👋 Welcome to the November issue of The Latest! Want to read Stephanie’s past issues? Check out the archive!
🫢 “I’m Afraid of Saying the Wrong Thing, So I Don’t Say Anything At All”
The biggest barrier to access lies within.
As someone who has spent their career researching disability inclusion and success, I’m often struck by how many people freeze when the topic of disability comes up. This kind of hesitation, while understandable, creates barriers to meaningful change.
Consider this exchange.
“I can’t give access to that because I don’t know how,” a senior leader told me.
“So we’ve made it about you not having the skill, rather than about providing legally required access?” I responded.
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
This exchange perfectly demonstrates how we often frame what is possible for disabled people around our limitations and understanding. When I reframed it as an ADA compliance issue, the conversation shifted from “we can’t” to “what resources do we need?”
Lets build better systems instead. Which leads me to…
🌟 It Starts With Effective Inclusion
Through decades of research, I’ve identified four key elements of effective inclusion.
- Leadership by Disabled People | When we want to understand the impact of anything through the lens of disability, you’ve got to have disabled people not just involved, but as part of leadership and decision making.
- Full Access and Participation | Full access means all parts of participation. In college, this can mean providing sign language interpreters for study groups, social events, and leadership opportunities, not just in classes. At work, this can mean being mindful of supports for conferences, networking events, and “water cooler” conversations.
- Community Connection | Our recent research shows over 60% of young people identify having multiple disabilities. This complexity underscores the importance of creating interconnected support systems rather than siloed services, particularly in the area of mental health.
- Intersectional Understanding | As one student recently told me: “I’m not just disabled. I’m also Black, queer, and from a rural community. All of these identities shape how I experience the world and what supports I need.” One size doesn’t fit all for disability because it is such a heterogeneous community!
Adjusting our mindsets about accessibility is the glue that binds every element of effective inclusion. If you’re nervous about engaging in disability conversations, start with curiosity.
Here’s a framework I use:
- Acknowledge what you don’t know: “I’m not sure about the best terminology to use, but I want to learn.”
- Ask specific questions: “What accommodations would make this space work better for you?”
- Focus on solutions: “How can we redesign this process to be more inclusive?”
The changes we need won’t happen overnight, but they won’t happen at all if we stay in our silos. Just look at the progress we’ve made: enrollment of students with disabilities in higher education has doubled in the last 15 years. This happened because people were willing to have difficult conversations and push for change.
- As one of my students recently said: “The hardest part wasn’t dealing with my disability. It was dealing with people’s assumptions about what I couldn’t do.”
Let’s change those assumptions.
When we create truly inclusive spaces, everyone benefits from the creativity and adaptability required. What steps will you take today to make your spaces more accessible?
🤟 You’re a Merch VIP!
As a token of my thanks and appreciation, I wanted you – as an email subscriber – to have pre-launch access to my new shop for Disability Is Human “merch”!
- This new shop is launching by popular demand.
So many people told me they love the phrase “Disability Is Human” and wanted more options to engage with it after reading the book and workbook.
- And as we like to say, it’s not just a book title. It’s a movement!
You have exclusive first access to the shop — just in time for holiday gift ideas, spring semester planning, and 2025 book clubs and workplace training.
- Holiday gift exchange? What better idea than a Disability Is Human bundle — the book, the official workbook, and a t-shirt or bandana!
I am also thrilled this shop showcases the tremendous talents of the book’s cover and artwork designer, Emily Egan — who tapped her experience with both my work and the apparel industry to curate a wonderful mix of cool merch!
🏥 Health, Accessibility, and Those Unexpected Life Pivots
In my latest LinkedIn poll about “unexpected life pivots,” over half of you said that a health issue had a significant impact on your lives.
Anyone who has gone through a few years of life without a major health hit is a very lucky person. Good health is something we often take for granted.
We also know that health has many facets. There’s physical health and well being, for sure.
- And flexibility and strength.
- And endurance.
- And mental health.
The list goes on.
Have you lived with chronic health conditions? Then you know that health is anything but easy. And accessibility is everything when it comes to a workplace where you can thrive. Many of us not only manage our own health, but that of our family and loved ones as well.
Accessibility in the workplace often means attention to how we support employee health of all kinds. This means being mindful of all the ways that the work structure and demands impact health, and vice versa.
Examples of structure and support include:
- Flexible scheduling and core shared working hours
- Good health care plans that offer options for practitioner care
- Work-from-home days that allow for appointments for you and your loved ones
- Remote options for meetings when in-person meetings are out of reach
- Encouragement to take those vacation and personal leave days!
This holiday season, let’s celebrate the health we have and support each other as we each carry on in our health journey.
📣 All Outreach Starts With 3 Core Questions
I’ve been on an outreach blitz for the publication of Disability Is Human and the latest findings from the National Disability Center.
- A presentation on deaf multilingual learners to U.S. state education leaders
- Video interviews on the podcasts Beyond Barriers and Leadership Success
- Article for CEO World: Accessibility as a Secret to a Stronger Bottom Line
- Guest lectures for classes in School of Nursing (UTexas) + School of Information (UCLA)
These may seem like very different audiences.
But these outreach activities all focus on three core questions.
- How do we view disabled people and what are the systems to support their success?
- Where do we need more information about barriers and opportunities?
- What are the next steps that individuals can take and where can we work together?
My calendar is open for outreach opportunities in Spring 2025! Please contact me if you are interested in any of the following:
- Guest articles
- Podcast guest spots
- Speaking, keynote, or workshop engagements
Let’s do this together!
✳️ Disabled Creator Call Out
This section continues the disabled creator spotlight series featured in every chapter of my book – a key part of how we share stories and connect people to the disabled experience.
This month let’s remember we are truly elevated on the shoulders of giants.
Here are just a few people you can check out to learn more about our history and continue the legacy of great disability advocates around the world.
- Alice Wong is the recipient of a 2024 Macarthur Genius Grant and the Founder and Director of the Disability Visibility Project.
- Mitchell J. Rappaport was on the ground floor of early legislation in the United States to protect the rights of people with disabilities and is currently writing books about his life and works.
- Lois Curtis (RIP) was the leading plaintiff in a landmark civil rights Supreme Court case, Olmstead vs. L.C., and a life-long artist, advocate and change-maker for people with disabilities.
- Rick Hansen, who splashed onto the scene in his 26-month, 24-country wheelchair trek – Man in Motion World Tour – seeks to raise awareness and remove barriers for people with disabilities everywhere.
🏈 And Finally…
Once in a lifetime experience: The chance to meet Coach Steve Sarkisian.
I am proud to teach many of our Texas Longhorns football players and other athletes — to be a part of building a strong culture, each in our own way.
Thank you, Texas Football, for the very warm welcome. Hook em! 🤘