Evacuating Disability Stigmas with Rachel Bender

On today's episode of Access Denied, I am joined by Rachel Bender. Rachel is a content creator who shares her life as a disabled and chronically ill nursing student. In this engaging conversation, Rachel Bender and host, Jessica Jordan share their journeys as young advocates for the disability community. They both discuss what it was like growing up with a disability in the US Education System. The dialogue explores the importance of representation, the challenges faced by disabled individuals in various sectors, and the impact of climate change on marginalized communities. They emphasize the need for self-advocacy, community support, and the normalization of accessibility in all aspects of life. Follow Rachel! https://www.tiktok.com/@rachcutiepie https://www.instagram.com/rachcutiepie/ Climate Action Fund! https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-inaugural-federal-climate-superfund-bill?source=direct_link& Follow Access Denied on socials! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/accessdeniedpod/⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@accessdeniedpod⁠⁠⁠ Follow host Jessica Jordan on socials! Website - ⁠⁠⁠https://therollingexplorer.com/ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therollingexplorer/⁠⁠⁠ TikTok - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@therollingexplorer⁠⁠⁠ YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@therollingexplorer Intro and Outro Music Production by JP Warner Sound: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jpwarnersound.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jpwarnersound/⁠ Takeaways: Rachel started her advocacy journey during the pandemic. Invisible disabilities often go unnoticed, leading to a lack of support. Nursing is a calling for Rachel, inspired by her experiences in healthcare. Community and representation are vital in the disability space. Education is crucial for self-advocacy and understanding rights. Microaggressions can have a significant impact on disabled individuals. Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Accessibility services should be available in all educational settings. It's important to normalize asking for help and using accessibility services. Rachel's mom has been a strong advocate and support throughout her journey. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Connection 02:00 - Rachel's Journey into Advocacy 07:57 - Balancing Nursing and Influencing 16:57 - Navigating Education as a Disabled Student 23:59 - Facing Microaggressions and Advocacy 31:01 - The Importance of Representation 41:49 - Climate Change and Disability 49:05 - Final Thoughts and Wisdom