You First: The Disability Rights Florida Podcast

In today's episode, we are joined by two international disability advocates, Rosangela Berman Bieler and Patricia Almeida. During our conversation, we discuss the importance and impact of global disability policy and rights work, including their work with the UN and UNICEF. They also discuss how other countries compare to the US regarding disability progress and inclusion, global accessibility initiatives, and the need for continued fighting for disability rights. Relevant Links   Disabled People's International for the Latin American Council  The Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment (GADIM)  Shutterstock Collaboration with GADIM  Simple as This Easy language Guide by Patricia Almeida  Dom Evans & FilmDis   United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD)  United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child  UNICEF Programme Children with Disabilities  World Bank Disability  I Protect Myself   The Zero Project  Inter-American Institute on Disability and In

In this week's episode, co-hosts Keith and Maddie talk with The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies' Co-Directors Shaylin Sluzalis & Germán Parodi. The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led, 501(c)(3) organization that prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs before, during and after disasters and emergencies. We chat about how their work started, how Floridians with disabilities can stay safe during hurricanes, how other emergencies disproportionately impact disabled people, and resources to take precautions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and flu season. Relevant resources: The Partnership’s website: https://bit.ly/3uUvobE  Disaster hotline: https://bit.ly/48y9b0Y 800-626-4959 Hotline@disasterstrategies.org  Weekly stakeholder call and events: https://bit.ly/3ImOryI  The Partnership’s resources, inclu

In this episode of You First, we talk with Jen White-Johnson (she/they), a renowned artist, educator, and disability activist who uses the arts as a medium to champion the life, joy, and experiences of the disabled and neurodivergent community. Jen discusses their journey as someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, the barriers for disabled Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to getting a diagnosis, and the impact of their son being diagnosed with autism. They talk about the need for more disabled BIPOC representation in visual media, their efforts to bring disabled artists to the forefront, and how they work to deconstruct ableism in the classroom. Jen discusses their artwork that celebrates Disability Justice and celebrates Disability Joy through visual arts, digital design, zine-making, installations, and more. Episode 62 Relevant links mentioned:  Jen’s website Disrupt and Resist Exhibition Critical Design Lab Disability Solidarity Statement An Anthology of Blackness: The State of Black De

Two Disability Rights Florida education advocates, April Katine and Daysi Ortiz, join Keith in education planning for students with disabilities. The three discuss the importance of individual education plans (IEPs) and transition planning and offer tips on how parents can more effectively find success throughout the process. Tune in to learn about the various services available under IEP, how to prepare for IEP meetings, the significance of periodic re-evaluations, the importance of maintaining written records, and how to best collaborate with your child's IEP team. Relevant links:  Transition site  Education section of our website Find your P&A (if out of state) Florida Vocational Rehabilitation Florida Agency for People with Disabilities Florida Division of Blind Services Family Network on Disabilities The Family Cafe Blogs on education Previous podcast episodes

In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie talk with guests Neal Carter, Jess Moore Matthews, Sarah Blahovec, and Dom Kelly about disability-inclusive campaigning, strategies to reach disabled voters, and the significance of accessible elections. Today's episode is not about any specific candidates or voting laws. Instead, we focus on the broader culture of political campaigns, exploring why the disability community often feels excluded and what disabled organizers are doing to challenge this status quo. The discussion touches on the unique perspectives of our guests and their efforts to engage historically marginalized voters. Relevant Links: Neal Carter's bio Jess Moore Matthew's bio Sarah Blahovec's bio Dom Kelly's bio Disability Victory Backbone Leaders New Disabled South AAPD's REV UP Campaign Access the Vote Florida (REV UP chapter of Florida) Access the Vote Florida 2023 Disability Elections Summit

In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie discuss the impact of language on disability rights and inclusion with advocates Lawrence Carter-Long, Damian Gregory, and Laura-Lee Minutello. The conversation highlights the #SayTheWord disability campaign, personal experiences with disability-related language, government services, marketing, and legislation affecting the disability community. They discuss person-first versus identity-first language and how language influences societal perspectives and policy-making. They emphasize that people with disabilities are integral to society, and their considerations must be included in policy-making.  Relevant links:  Follow Lawrence Carter-Long  Follow Damian Gregory Follow Laura-Lee Minutello Article about the #SayTheWord disabled campaign Disability Rights Florida blog: Disability is Not a Bad Word: Why ‘Unique Abilities’ Isn’t as Nice as it Sounds

In this bonus episode, You First Podcast host Maddie talks with 5 guests about various legal and medical precedents that have led to the division between the disability and LGBTQ+ communities. The history between the LGBTQ+ community and the disability community is often at odds with each other. Historically, LGBTQ+ identities were viewed as mental illnesses, and many within the LGBTQ+ community rightfully rejected this. However, debility and harm from LGBTQ+ oppression and discrimination leading to worse health outcomes can cause disability. In fact, despite trans and non-binary people being explicitly listed within the ADA as unable to qualify for ADA protections, developing legal precedent finds that gender dysphoria can be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is much to unpack within these histories, and our guests will thoroughly explain how these communities have been pinned against each other. The guests will also speak to how these histories have led to the anti-LGB

In this episode, guests Ashley Shew and Mallory Kay Nelson discuss the concept of technoableism, the history of disability and technology, and the importance of involving disabled people when developing new technologies. They highlight the challenges surrounding the definition of disability, the impact of assistive technology on people with disabilities, and the potential problems that may arise during its implementation, such as the pressure for disabled individuals to conform to an ableist standard. The episode also addresses accessibility, acceptance, and representation of disability in society, the media, and within disability communities. Relevant links from the episode: Ashley's book: Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement Ashley's website Mallory's website Mallory's Patreon Follow Ashley on social media: Twitter and Bluesky Follow Mallory on social media: Instagram and Twitter

In this episode, co-hosts Maddie and Keith talk with Dr. William Bronston and Marlene Sallo about Willowbrook State School, its exposé, and its impact on the disability rights movement. The episode starts with our conversation with Dr. Bronston, a doctor who worked at Willowbrook and ultimately was vital in the lawsuit against New York State, ultimately officially closing the institution in 1987. He tells the insidious and harrowing story of abuse, violence, murder, and monetization of disabled folks warehoused at Willowbrook State School and what efforts he's currently involved in to advocate for healthcare for all and deinstitutionalization. Then, we hear from the National Disability Rights Network's Executive Director, Marlene Sallo, about the impact Willowbrook and the deinstitutionalization movement have had on the disability community and the ongoing fight for disability rights. Content Warning: strong language, explicit mentions of violence against and death of disabled people, institutionalization, me

You First podcast co-hosts Keith and Maddie are joined by disability activists and legal scholars AJ Link, Jalyn Radziminski, and Haley Moss, who identify as neurodiverse and disabled. They shared their personal stories and insights about their experiences with law school, advocacy, careers, and more. The guests discussed how their unique perspectives benefit and challenge them in their work and highlighted areas of accessibility and inclusion that professionals and educators in the field may not be considering. They also offered advice to young, disabled, and neurodivergent individuals who may be interested in pursuing similar professions. Coelho Center for Disability Law National Disabled Law Students Association and the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals National HBCU Pre-Law Conference

In this episode of You First, we chat with our friend Beck DeTrempe who is doing some awesome peer led community building in Florida. They founded Basically Wonderful, which is a grassroots organization run by Queer + Disabled folks in Orlando, Florida, USA. Their mission reads: Our hope is to create peer-led spaces for marginalized communities where folks are free to express themselves and build friendships with peers who have similar lived experiences. We are creating intentional spaces for both Disabled & LGBTQIA+ folks to commune and thrive in identity-driven spaces. We have a great conversation about the programming they offer, such as community spaces, book clubs, arts events, media clubs, and much more. We also discuss how they center Disability Justice, accessibility, accountability, and inclusion to provide community spaces that are inviting for all.

With one of their favorite holidays just around the corner, co-hosts Maddie and Keith delve into a serious discussion on using disability as a tool for instilling fear in others, all in the name of Halloween fun. From dressing up in offensive costumes to visiting eerie museums and reopened haunted institutions, the hosts explore how disability history and the disabled community have been intentionally disregarded in favor of a cheap thrill. Content warning: Mentions of violence against people with disabilities and BIPOC people, including colonialism, institutionalization, eugenics, incarceration, and slavery. References in episode:  Ugly Laws History of Willowbrook State School Article in Disability Visibility about the Mütter Museum Florida Farm Colony Institution Pennhurst Haunted Asylum  History of zombies History of the term spooky Article with Annie Elainey's experience with Halloween

On today's episode, we chat with the co-hosts of The Accessible Stall podcast, Emily Ladau and Kyle Khachadurian! These two disabled podcasting stars were some of the first podcasters with disabilities when they got their start in 2016. They are both strong advocates for disability, accessibility, and the power of story-telling. They join Keith and Maddie to discuss why they began podcasting, what accessibility considerations they make when producing a podcast, and much more. About the guests and their podcast: The Accessible Stall is a disability podcast hosted by Kyle Khachadurian and Emily Ladau that keeps it real about issues within the disability community. Because we each have different disabilities and mobility levels, we approach everything we talk about with two unique viewpoints, offering our listeners a fresh insight into how differences in disability can color your experiences and perspectives. And we never shy away from offering our honest opinions. Even if they go against the grain of the disabi

As we head back to school in a few weeks, we wanted to highlight our new Transition Toolkit. Transition is a term to describe when youth are moving into a new phase of life. Think about big transitioning moments in your life growing up: going to middle school, trying to get a job, or being able to vote. The Transition Toolkit has timely, helpful information regarding education plans, like IEPs or 504s, and things like self-advocacy, assistive technology, driver's licenses, and much more. It is accessible, easy to read, and offers youth and their supporters the information needed to plan for a successful future. Resources: Online Toolkit: Transition.DisabilityRightsFlorida.org Our Education Resources Sign up for Ann's upcoming presentation about the Transition Toolkit on August 18, 2023

Guest Dr. Anita Marshall joins hosts Keith and Maddie to talk about her work to make STEM more accessible for students with disabilities. As someone who acquired a disability later in life, she realized how ableist and inaccessible higher education really was. Anita created the first-ever disability-accessible planetary geoscience field course and mentoring program, GeoSPACE, and is the Executive Director of The International Association for Geoscience Diversity. We discuss collective disability knowledge, debunk myths about academia, and gush about our love for universal accessibility. We hope you enjoy the episode!  Show Notes and Resources: Dr. Anita Marshall's Website GeoSPACE Program The International Association for Geoscience Diversity

A little over one year ago, Florida decided to stop participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) voluntary Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Since 1991, Florida participated in the YRBS. It is widely given to youth across the United States to assess their well-being regarding to mental health, teen dating violence, bullying, drugs, eating and exercise habits, and sexual activity. This survey has been critical lately to monitor the rise in anxiety, depression, and suicide among teens since 2020. In addition to risk taking behaviors, the survey assesses how youth of marginalized identities are doing while living in florida. With Florida no longer participating, people are concerned about what metrics will exist to track youth and teen safety trends.  After discontinuing involvement, Florida created its own survey: the Florida Specific Youth Survey (FSYS). This survey focuses on 'student resiliency standards' and has little to no questions about sexual, mental, and relationship heal

In honor of Pride Month, upcoming Disability Pride Month, and the opportunity to always highlight cool disabled people, let’s talk about Frida Kahlo.  Many are aware of the legendary artist, Frida Kahlo: her famous artwork, impact on culture, and iconic appearance. But many people do not know that she was a bisexual disabled woman with physical disabilities due to polio and an automobile accident. Her disabilities made a lasting impact on her art, heavily influencing what, who, and how she painted. Show Notes & Resources:  FridaKahlo.org Our Blog Frida Kahlo’s 6 Disability Themed Paintings Respectability’s article on Frida Kahlo: Frida Kahlo, Role Model for Artists, People with Disabilities and Bisexual Women Annie Elainey’s YouTube video ‘Why You Should Love Frida Kahlo’

Guest Jen Deerinwater joins host Maddie Crowley to talk about the intersection of disability and Indigenous identities. Jen is a disabled Two Spirit Indigenous individual who is an award-winning journalist, organizer, and leader within the disability, Indigenous and environmental justice movements. During the conversation, they discuss paving the way to create a native media organization, combatting ableism and invisibility, and highlighting upcoming opportunities and new resources developing for disabled Native folks.  Additional Resources:  Jen Deerinwater’s website: JDeerinwater.com Jen’s writing and journalism: JDeerinwater.com/media  The Native American Protection and Advocacy organization: NativeDisabilityLaw.org Crushing Colonialism's website: CrushingColonialism.org Intertribal Disability Advocacy Council (IDAC): bit.ly/43HwGm5 IDAC Listening Sessions: To be announced!  Indian Health Service: theIHS.org Native American LifeLines, Inc.: NativeAmericanLifelines.org  Our Native American Resource page: b

June 1st is the beginning of hurricane season. As Floridians know, it can be a mixed bag as to what storms we’re going to get. But hurricanes impact other states around the country, and it’s important to be prepared and safe. On the show today we’re talking with our coworker, Bryan Russell, who is the Emergency Management Coordinator at Disability Rights Florida. And, while it might be hurricane season, people in Florida and individuals across the country experience severe weather and natural disasters all year round. Bryan will talk about the best safety practices that can and should be considered year-round so we can always be prepared. Visit our Disaster and Emergency Planning pages for more information and to find links referenced in the episode

With our lives and world becoming more connected and reliant on the internet, what does that mean for people with disabilities?  The internet can be a great way for disabled folks to connect, especially as access barriers and safety considerations keep our community apart. But, what if that online space wasn't accessible to the very folks that need it most?  We're here to help you change that. We co-authored a blog on this back in November 2022, but we think this information is important to share everywhere because online accessibility is still such a huge issue. We all have a responsibility to be more conscientious, considerate, and inclusive online. In this episode, we will talk about some best online accessibility practices to help you make your content more accessible for folks with disabilities.  Additional Resources: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Overview Introduction to Web Accessibility Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE) Color Contrast Analyzer Hemingway Editor Readability Tests R