    “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.”

  • A Black non-binary person stands outside a cafe with their leopard print cane.

    November 7, 2019

    Interview with Galadriel

    “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.”

  • A Filipinx woman sits and pauses while writing in her notebook.

    October 31, 2019

    Interview with Luann

    “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 South Asian person sits in a wheelchair and gazes off-camera.

    October 24, 2019

    Interview with Sophia

    “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.”

  • A Black woman smiles and has her arms crossed in front of a foliage wall.

    October 17, 2019

    Interview with Tonya

    “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.”

  • A Black femme drapes a Pride flag across their shoulder.

    June 25, 2019

    Interview with Bemnia

    “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.”

  • A Black non-binary person holds a cane and vape pen.

    June 18, 2019

    Interview with Mallory

    “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.”

  • A Black non-binary person in a black and pink power wheelchair.

    June 11, 2019

    Interview with Moranda

    “I feel like people kind of dismiss the thought of disabled people being able to be in a relationship or date... It’s like the possibility never crossed their mind, and they don’t know what to do next. I think the question they really want to ask is: are you capable of having and maintaining a relationship like any other 24 year old?”

  • A Latinx woman smiles while standing on a sidewalk on a cloudy day.

    January 10, 2019

    Interview with Melissa

    “Support creators who are raising awareness, educating through telling the stories of others, or those who are on the front lines fighting for justice and overcoming oppression.”

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