Summary
The December issue of Stephanie's monthly newsletter!
👋 Welcome to the December issue of The Latest! Want to read Stephanie’s past issues? Check out the archive!
💜 Reflecting on 2024
This was a year with a full refresh!
After several years with a stable visual identity and website structure, we engaged in a full refresh in 2024! My original website was built to capture the many different hats that I wear – from researcher to teacher to presenter to mentor to author to consultant. With so many spokes in the wheel, I needed one central place for people to find out about projects and learn about my work.
This summer, our team went all in to capture the current energy and priorities for my online presence.
✨ Disability Is Human as the catalyst.
With the new book and official workbook launch in Q3, we wanted to have an integrated website – with Disability Is Human as a main focal point.
💜 Purple is passion.
The new visual identity goes all in with the dark purple anchor color. Although part of my color palette for years, this deepening commitment to Disability Is Human included anchoring my online presence in PURPLE. With a heavy dose of green, of course!
📸 New headshot anxiety was real.
My previous headshot was from 2018. Just as the COVID years had a huge impact on us mentally, so did it have a long term impact on me physically. Getting that new headshot was very stressful, but also a small step in healing.
🎨 Attention grabbing artwork for all.
I use bold and vivid designs in my presentations and social media outreach. With so many requests to share these collateral, we decided to dedicate a page full of artwork you can use in your own paces.
🧢 Merch with a mission.
The Disability Is Human launch would not be complete without that signature hat, tshirt, mug or banner. Curated by designer Emily Egan, this shop has something for everyone on your shopping list. Sustainably made with print-on-demand services, prices reflect the cost of production only.
🌊 Spaces with FLOW
This year was anchored in FLOW spaces – you know, that energy that comes not effortlessly, but purposefully in a way that captures your gifts, experiences, and talent.
- Spaces Centered on Research: National Disability Center for Student Success
This team continues to amaze me at every turn. Housed at UT Austin and funded by the Institute for Education Sciences, our group of faculty, staff, and students successfully launched, maintained, and expanded its reach this year through research, outreach, and mentorship. I’m humbled and proud to be leading this team in its mission to build an actionable foundation for disabled students in postsecondary education in the US.
- Spaces Centered on Practice: ASL Video Production for K-12 Assessments
Making standardized tests accessible for deaf students is a long standing part of how I bring my research to practice. I work with a team of deaf creators to build the very highest quality ASL videos of test directions and content, used with thousands of deaf and hard of hearing students across the country. We continued strong this year and look forward to our expanded clientele in 2025. See my white paper on best practices in creating ASL translations for assessments for more information about our approach.
- Spaces Centered on Teaching
At the heart of it all, I am an educator. Whether online, hybrid, or in person, I seek to build understanding through insights, data stories, and relatable examples. It doesn’t matter if you are a freshman student in engineering or a social worker in your state level professional development workshop.
Month in and month out, I always enjoy facilitating accessible learning moments that deepen our connection to each other and our world.
🌱 Forever Growing!
I branched out into new domains in 2024, especially via podcasts!
Disability and accessibility truly touch all areas of our lives. It’s been heartening to be invited into new spaces this year – something I hope continues to grow.
- Accessibility: Beyond Barriers Special Episode!
- Leadership: Your Working Life
- Adaptive and Inclusive Sports: Adaptx Podcast
- Business: Article in CEO World, with more outlets to come in 2025!
🧐 Sneak Peek at 2025
With the big launch of Disability Is Human in 2024, 2025 promises to be an expansion of related activities. Here’s a sneak peek!
🎧 Disability Is Human audiobook coming soon! Contracts all signed and ready to roll in the new year.
🎥 Accessibility + you video series (title TBD)! This series will focus on conversations with experts in accessibility across different fields — and will be fully accessible with ASL, captions, and voice overs.
❤️🩹 On a more personal note, I had a major surgery at the end of November and am on the long, slow road to healing. I’ve had excellent care, and now it’s just about doing the work, keeping positive, and looking forward to doing the things I love.
✳️ Disabled Creator Call Out
A disabled creator spotlight is featured in every chapter of my book – a key part of how we share stories and connect people to the disabled experience. This month’s new Creator Call Out is spotlighted on:
- Lydia X. Z. Brown, JD, the Director of Policy at the National Disability Institute
They are an advocate, leader, and attorney at the forefront of work to raise up disabled people in all areas of their lives.
If you’re interested in the top thought leaders in intersectionality, put Lydia on your list. The National Disability Institute works to improve financial wellness for disabled people and their families.
🙏 And Finally…
Thanks to YOU for being on this journey in 2024!
- I’m glad you’re here — whether you’ve subscribed for a couple of years or just joined us. It’s truly a gift to be in your inbox and to know that you’re just a click away. Please do feel free to reach out anytime if there’s something you want to share or a connection you want to make! This is where the magic happens.
Catch ya on the flip, y’all.
