Writing Seeds: Reflecting on Disabled Writing
Around 2018 I found myself living in an undergraduate household two streets down from my alma mater. I had graduated with no debt, no permanent home for the next year plus, and no real sense of finding work. Frankly, I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to do next with my life. All that I knew was that I had spent a year trying to make my way in the Bay Area and had come home with nothing to show for it. By all accounts, I felt like nothing.
And then something happened that drastically changed the course of my life.
A friend of mine linked me to an application for the Disabled Writers Fellowship program being offered through Rooted in Rights. This year was to be their inaugural onboarding of disabled writers coming from various marginalized backgrounds. She thought I would be a good fit for the program given my previous experience writing monthly blogs covering experiences around Queer, Trans, Black, and People of Color communities. It being a paid position would bring me much needed stability during a time when my accounts were bleeding money. So, I followed her advice and applied for the fellowship.
And I am so glad I did.
Being tasked with a consistent deadline and an editor in noted disability activist Emily Ladau gave me structure I was desperately needing. Having to pump out 2 blogs roughly every 2 weeks meant I had to learn how to concisely write without overdoing it. Being accountable to someone who was patient yet firm in her feedback meant I could grow without suffering to do so. And having money come in meant I could cover rent for once and finally achieve stability, even if it was only for a few months.
Looking back on it, much of what I learned throughout my time as a Disabled Writing Fellow has stuck with me in being an editor for more recent projects. As someone who has edited zine compilations for new tabletop game designers, I was surprised how often Emily’s words came surging back when I helped launch our first zine. Knowing that people often just needed a receptive yet critical voice made giving my own feedback so much easier. Leading with kindness as an editor meant I could give them the same structure the program gave for me, even if people were new to writing. Taking on a role to mentor and support new voices in my community has been one of the greatest joys in my life and I owe much to Rooted in Rights for it.
And so, it is with the greatest sadness that I find myself now looking upon the recent announcement that the blog will be sunsetting at the end of September with bittersweetness. For the past year, I have had the luxury of being a freelance editor for the blog and it has made me think so much more about disability culture and politics overall. In the midst of a growing political context where eugenics has become increasingly legitimized, documenting countervoices has become part of our collective resistance. From covering breaking science on Long COVID research to improving disabled journalism to supporting the latest in disability art and fashion, disabled lives have been making miracles happen. And yet, now we are losing a valuable space for disabled voices to share their truths.
I cannot express my disappointment well enough in writing. Such emotions go too deep for even such a glorious art form to convey their complexity. So, instead, I want to turn to you, the audience, and ask something of you instead. I ask you to remain hopeful and know that Rooted in Rights is but one of many other places still trying to speak to our disabled humanity. RiR is one of many places reminding us that disabled people do not deserve to languish in misery and isolation.
Our communities have always existed and have always found ways to share their beauty, brilliance, and boldness across any number of topics, genres, and mediums. Though unrestricted capitalism and rampant ableism threaten our existence, we will not be made to go quietly. So, please, ensure that our voices do not get smothered out.
Support more literary magazines run by disabled folk.
Support more publications speaking to the depth of disabled folk across the spectrum.
Support more spaces that mentor and help disabled creatives let their voices be heard.
Make it so that this world never has enough brown girls like me finding joy in not only learning how to write but also learning to share her knowledge with others. The world could always use more of us.
Angela Mogrovejo-Bosch (she/they) is a disabled, autistic, trans Latina who has combed the gamut when it comes to writing. Having been motivated by on the ground activist movements and disability justice organizers, she sees writing as a tool for liberation. With writing, it is their hope that we can collectively imagine and create a better world for us all. She hopes to contribute to the kinder, interdependent vision of what makes disabled creative life so precious to cultivate. In these unprecedented times, they know disabled viewpoints are needed now more than ever.
About Rooted In Rights
Rooted in Rights exists to amplify the perspectives of the disability community. Blog posts and storyteller videos that we publish and content we re-share on social media do not necessarily reflect the opinions or values of Rooted in Rights nor indicate an endorsement of a program or service by Rooted in Rights. We respect and aim to reflect the diversity of opinions and experiences of the disability community. Rooted in Rights seeks to highlight discussions, not direct them. Learn more about Rooted In Rights.
