Array
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[0] => Array
(
[id] => 3
[date] => 2025-12-16
[status] => Active
[new] =>
[title] => Stories of Disability: Enabling Us to Connect
[author] => Jenn Chassman Browne
[article] =>
It’s stories that enable us to connect; stories that allow us to see and know each other without anger, fear, defensiveness and resistance. And thus, it’s stories that I’ll be telling in my upcoming book entitled, See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability (formerly Living Our Disabled Lives.)
This book will profile 30 diverse individuals with disabilities. Each profile consists of a portrait, taken by Natalie Brescia, a short biography, and an original poem that speaks to each person’s unique experience with disability.
After working as an Educational Consultant and Disability Educator for ten years, I felt that the resistance to learning about equity and inclusion was growing. In spite of my best efforts to design experiences that focused on growth, learning, and connection, participants in the training sessions that I led felt upset, embarrassed, ashamed, and sometimes blamed for the inequities and stratification of our society and communities.
While it’s not necessarily bad for people to experience these feelings, I found that most want to avoid them and that this desire for avoidance was evident in growing resistance to being vulnerable and open to growth in these settings.
There was one exception. When an individual in the session told a personal story about their experience as a member of a marginalized group, people listened more openly. Those hearing others stories were not defensive, they didn’t feel the need to push back, challenge, or discredit the speaker. Instead, they were able to listen, gaining new understandings of the lives lived by those who were different than they were. Often the people that they were listening to were friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and it was easier for them to accept and reflect on the experiences of these people because they knew and cared about them.
Stories allow us to understand and connect with each other. While we may see differences between ourselves and others, when we hear and tell stories, not only do we come to better comprehend each other’s lives, we also develop empathy. We can be different and still care about each other. When listening, we look for connection, and this enables us to find these similarities and connections in spite of differences.
I thought a lot about this as I considered how to continue to advocate and educate. This power of storytelling was true for me as well. When I shared my story, others would listen and ask questions, interested to learn. I too learned so much from the stories of those in my training sessions and those with whom I collaborated. Their stories helped me to be a better person, a better member of every community of which I am a part, and a better educator and advocate.
I believe that stories can be transformative; building deep understanding of and compassion for one another. The purpose of telling stories of people with disabilities is not to have others pity us, not to have others be inspired by us, but rather to recognize the complexities of our lives and to see similarity and difference in the lives that we all live.
I do also hope, in reading the stories and the poems that I’ve written, that people will gain a better understanding of why and how our world, the physical and philosophical, needs to change to be more equitable and inclusive, so as to support the participation and contributions of us all. In this way, this book and these stories are ways to continue to do disability advocacy. Please join me in telling our stories.
Look for, See us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability available in 2026.
Jenn Chassman Browne
https://newground.us/
)
[1] => Array
(
[id] => 17
[date] => 2021-02-03
[status] => Active
[new] =>
[title] => ACC's Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response services bring peace and security
[author] => Anonymous
[article] => How has the Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program changed your life?
Ever since the Thomas Fire this has been in the back of my mind being worried about the electricity going off and all of a sudden PG&E referred me to you and there was an overwhelming amount of peace. It gives you a deep peace to know you’re not subject to the whims of the weather. You can never tell about the unknown factors. You can watch the weather all you want but the reality is you need to be prepared.
How do you feel about how ACC has helped you prepare for disasters and emergencies? How did you feel before?
It's like a miracle happened to me. That's the way I feel. In the beginning I couldn't believe it. I didn't believe it for the first week or so. It's wonderful, I don't know how to describe it, it's beyond words at times. Before planning with ACC there was nothing and I explored everything to find assistance. Unless I had $5,000 to buy a battery there was nothing for me and I felt frustration that the winds could make them turn the power off. It's nice to be able to do something about it. Before planning it made me feel powerless. It gave me power in this situation to get the planning.
What is different now that you have the backup battery and disaster plan?
It's peace of mind I guess. It's being proactive instead of waiting for the situation to happen and seeing what help you can find. This program is safety and gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling.
"ACC isn't like a government agency it's like people helping people. It's real help by real people."
-Michele, Consumer of Lauren Utterback- Independent Living Advocate
)
[2] => Array
(
[id] => 4
[date] => 2025-11-30
[status] => Active
[new] =>
[title] => Tips for Being an Ally to People with Disabilities
[author] => Jacob Lesner-Buxton
[article] =>
1. Listen and believe our experiences.
When we say something is inaccessible or that we’ve experienced discrimination, believe us. Avoid minimizing or questioning our experiences; access barriers may not be visible to you, but they are real to us.
2. Ask how to offer support before stepping in.
If you want to help, start by asking if and how we’d like your support, especially in public situations. Respect our preferences, even if they differ from what you expect.
3. Be honest, respectful, and direct.
Treat people with disabilities as equals. Communicate honestly and avoid being overly cautious or performative; authenticity builds trust.
4. Learn with us, not about us.
Attend disability-related events, trainings, and celebrations. Support disability-led organizations, amplify our voices, and encourage others to do the same.
5. Understand that disability experiences are diverse.
Disability intersects with race, class, gender, sexuality, and culture. Recognize that no single person represents all disability experiences.
6. Respect boundaries around questions and privacy.
If you’re curious about someone’s disability, ask respectfully, and be okay if they prefer not to discuss it. No one owes an explanation about their body or experience.
7. Use inclusive language and honor preferences.
If you’re unsure about what terms to use (e.g., “disabled person” vs. “person with a disability”), it’s okay to ask what someone prefers. Language matters, and being flexible shows respect.
8. Be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Allies make mistakes; what matters is listening, apologizing when needed, and continuing to learn. Don’t let fear of imperfection stop you from showing up in solidarity.
)
)
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