This page houses all blog posts so that it is easy to find an old post or aid in a search for a particular subject. Some blog posts will be listed in multiple subjects.
In general, posts are listed in a suggested reading order, but feel free to jump around to topics that interest you! If you have a question about anything or a suggestion for a future topic, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I love to hear from readers!
Please note that dates and titles for upcoming posts are subject to change.
Welcome to Listen Up: An Introduction to the story and the person behind the blog
Introduction to Disability Studies
The majority of people have the wrong ideas about disabilities. This series is intended to briefly introduce how disabilities are constructed by cultural means rather than as being medically defined. It also introduces the disabled community and discusses what it actually means to be disabled. I strongly encourage readers to start here as it provides a solid base for understanding disabilities.
Defining Disabilities, Part 1: What makes a disability a disability?
Defining Disabilities, Part 2: The disabled identity
Disability Visibility by Alice Wong
Disability History
Studying history is one of the best ways to get an understanding of a group of people. It allows for the observation and discussion of cultural changes while simultaneously increasing awareness of current and developing problems. The Disability History series is intended to give readers an understanding of how disabilities have shaped the world as we know it today, as well as to draw attention to the contributions of the disabled community and the problems of historical silencing.
Disability History, Part 1: Understanding the word “disability” and where it comes from
Disability History, Part 2: Disabilities, autism, and neurodiversity in human evolution
Disability History, Part 3: Aktion T4 and the Holocaust
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution directed by Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham
Disability History, Part 4: The NAD v. Netflix, a lawsuit that shook the internet
A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nelson
Disability History, Part 5: The Paralympics, Special Olympics, and Deaflympics – no date set
Movie Report: Rising Phoenix – no date set
Writing Characters with Disabilities
From personal experience, I know there is a learning curve when it comes to writing characters with disabilities. It takes a different mindset and a slightly different skillset. When I took a non-fiction class, I found that it was difficult to write about myself as a disabled person. Looking back, I realized that of course it would be hard! I didn’t have any examples of how to write from a disabled perspective. I am excited to share my experiences with you and I want to help equip writers (disabled and non-disabled) with the tools and the knowledge to better understand what messages they are sending with characters of disabilities and how to portray a disabled character more realistically rather than relying on hurtful stereotypes.
This series will also contain more book reports than average because writing is easiest to discuss and learn about through examples. In addition, many of the books I will be discussing have had a major impact on me as a writer and as a person with a disability. Books and films included in this series: the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, the Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini, James Cameron’s Avatar, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, and Star Trek. Analysis of these books and films will help writers understand how characters with disabilities have been portrayed in positive and negative ways, and therefore, better equips them to compose disabled characters and craft more engaging narratives.
Writing Disabilities, Part 1: Three Ethical Questions on Writing Inclusively
The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith and illustrated by Katz Cowley
Writing Disabilities, Part 2: The Nullification of Disabilities
The Dragon Prince, A Netflix Original Series
Doctor Strange from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Book Report: The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini – no date set
Movie Report: James Cameron’s Avatar – no date set
Writing Disabilities, Part 3: Worldbuilding – no date set
A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nelson
Movie Report: Disney’s Zootopia and universal design – no date set
Book Report: Star Trek – no date set
Writing Disabilities, Part 4: Villains and Disabilities
Book Report: Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle directed by Andy Serkis and screenplay by Callie Kloves – no date set
Writing Disabilities, Part 5: Tips on introducing a disabled character- no date set
Writing Disabilities, Part ?: How to write your disability (tips for disabled writers) – no date set
Book Report: Warriors by Erin Hunter – no date set
Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson
Writing Disabilities, Part ?: Tips on maintaining a disabled character – no date set
Writing Disabilities, Part?: Finding a writing group (tips for disabled writers) – no date set
On Disabilities and Power
Coming Soon!
Superheroes and people with disabilities may seem like complete opposites. However, these two group actually have a lot in common. Many superpowers come with disabilities and share parallel experiences with the disabled identity and disabled community. At the same time, superheroes tend to reinforce certain stereotypes surrounding disabilities. This series will discuss several different stories and characters with superpowers, including: the X-men, Dr. Strange, Bucky Barnes/the Winter Soldier, Star Wars, and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen.
On Disabilities and Power, Part 1: Introduction – no date set
Movie Report: Frozen 1 & 2 – no date set
Writing Disabilities, Part 2: The nullification of disabilities
Doctor Strange from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Writing Disabilities, Part 4: Villains and Disabilities
Movie Report: Star Wars (First and Second Trilogies) – no date set
Books by Disabled Authors
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution directed by Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham
Disability Visibility by Alice Wong
All Book Reports
A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nelson
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution directed by Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham
Disability Visibility by Alice Wong
Doctor Strange from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson
The Dragon Prince, A Netflix Original Series
The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith and illustrated by Katz Cowley
Listen Up 