Summary
An April check-in and podcast appearance.
đź‘‹ Welcome to the April 2025 issue of The Latest!
Checking In…
Hey friends! I’m in a hotel room in Denver, gearing up for a big week at the American Educational Research Association. I’m travel weary, slightly rumpled, and definitely over-caffeinated.
I’m sure many of you have felt different versions of weary, rumpled, or over-caffeinated recently. Know you are not alone.
When I look at the names on this email list, I recognize no more than 10 percent of them. That means 90 percent of you are here from out in the wider world. That is truly humbling and such a wonderful surprise!
There are so many different ways we are connected:
- Family
- Clients
- Friends
- Mentors
- Readers
- Authors
- Students
- Colleagues
- Advocates
- Researchers
- Connections
The web of connection we weave may seem gossamer, but together, our strands are mighty. Our strength is there to support us through those rough times.
Thank you for taking the time to sign up for this newsletter and for sharing a few minutes with me each month! I truly appreciate it.
Clarity in the Churn
As we sit in this moment in April, 2025, I am reminded of what always surprises me about the churn:
Clarity.
Clarity of mission.
Clarity of priorities.
Clarity of bandwidth.
When everything else is so confusing, I’m grateful for the singular peace that clarity can bring.
Even if I keep fighting it — “but it shouldn’t be this way” — the necessary boundaries around time, energy, and attention are an important gift in a chaotic environment.
My mission?
To continue the work — sharing insights and strategies to increase accessibility and opportunity for disabled people.
My priority?
The people I serve, both through direct mentoring to students and to the good people out there doing the hard work.
My bandwidth?
Limited energy levels and capacity are a daily reckoning! I’m making intentional decisions to manage bandwidth so I can be present as much as possible.
In the words of Brandi Carlisle…
“You can dance in the hurricane
Only if you’re standing in the eye…”
It is literally everything.
Leslie Wang hosts a profound podcast: Your Words Unleashed.
Her mission: To help women scholars master their writing habits and publish books that matter.
To say I was excited to be on her podcast is an understatement.
Episode 79 with yours truly dropped this morning!
It was a powerful experience with in-depth questions that addressed both my academic life and my experiences writing Disability Is Human. I presented in ASL with my incredible team of interpreters.
The accompanying transcript brings so many points to the surface. Here’s one example in our conversation about ableism:
“So that’s one thing I noticed, going back to ableism. Comments, behaviors, it might be short, it might be small, it might seem insignificant to the person doing or saying it or to the office with that policy, but to the person with a disability, it is literally everything.”
It is literally everything.
It’s in the small things for accessibility too — for many people with disabilities, the things that others might take for granted can have such a powerful impact.
And this is what gives me hope.
Check out Leslie’s podcast!
Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, I HeartRadio, and on her website.
And Finally…
So, how are the book sales going?
People cheerfully ask me this on a regular basis.
My answer: It really depends.
- Amazon is down to almost nothing, either print or ebook versions.
- Online indie book sites are also a trickle, but more internationally focused.
- Audiobook is relatively steady! I’m glad to see people using this new format.
- I’m also producing the Large Print version to expand accessibility.
I’m looking for targeted ways to connect with people who might benefit from the encouragement in the Disability Is Human book and Official Workbook. I truly believe were are in a moment where these small efforts can bring us together in a meaningful way.
Coming soon…
- More online book club sessions and lunchtime zoom conversations.
- Guest conversation with Mei Mei Fox to talk about all things accessibility and the quest to publish outside of traditional publishing.
- Cost effective strategies for how to use Disability Is Human resources in professional development and in the classroom.
Thank you for sharing this newsletter with others!
Till next time… take care of your human.