- WARD 4 CITY COUNCILOR-
Disability
For my campaign, we choose the slogan: "Reimagine the Wheel".
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As you can see from the pictures on this website, and as many of you know from my music, art-making, or activism in Northampton, I use a wheelchair. I have a disability called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), which is also called brittle bone disease.
There is a lot that is unknown about OI, and also a lot that is known. Because we are used to seeing people walking upright on their own two legs, it can be confusing to see someone using a wheelchair to move from place to place, and oftentimes, people wish for me that I would "be able to walk one day."
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But, my wheelchair is a part of me.
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Instead of imagining that I will be able to walk upright on my own two feet, I imagine a community that fully embraces people who move, communicate, look, and feel in all ways.
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Things to Explore
This is our Disableist Anthem, performed by Philip Price, Flora Reed, and Melissa Nelson.
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As Philip explains in his beautiful introduction, it is a "conversation between people about change... it is about being seen after not being seen for so long... it is about being open about how to start again... it is about people who want to see, too, but have been unable to for myriad cultural, systemic, and other personal reasons... it's about emotions and science... and the infastructure of our community that needs so much to change."
Our imaginations of a different Northampton are informed and guided by the 10 PRINCIPLES OF DISABILITY JUSTICE.
Read the principles here and explore deeper the materials and art of sinsinvalid.org/ , a disability justice based performance project.
[image description: soft pink blue and green infographic created by Sins Invalid in 2015 of the 10 Principles of Disability Justice in a bulleted list: intersectionality, leadership of those most impacted, anti-capitalist politic, commitment to cross-movement organizing, recognizing wholeness, sustainability, commitment to cross-disability solidarity, interdependence, collective access and collective liberation.] Design by Nomy Lamm, image taken from sinsinvalid.org
What is ableism? This is a wonderful video with writer and disability activist Emily Ladau. She talks about what ableism is.
You can learn more about Emily and her work at her website https://emilyladau.com . I am such a fan of her book Demystifying Disability. It is an accessible, very informative introduction to disability, and answered so many questions that I had.
Ableism. I really appreciate educator and artist Talila Lewis's working definition of ableism, because she continuously updates it to consider the changing world we are living in. I invite you to consider this definition in the context of the pandemic and the place that we live in. Most importantly, Lewis writes that "You do not have to be disabled to experience ableism." This is so important!!
[image description: This is a screenshot of a flyer with artwork that has black text in the middle that says: GROUNDING MOVEMENTS IN DISABILITY JUSTICE and is surrounded by pictures of Azza Altiraifi, Cyree Jarelle Johnson, Dorian Taylor, Dustin Gibson, Talila A Lewis, and Nirmala Erevelles.]
Movements in Disability Justice. Are you interested in learning more about Disability Justice? This video is so amazing, accessible, and informative. It includes Talila A. Lewis (whose definition of ableism I include above), and five other people who are doing disability justice: Azza Altiraifi, Cyree Jarelle Johnson, Dorian Taylor, Dustin Gibson, and Nirmala Erevelles. Definitely worth a listen. Also, this is a great example of how to facilitate an online event in an accessible way!
Racial Justice, Social Equity, and Change.
Western Mass Showing Up for Racial Justice (WMSURJ), Northampton Abolition Now (NAN), and Racial Equity and Learning (REAL) Northampton reached out to me and the other City Council Nominees and asked us to answer four questions about Racial Justice, Social Equity, and Change.
You can read my answers by click on this link here.
You can also listen to my answers by clicking the play button next to each Question.
[image description: This is a photo of art materials on a table. There are various photos from DISABLED AND HERE of disabled people doing enjoyable things, colored paper, and magazines. On a pink sheet of paper, handwritten in purple: What does an accessible Northampton look & feel like to you?]
Disability History. This is an important video with disability rights activist Lawrence Carter-John about disability history in the United States. It starts in the early 1900s and brings us to today.
Imagine if Northampton's City Hall were designed like the building he walks in?
Crip Camp. It was so special and important sharing space with some of my fellow disabled activists from Northampton, Amherst, and Holyoke to watch the movie Crip Camp and celebrate Northampton’s first ever official proclamation of Disability Pride Month!! I highly recommend this film. Explore it at www.cripcamp.com
Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (AAB) As I moved around from place to place, It was clear to me if something was not accessible. There was no ramp, or my wheelchair could not fit. However, I did not know how to connect the dots- make change and let someone know that it was not okay. What were the rules? Why was this designed this way? In Northampton, there are many businesses that are not accessible and potentially in violation of accessibility codes.
Educating ourselves, even briefly, on the rules and regulations of the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board can help us all to notice inaccessibility that we may encounter in businesses, and ensure access for all bodies. www.mass.gov/aab-rules-and-regulations
[image description: This is a photo of the back door of 41 Strong Ave. It is a red door with a black sign with yellow letters that read: DO NOT ENTER. LIMITED ACCESS AREA. ACCESS LIMITED TO AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.]
Disability Commission of Northampton. During the winters in Northampton, I and many others are forced to stay inside because of the unsafe conditions of the sidewalks. After many years of frustration, I searched for a way to advocate. I was elected to be Chair of the Disability Commission, and was recently re-elected. This commission is an advisory body of the city, and all are welcome to attend meetings. Explore past recorded meetings online, and I hope to see you at a meeting. Here is the link: www.northamptonma.gov/1047/Disability-Commission