Highlighting Disabled Media, Creativity and Community
Crushing Colonialism Founding Executive Director Jen Deerinwater speaks to the crowd at the beginning of Disability Culture Cabaret: Pride Edition 2025.
This week, we’re centering the brilliance, creativity, and power of disabled folks telling our own stories on our own terms. From bold dance performances to cultural change through filmmaking, disabled creators and advocates are shaping the narrative and shifting our collective future every day.
We’re also excited to announce the launch of the Disability Rising Fellowship, a new opportunity for emerging disabled leaders to grow their public voice and build disability culture through media, storytelling, and community. Applications are now open!
Read on for insightful articles, ways to plug in, and opportunities to build joy and connection.
Apply for the Disability Rising Fellowship
The Disability Rising Fellowship is a year-long opportunity for nine multi-marginalized disabled leaders to grow their public voice and shift cultural narratives.
Fellows will:
Receive TV, radio, and public speaking training
Get personalized coaching and editing support
Grow their digital media presence
Access media booking and storytelling opportunities
Receive a $5,000 stipend
Join a community of powerful voices
Attend an optional in-person media training in March 2026
Ready to shift narratives and build disability culture? Apply now or share with your network!
Deadline: August 22, 2025 @ 11:59 p.m. ET
Want to learn more about the application process? Watch our video application walk through below, or send an email to Hello@DisabilityCultureLab.org!
What We’re Reading This Week
Inevitable Foundation Launches First-of-Its-Kind Production Company
by Mikey O’Connell
The founders of Inevitable Studios, an initiative of the Inevitable Foundation, discuss how their lived experience informs their work and how they’re carving out space for authentic disability narratives in film and TV. “I think that with a lot of the challenges that the industry is facing, whether it’s ticket sales or fickle attention spans, we’re here saying, ‘Hey, there’s this audience no one is paying attention to.’ And maybe that’s part of the solution.” (H/T Hollywood Reporter)
Voters Can’t Sue for Disability Discrimination, Court Rules
by Julia Métraux
A report on a recent court case where disabled voters are challenging barriers to the ballot box under the Voting Rights Act. The article highlights how inaccessible voting practices disproportionately affect disabled and multiply-marginalized communities. (H/T Mother Jones)
‘Infinite Potential’: How This L.A. Dance Company is Advancing Disability Inclusion
by Cate Burtner
Infinite Flow is an L.A.-based inclusive dance company that’s redefining who belongs on stage. The article dives into leadership’s creative process and how they promote disability inclusion through choreography, workshops, and community building. (H/T LA Times)
In Life and in Art, Patty Berne Made Space for Disabled People to Thrive
by Sara Luterman
This powerful tribute reflects on Patty Berne’s groundbreaking work in disability arts and activism, their efforts to center disabled people of color, and how their impact continues to guide our fight for justice. (H/T The 19th)
Plug In, Take Action, Be In Community
Get Creative With The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
As climate disasters become the norm, The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies knows it’s important to highlight the impact that natural and manmade disasters can have on disabled communities. On August 27, the group will join forces with nine disabled disaster survivors of color and nine disabled artists and creatives of color to launch the Portraits and Portals Project. This artistic initiative transforms the survivors’ lived experiences into works of art from poetry to music to visual art. Join and be in community!
Wednesday, August 27, 2:00 p.m. ET | Virtual | CART + ASL + Spanish + French Interpretation | Free
Tell Your Voting Story
The Center for American Progress’ Disability Justice Initiative is collecting stories from disabled people about their voting experiences. You can share what works for you, what doesn’t, and what needs to change for a more accessible experience. You can participate via a short Zoom meeting or written interview.
Find Joy And Community
Sustaining Us: Get Podcasting!
Join Disability Cultural Center (DCC) for the next session in its Sustaining Us series, where POD Access — a disabled-led and funded initiative that helps d/Deaf and disabled creatives bring their voices to the podcasting world — will provide an interactive workshop on podcasting. Join in person at DCC’s San Francisco headquarters or hop online!
Thursday, August 28 @ 8:00 p.m. ET | Hybrid + Recorded | ASL Interpreters + Captions | Masks Required | Free
Have news, tips, joy, or actions to share? Drop us a line at Hello@DisabilityCultureLab.org. We’d love to hear from you!
Want to support DCL’s work to shift the narrative on disability from fear and pity to solidarity and liberation? Donate here.
