Today we’re exploring the word “disability.” What does disability mean to you?
Today we’re exploring the word “disability.” What does disability mean to you?
A Kids Book About: The Podcast, Episode 7, Kristine Talks About Disabilities
https://a-kids-book-about-the-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/kristine-talks-about-disabilities
Patty Berne quote from “Skin, Tooth, and Bone: The Basis of Movement is Our People” a Disability Justice primer by Sins Invalid https://www.sinsinvalid.org/disability-justice-primer
10 Principles of Disability Justice https://www.sinsinvalid.org/blog/10-principles-of-disability-justice
Disability Art & Culture Project http://dacp.art/
Do you have a word you’d like us to consider for a future episode? Email us at listen@akidspodcastabout.com. And check out other podcasts made for kids just like you by visiting akidsco.com.
SIO, Ep 23
“Disability”
[INTRO]
Cat: Hi! I’m Cat Petru, and you’re listening to Sound It Out: A Kids Podcast About Words.
[TODAY’S WORD]
Cat: Today’s word is “disability.”
What do you think disability means? What images or feelings arise when you hear the word disability?
[DISCUSSION]
Cat: Today, we’re going to hear Kristine Napper, author of A Kids Book About Disabilities, share her ideas.
Kristine: Hi, I'm Kristine Napper. I am a middle school teacher. I'm also a wheelchair user; I have a beautiful purple wheelchair. And I am the author of A Kids Book About Disabilities.
So the way I describe disability and they book is when your body can't do something the way that most people's bodies can, so you find a different way to do it.
[EXPERIENCE & MEANING]
Kristine: There's lots of different kinds of disabilities. I mean, some of them are more physical like, obviously, mine. I use a wheelchair. I can't walk. And people can't see or can't hear, or, you know, things that are more obvious, but also a disability can affect the way that you learn.
It could affect the way your memory works. Um, It could affect the way that you pay attention to things. It can affect your emotions. A disability can affect your health or your mind or your body in lots of different ways.
Cat: So many of us have disabilities. And in a world where we’re often made to feel bad about ourselves for having a disability, it can be really hard. But, it doesn’t have to be.
Kristine: Having a disability makes me feel everything.
It's made me more sensitive. You know, I notice other people's needs and able to understand when they're having a hard day. So it's made me a better person. I feel like in a lot of ways.
So along with being sometimes sad and mad and frustrated, it also makes me feel grateful and happy and proud.
Cat: Have you ever heard of Disability Justice? Disability Justice is a movement started by sick, disabled, queer and trans, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. Patty Berne, co-founder of a group called Sins Invalid says that Disability Justice “understands that all bodies are unique and essential, that all bodies have strengths and needs that must be met. We know that we are powerful not despite the complexities of our bodies, but because of them.” Petty Berne says Disability Justice is “visioning a world where we flourish.”
Kristine: Keep looking at the world around you and thinking about how does the world meet people's needs? Whose needs aren't being met? How could we change the world a little bit to meet somebody's needs differently?
Like those are questions you can ask yourself anywhere you go.
[CLOSING]
Cat: What does disability mean to you? Share your ideas by writing to us at listen@akidspodcastabout.com. And join us tomorrow, for another word!
Learn more about disability from Kristine in A Kids Book About: The Podcast, episode 7, and find A Kids Book About Disabilities at akidsco.com. Be sure to check out links in our show notes for this, and more on Disability Justice.
I’ve been your host, Cat Petru. This show is produced by me, with inspiration from my teachers and friends, and support from Matthew Winner. Our executive producer is Jelani Memory. And this show is brought to you by A Kids Co.
Check out other podcasts made for kids just like you by visiting akidsco.com.