We cannot legislate attitudes toward disability
Policy alone is not enough.
Hello.
March 1 was the Disability Day of Mourning. A day to mourn disabled people killed by family members because they were considered burdens. Their lives weren't deemed worth living.
As the administration throws human rights protections into the flames of their own dumpster fire, we're about to see a devastating uptick in deaths of disabled people.
It's a reminder of a harsh reality: We can create policies, but we cannot legislate attitudes toward disability. Policy is only as powerful as the people behind it. To truly change anything, we must change hearts and minds to believe that disabled lives are worth living.
(Trying something to keep the length of this newsletter a bit shorter...you can click to read my full thoughts on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.)
What I'm Watching
Instead of sharing something I watched, I want to share something that I hope influences what we all watch in the future. I had the honor of working with an amazing team to support the creation of a new multimedia report for Easterseals Southern California, Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion.
We brought together partners from across the entertainment industry and gathered insights from a range of incredible disabled talent. I hope you'll check it out and bookmark it for reference.
What do you recommend I watch next? You can reply to this email! Looking for past recommendations or critiques? Click here for past issues of my newsletter.
Disability Around the Interwebs
Tell Congress: No Cuts to Medicaid (an email template you can use to advocate)
Trump's Medicaid Cuts Would Leave Millions of Americans Without Health Care
Disability Rights Watch (a helpful resource for clear, concise round-ups of what's happening right now)
Explaining Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), The Trump Administration’s Recent Actions on DEIA, and the Impact on Disabled Americans
Americans with disabilities warn protections are vanishing in Trump's DEI rollback
Airlines Sue to Avoid Consequences for Breaking Disabled Travelers’ Wheelchairs
A Lawsuit Threatens the Disability Protections I’ve Known My Whole Life
What the Assault on Public Education Means for Kids with Disabilities
Accessibility Initiatives Are Taking a Hit Across the Sciences
Mass layoffs leave federal employees with disabilities in the lurch
Elon Musk keeps tweeting the 'R-word'
My Aunt Frieda Tankus - Co-founding Vice President of Disabled in Action (a lovely reflection on a piece of disability history)
Disabled Performers Advocate for Allies in Hollywood: ‘Inclusion Needs to Be a Movement and Not a Moment’ (enjoyed being interviewed for this - a hopeful conversation among the chaos)
Let's Demystify Disability Together!
If you've ever wondered about the vibes and passion I aim to bring when I speak, check out the video below! You can see me in action, learn more about what drives my work, and get a preview of topics I love to talk about.
But here's the reality: I know DEI budgets are drying up, and resources are scarce. Even so, I continue to hope that companies and organizations won't succumb to the pressures of the government.
If budget allows, I'd love to join your community (either virtually or in-person) and support you in creating a safe space for open, honest conversation about a range of disability-related topics. Please reach out and let's make it happen!
Until next month, keep on wheelin’ on!
💖
-Emily