Ashley X: we're working to get the American Medical Association to come out against "treatments" that take out healthy reproductive organs and stunt the growth of disabled girls for the convenience of their parents. We are also pushing for the AMA to be more accountable to the disability community through the creation of a disability advisory committee modeled after their LGBT advisory committee.
Pad Patrol: We found that some women in nursing homes are short on pads because nursing homes leave them with just $30 a month from their SSI to cover personal expenses. So we brought attention to the issue by starting a drive to collect pad donations. People from across the country participated and we brought attention to the horrible conditions in many nursing homes.
Open Wide: We've seen that too many hospitals do not have accessible exam tables so women go without full checkups and pap smears. Also, many hospitals don't have anything in place to deal with the communication needs of Deaf patients. This sparked a campaign to make sure that the new Northwestern women's hospital is FULLY accessible to all women with disabilities.
Movies
Beyond Disability: The Fe Fe Stories;
Doin It: Sex Disability and Videotape;
Why They Gotta Do Me Like That: The Fe Fes Take on Bullying
(all 3 available at www.beyondmedia.org/catalogue)
Books
Inclusion of Youth with Disabilities: A Guide for Youth Workers;
Sex Resource Guide for People with Disabilities;
YEILDD leadership development curriculum for youth with disabilities (all available through Access Living 312-640-2190)
About me: FRIDA is a grassroots organizing group of women with disabilities working at the intersection of disability and gender. We are radicalized women representing ourselves.
For updates on our work check out our blog www.fridanow.blogspot.com
Who I'd like to meet: Feminist organizations that are challenging ablism and including a disability analysis in their work.
Disability Rights organizations that are challenging sexism and the gender binary and including a feminist analysis in their work.
Anyone who's down to support our work with their time, insights, skills, resources, donations...
Thanks for the request and for supporting Ms. Roy!
"The only dream worth having is to dream that you will live while you are alive, and die only when you are dead. To love, to be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of the life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget." - Arundhati Roy
