25. A Student's Journey to Access & Advocacy with Deanna Yadollahi

In this episode Deanna Parvin Yadollahi shares their journey of self-discovery, self-love, and ensuing advocacy for access, not just for themself, but for the range of diverse humans within their learning community, and the wider community. A wealth of experiences and knowledge, Deanna broadens our understanding of the many meanings of access, and why access is so important. I hope you will benefit from Deanna's insight as much as I have.    Deanna Parvin Yadollahi (they/them) Bio Deanna Parvin Yadollahi (they/them) is a FAT, DISABLED, NEURODIVERGENT, MAD, non-binary, diasporic mixed-race Iranian and Toltec-Mexican community activist, organizer, and dog parent with 8 years of disability justice scholar-art-activism about collaboratively undoing ABLEISM and INTERSECTING OPPRESSIONS, especially as it relates to COLLECTIVE ACCESSIBILITY. They hope to enact institutional change and radical reimagination that will lead to more supportive and just realities through community-building, resource-creating, presenting, writing, and via Deanna’s Creative Access Consulting practice. Their work is based in deep appreciation for DISABILITY JUSTICE, which is INTERSECTIONAL and CALLS FOR CROSS-MOVEMENT SOLIDARITY as well as COMMUNITY-ADVOCATED ACCESSIBILITY PRACTICES. Deanna studied Disability Studies at the graduate level, and most highly values knowledge that is co-created within their communities. Deanna acknowledges, with respect, that they are a settler on the unceded, traditional lands of the KIZH NATION. They support the LANDBACK MOVEMENT, CLIMATE JUSTICE, acknowledging historic oppression and intergenerational trauma, and dismantling its continuations today. At this time, you can visit DEANNA’S WORKING DRAFT WEBSITE (BIT.LY/D-Y-SCHOLARSHIP)!   Links Mentioned Aimi Hamraie - Building Access: Universal Design and the Politics of Disability (free online book) Deanna's LinkedIn Learning Course:  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Film Talila Lewis (no gender pronouns) Working Definition of Ableism Abled Advocators Article A Resolution in Support of Inclusion and Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Adrienne Maree Brown - Pleasure Activism Alice Sheppard - Intersectional Disability Arts Manifesto    Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness  Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans "Beyond Awareness" Digital Course Diana's TEDx Talk Beyond Awareness Facebook Page Diana on Instagram Beyond Awareness Tote Bag  Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity Diana's Brand New Resource: Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)   Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro. Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography. Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."