Indoors. A group of people of different ages and races in a waiting room. Some are patients, seated, while the rest are healthcare workers standing around and a receptionist behind a desk.

No, I Can’t Always Give You 24 Hours’ Notice

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to make it to my appointment today. I’m in too much pain. I can’t sit long, let alone drive.” “Since you’re calling with less than 24 hours’ notice, there will …

A red, spiral notebook and white pen against a light blue background. A white, torn off post-it note is taped to the notebook. It reads: "It's okay to not be okay."

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay – Until It’s Not

CONTENT NOTE: mental health disabilities, brief mention of suicide and suicidal ideation Even before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the United States was facing a growing mental health emergency. This rapidly-growing crisis has led to mental health becoming …

Outdoors, blue sky day. A person dressed in gray denim jeans stands in front of the U.S. Capitol building, holding up a sign that covers their face. It reads: "Disability matters."

Raising the Bar: Engaging Disabled People in Politics

Stacey Abrams did not become governor of Georgia. Our incredible team worked tirelessly for a year to reach Georgians in every corner of our state, building a powerful coalition of voters. We ultimately came up short, but our team made …

Close up of a clear, plastic pill organizer with pills of various colors inside.

Chronically Ignored: How Western Medical Practices Harm Chronically Ill People

At 7:47 pm, I had so many wires attached to me. Though I craved my typical end of the day shower, I had to find another way to self-soothe. I did some yoga, avoiding the Superman and cobra poses; they …

A comfortable-looking black office chair pulled up to a white desk with a black phone, black desktop keyboard, and a pair of glasses on it. A note attached to the chair has black text on white background that reads "out of office."

Navigating The Workforce as a Chronically Ill Person

CONTENT NOTE: brief mention of medicalized diet culture, brief mention of menstruation, ableist workplace discrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I was diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease the year …

Close up of three hands. An elder's hand lays between the hands of a younger person's two hands. All three fair-skinned hands rest on the younger adult's lap.

A Life Worth Living: An Elegy For My Mother

CONTENT NOTE: discussion of systemic ableism, death, end-of-life care, and euthanasia My mother and I were always a team. When my Girl Scout troop had a roller skating party, my mom strapped skates to my feet, took hold of …

Outdoors. A tree surrounded by green grass is seen from the tree top down to its complex roots. The roots are surrounded by soil because they're all underground.

Getting to The Roots: Why Does Subminimum Wage Persist?

In 2018, the National Council on Disabilities reported that people with disabilities in the U.S. have decreased chances of finding work. In addition, the report found that disabled workers often work for subminimum wage, low wages, and under substandard employment …

Daytime, an aerial view of Islamabad, Pakistan. It's mostly green tree tops with buildings and roads. Large mountains in the background.

The Many Challenges of Working Disabled Women in Pakistan

In Pakistan, disability has been overlooked and ignored in all aspects of life, including administrative, financial, and legal spheres. As a result, people with disabilities are the most disadvantaged since we are unseen, unheard, and miscounted in the country. …

A person standing alone, looking out onto a hazy lake.

Finding Space for Myself in a Social Justice Movement that Doesn’t Make Space for Me

Following the end of my writing fellowship with Rooted in Rights, I found myself thinking about why I advocate for the things I do. For as short a time as disability issues have been the primary focus of my writing …

Discrimination