The Latest: Checklists, Mic Drops, Capos — Oh My! 💚
👋 Welcome to the August 2023 edition of The Latest, where we’re gearing up for another school year. We got this!
This month’s newsletter is just 839 words — a quick 2-3 minute read.
đź“Ł The Main Takeaway: Prioritize Access by Design, Not by Request
“Just file your accommodations request with HR.”
For disabled people, those seven words translate into jumping through hoops. Waiting for decisions. Feeling demoralized.
When access is only by REQUEST, this is an undue burden on disabled people.
What does an access by DESIGN approach look like?
A slate of available accommodations.
Streamlined technology procurement for accessibility tools.
Leadership that addresses ableist practices.
And so much more. It’s proactive, not reactive.
Call to action: Where can you increase access by design in your spaces?
🎤 Pay Attention to “Mic Drop” Moments
You know those “mic drop” moments — when your message shines, when people look at you differently, when you feel more deeply grounded. This can happen live in person, on stage in front of a thousand people, on LinkedIn, or at that perfect meeting.
I had a mic drop moment in June while giving a plenary presentation. The topic? Ableism and access (starts at 27:50). Those five minutes? They flew by, yet they will last a lifetime.
I have a few slots left on my fall calendar. If you’re looking for a keynote for your organization, contact me!
🫶 9 Ways to Boost Inclusion for Your Audience
Are you teaching this year? Presenting to a large group of people? Organizing your neighbors on an important cause?
You need this simple checklist to improve access for your disabled students and audience members — because most of them are not disclosing their disability, their disabilities may be invisible, and the improvements will benefit everyone.
They are effective strategies created and written by people of all ages and insights — many of whom are disabled themselves.
Plus, share this student checklist with anyone you know who is starting a new year at high school, college, or a training program! They are fantastic “insider” tips from fellow students who know how to navigate the system.
⚽️ Find Your Capo (Leader) Energy
Just six minutes long, Deaf Capo is a short but passionate film about Leo Bopp, a capo for La Murga de Austin.
Leo achieved his capo dreams, and he encourages everyone to reach for the stars, too.
Dubbed “the heartbeat of Austin FC,” Leo and the other capos fire up the sold-out crowds through songs and chants to help the city’s professional soccer team play on the field with excitement and style.
La Murga de Austin brings community pride and fútbol culture together, and — as the video shows — it is an inclusive and rich community for all, including deaf people.
I am honored to be a producer of “Deaf Capo.” Working in a “deaf space” is something I greatly value, and having deaf people lead us and create deaf spaces for others is such an important contribution. Thank you, Leo!
More deaf talent: Andrés Otalora is a deaf videographer who was instrumental in the success of this video. Always so proud and happy to work with Andrés!
And more great news: I’m thrilled to announce that “Deaf Capo” is a nominee for Best Documentary Short at the New York City International Reel Film Festival. Congrats to the crew on this amazing film festival nomination!
🌀 The Wrap-Up
Seeking a more inclusive management style? I recently shared my top five tips for leaders and managers with the career website In Her Sight.
Words matter. We have 97 new subscribers (welcome!), and some may wonder about the words I use in my work. That’s okay, because that’s why I have definitions on my website — an always-expanding list!
Let’s get honest. From imposter syndrome to audism, I address many vulnerable topics in this profile. Plus, I give advice to my younger self and what I know for sure after over two decades in academia.
📣 And Finally: Going Viral…Again!
In June, I told you about my LinkedIn post with 540 likes and 91 reposts that reached over 34,000 people. Its message: Disability is human.
Then in late July, I reached over 200,000 people with a new post that has 5,556 likes, 1,008 reposts, and 164 comments the last time I checked.
WOW. I’m so gratified that the post’s message — ADA is the floor, not the ceiling — resonated with thousands of people. I wrote it to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It’s important to remember what the ADA does:
ADA protects rights.
ADA sets precedence.
ADA is a powerful tool.
And what the ADA doesn’t do:
Hire people with disabilities.
Create positive attitudes.
Reduce ableism.
Do the work.
That’s all up to us. We’ve got a floor to build from with ADA and its legal precedents. Let’s do this together!
Image description: Light blue box with black text that reads “ADA is the floor, not the ceiling.”