EPISODE · Dec 23, 2025 · 9 MIN
The Work Isn’t Finished : What I’ve Learned After 15 Years in the Classroom
from Unfiltered Resilience: Dawn Olson's Journey · host Dawn Olson
This week on Unfiltered Resilience, I’m reflecting on something I didn’t even realize until I sat down to prepare for this episode—I’ve been teaching a disability studies class for fifteen years.In this episode, I share what the class looks like, why perspective matters, and how we walk students through the full lifespan of disability—from history and education to employment, parenting, and end-of-life decisions. I talk about accommodations, why we all use them whether we realize it or not, and why disability is simply part of being human.I also share what teaching this class has taught me—about my parents, about my own diagnosis, and about the love and strength it took for my mother to raise me after hearing life-changing news at just twenty years old.We’ve come a long way, but the work isn’t finished. Advocacy is still necessary. Education still matters. And speaking up is still required.Whether I’m teaching in a classroom or talking through your earbuds, the mission is the same: living out loud, sharing real experiences, and helping build a world that works for everyone.The work continues—and I’m not going anywhere.
What this episode covers
This week on Unfiltered Resilience, I’m reflecting on something I didn’t even realize until I sat down to prepare for this episode—I’ve been teaching a disability studies class for fifteen years.In this episode, I share what the class looks like, why perspective matters, and how we walk students through the full lifespan of disability—from history and education to employment, parenting, and end-of-life decisions. I talk about accommodations, why we all use them whether we realize it or not, and why disability is simply part of being human.I also share what teaching this class has taught me—about my parents, about my own diagnosis, and about the love and strength it took for my mother to raise me after hearing life-changing news at just twenty years old.We’ve come a long way, but the work isn’t finished. Advocacy is still necessary. Education still matters. And speaking up is still required.Whether I’m teaching in a classroom or talking through your earbuds, the mission is the same: living out loud, sharing real experiences, and helping build a world that works for everyone.The work continues—and I’m not going anywhere.
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The Work Isn’t Finished : What I’ve Learned After 15 Years in the Classroom
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