Author: crippledscholar

I am a disability and mad studies scholar who is currently working on an autoethnographic PhD looking at the ways in which mad and disabled women are still hidden from public space in various ways. it is tentatively titled "We Still Hide Mad Women in the Attic"

A Media Guide for Nondisabled People Talking About Innovations for Disabled People

~ crippledscholar ~ 3 Comments

Recently, I have written two articles on problematic media coverage of innovations designed for disabled people. The first was on the viral support among predominantly able-bodied people for a stair climbing wheelchair and a standing scooter. The second about Nike's supposed shoes for disabled people which are actually only available in men's sizes. In both … Continue reading A Media Guide for Nondisabled People Talking About Innovations for Disabled People

When You Hate the Marketing for an Assistive Device that Might Actually Be Useful, a Sort of Review

~ crippledscholar ~ 4 Comments

If you watch ads for electronic walking aids like the Bioness L300 or the Walkaide, you will come away with two distinct impressions. First that being disabled is the worst thing to ever happen to anyone and must be negated regardless of the cost. Secondly that the advertised product is a magic bullet that will … Continue reading When You Hate the Marketing for an Assistive Device that Might Actually Be Useful, a Sort of Review

Nike’s Shoe for Disabled People Doesn’t Include Disabled Women

~ crippledscholar ~ 7 Comments

A headline from People proclaims "Nike's New Sneaker Will Solve a Very Important Problem for People with Disabilities". Similar headlines can been found from USA Today, Huffington Post, Glamour, and so many more. Another key article title  comes from theshoegame.com it reads "Nike Designs Flyease to Improve the Quality of Life for Disabled Athletes". All … Continue reading Nike’s Shoe for Disabled People Doesn’t Include Disabled Women

How University Professors React to Requests for Disability Accommodations

~ crippledscholar ~ 3 Comments

Requiring accommodations in post-secondary education can be complicated to maneuver through. I have had experience with the bureaucracy of asking for accommodation at three separate universities and my experiences have been mixed at all of them. Most universities in my experience have similar policies around delivering accommodations to disabled students. The process goes like this. … Continue reading How University Professors React to Requests for Disability Accommodations

Why I am Trying to CrowdFund my PhD in Disability Studies

~ crippledscholar ~ 1 Comment

I was fortunate to be able to complete both my undergraduate and masters degrees with relatively little financial difficulty. Cumulatively, I accrued less than $5,000 in student debt. I was able to cover the rest by working and the odd scholarship and bursary. With this history in mind, I entered my gap year between my … Continue reading Why I am Trying to CrowdFund my PhD in Disability Studies

When Celebrating Accessible Technology is Just Reinforcing Ableism

~ crippledscholar ~ 16 Comments

So this video has been popping up on my Facebook news feed a lot lately. It's a video demonstrating a wheelchair invented by Swiss students and it's a wheelchair that can climb stairs. Now I know that stairs are a major physical barrier to wheelchair users and I have no issue with any technology that … Continue reading When Celebrating Accessible Technology is Just Reinforcing Ableism