What words of wisdom or advice do you live by?

“Disability is more than the deficit of diagnosis. It is an aesthetic, a series of intersecting cultures and a creative force. I hold myself accountable to the lives and loves from this definition of disability.” (Alice Sheppard, source: https://alicesheppard.com/intersectional-disability-arts-manifesto/) “Ableism & racism have always been inextricably linked. Each of these oppressions informs the other and depends on the other to survive and thrive. Therefore, it is impossible to end racism without ending ableism, and impossible to end ableism without ending racism. Ableism is also at the root of every other oppression.” (Talila “TL” Lewis, source: https://www.talilalewis.com/blog/longmore-lecture-context-clarity-grounding)

How do you make sure you stay connected with your professional network?

I spend more than 50 percent of my time learning and exposing myself to different opinions and practices. For this work, nonacademic activism including social media activism and blogs are extremely legitimate spaces for learning and sometimes more applicable to communities than academic research. This also means engaging with like-minded people in organizing circles and collaborating on projects.