Our Stories

Rooted in Rights tells authentic, accessible stories to challenge stigma and redefine narratives around disability, mental health and chronic illness.

Closeup hands of white person in pastel pink shirt with painted nails working on laptop and making notes in their notebook, which is on wooden table with a laptop and a cup of coffee.

How Working From Home Has Helped Me with Eating Disorder Recovery

Content note: discusses experiences of eating disorders, treatment, and recovery A few years ago, a couple of months before my 30th birthday, I left London and left my job. I was on the verge of being detained under the Mental…

Top-down partial view of a white person sitting cross-legged on a bed, holding a cell phone, and resting her hand on their keyboard. There is a pink notebook and pen next to them.

Working from Bed Isn’t Lazy. It’s Accessible.

2020 was a year of change and adapting, something disabled people are already pros at doing. One of the biggest shake-ups was the move to working from home. As much of the workforce shifted from the office to wherever we…

Half of an illustrated outline of an Oscar award, surrounded by gold stars and purple, pink, and green sparkles.

Crip Camp Deserves an Oscar Win for Subverting Typical Narratives and Centralizing Disabled People

“I wanted to be part of the world, but I didn’t see anyone like me in it.” These words, spoken by James LeBrecht indicate the lack of disability representation in media. Countering this lack of representation, LeBrecht set…

A question mark made out of stacks of U.S. dollar bills.

Are Celebrity-Studded “Autism-Fundraisers” Actually Supporting Autistic People?

Back in 2015, about four months prior to my own diagnosis, a video went viral of an autistic singer named Jodi Dipiazza singing the Weird Al Yankovic song “Yoda” alongside the singer himself and a chorus of seven other autistic…

A white woman sitting next to closed blinds, using her fingers to open them and peek through the window to outside.

How Can We Protect Our Mental Health When Discussing Disability and Assisted Suicide?

Content note: discussion of mental illness, suicide, and physician-assisted suicide If you or someone you know are in need of support, please consider the following resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 En Español: 1-888-628-9454 For people who are deaf/hard-of-hearing: 1-800-799-4889…

Bobcat Front track Skid loader surrounded by grass and fallen leaves.

“Move Your Head” – A Lesson in Conquering Doubt and Worry

“What did you say?” I asked J.P. “You heard me. Move your head! It’s in the way!” We were within five inches of each other’s face. Close enough for a kiss, but the usually dreamy blue-green eyes of my husband…

Mel Baggs Will Never Leave Us

Content note: includes discussion of eugenic ableism, medical abuse, institutionalization, white supremacist murder Memory is important. But your own personal memory is not necessary. The best of human memory is fallible, changing, and fickle. And memory can fail. In so…

Photo of Kris and his daughter. Kris is a biracial man who has short black curly hair and tinted glasses. He is smiling while sitting holding his 11 month old daughter who has short black hair in two ponytails and is wearing a pink jacket on a sunny day at a park.

As an Autistic Dad, Autism “Awareness” Month Brings Up Mixed Feelings for Me

Autism “Awareness” Month brings up mixed feelings for me. In one sense, I have excitement because I am a proud autistic dad of an amazing almost 1-year-old and it has been such joy. But I also have frustration because of…

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Please Don’t Define Me as a “Hippie,” “Spoonie,” or “Zebra”

Early last year, I went to an online networking event for writers. The organiser, who I had only spoken to online, started by introducing everyone. There were journalists, fiction writers, scriptwriters, and then she introduced me as a “Zebra.” I…