Community Responses to Disability: Podcast Playlist

It is estimated that one billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability. Over the years, there has been some progress in recognizing the importance of accessibility and inclusion. But our governments and workplaces and communities still have much work to do to embrace and empower people with disabilities. This month’s episodes look at different types of community responses to disability (some more helpful than others) in hopes that we learn more about what we can do to increase inclusivity for all. 

(This listening list was curated by Sarah from the Baltimore chapter of Podcast Brunch Club)

Podcast Listening List on Community Responses to Disability

Download the complete playlist to your podcast player of choice:
Listen Notes | Podchaser

The Memory Palace – Outliers (9 minutes, March 2018)
This episode of the Memory Palace, hosted by Nate Dimeo, examines the exploitative practice of placing people with special needs on display at freak shows and side shows. The episode notes that decades ago, this practice was often one of the only ways people with disabilities could earn income.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Play 

99% Invisible – Curb Cuts (45 minutes, May 2018)
If you live in an American city and you don’t personally use a wheelchair, it’s easy to overlook the small ramp at most intersections, between the sidewalk and the street. Today, these curb cuts are everywhere, but fifty years ago–when an activist named Ed Roberts was young–most urban corners featured a sharp drop-off, making it difficult for wheelchair users to get between blocks without assistance.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Play

Joyriding in Autismland – Andrew Solomon (21 minutes, February 2014) 
Andrew Solomon’s book, Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity, explores ideas of abilities, disabilities, illness, and identities in extraordinary children born to ordinary parents. His book represents a decade of researching and interviewing parents raising kids with Down Syndrome, autism, and schizophrenia.
Listen: Apple Podcasts

She and Her – Disability is Her Beat (15 minutes, June 2018)
Wendy Lu was born with vocal cord paralysis, and for the first 22 years of her life she always had a caretaker around. In 2015, she moved to New York City alone to pursue her dream of becoming a big-time journalist. Meet Wendy Lu. 
Listen: Apple Podcasts

PBC Podcast Episodes covering Community Responses to Disability podcast playlist

• Roundup of Community Responses to Disability podcast playlist [Episode 38]
  Adela and Sara chat about the podcast playlist on Community Responses to Disability. In the community input segment, the PBC community recommended other podcasts that either focus on disability or are created by someone who is disabled. Finally, we diverged from the theme of disabilities to talk about our new year podcast resolutions.
  Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Play
• Anita Rao & Sandra Davidson, hosts of She and Her podcast [Episode 40]
  Adela chats with Anita Rao and Sandra Davidson, the hosts of the She and Her podcast. We featured their episode “Disability is Her Beat” on our podcast playlist on Community Responses to Disability.
  Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Play

Conversation Starter Questions

1. Discuss the kinds of discrimination people with disabilities faced in the past and how they compare to today.
2. How have community responses to disability evolved over the years? What has improved? What still needs improvement?
3. What are some of the frustrations and challenges that people with disabilities still deal with today?
4. How can we motivate communities and governments to improve their support and empowerment of people with disabilities?
5. Are your Podcast Brunch Club meetups accessible? Are there adjustments you can make to improve accessibility?