UDA is a play off of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is a teacher buzzword for making something so accessible that everyone can access it without accommodations. This is a very over-simplified description, but I’m a teacher and it resonated with me.

As a teacher, I see student accommodations all the time. It got me thinking… after public school, what happens to these kids? Yes, accommodations in college are totally a thing, but it’s different. It relies a lot on self-advocacy, something a lot of people struggle with. Workplace accommodations also exist if you’re willing to self-advocate and if it’s not a burden on your workplace. These are big Ifs.

So, what now? How do we universally design adulthood so that it’s accessible? What can we, as disabled individuals, do to feel proud of ourselves and accomplish life?

Some may argue, “Isn’t ADA enough? Isn’t curb cutting and handicap parking spaces enough?”. No. It’s not. Because disability is so varied and our experiences differ so greatly that one solution isn’t enough for all of us. How would you feel if you went to the ER for a broken ankle and they handed you a simple bandage? Hey, bandaids helped the last person who came in here, why do you think you’re special? It’s not being special, it’s having different needs.

There’s a really common infographic that I’ll include here that describes equality vs. equity and more.

There’s also the graphic about assessing all animals based on their ability to climb a tree (spoiler: the fish fails). We aren’t asking to be treated exactly like everyone else because our disabilities are a part of us. They are a part of our experiences, just as being Black in America, it changes your perspective. We are asking for access. We are asking for understanding.

The whole purpose of this blog is to relate to the disabled folk around the world and to educate the typical folk about our experiences. I share tips and tricks I picked up along my disabled journey (read more about me here). I educate on language. I may review media involving representation (or the lack thereof). This is a space for everyone, but this is not a space for hate.