Artists with Disabilities: We Found Belonging at Tierra del Sol
When Lexington Sherbin began painting, he never imagined it would become a passion or full-time job. For Sherbin, 49, of Los Angeles, creating was a mere outlet and not something he thought he could do professionally; at the time, he didn’t know the extent of his artistic talent. But today, more than 20 years since he […]
How a Chicago Nonprofit Helps Artists with Disabilities “Break Limits and Expectations”
Colleen Altman and Sam Radinsky have been performing for a little over a decade. Between the two of them, the 25-year-old friends have acted in renowned plays in the Chicago area, including The Curse of the Tempest Jewel, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. Altman and Radinsky help coach other actors, too. Their […]
NJ Native Couldn’t Play on Playgrounds as a Child. He Helped Build the First Accessible Playground in the State.
As a child, Arthur Aston couldn’t play on a playground with his peers. He never climbed on the monkey bars, swooshed down the slide, or felt the wind in his hair as he stood feet above the rest at the very top of a jungle gym. It’s not that he didn’t want to traverse playgrounds […]
From High Jumping to Hollywood: How Jamie Nieto Navigated Life’s Hurdles and Continues to as an Actor with a Disability
This article is part of a series called Seen: Spotlighting Disability Representation in Hollywood. Every month, VisABLE will highlight a person with a disability in Hollywood with the purpose of uplifting their voices and showing the impact people with different abilities have on the industry. Jamie Nieto is ecstatic about working on his favorite show: […]
BLOG: Reflecting on My Journey to Kilimanjaro
In my life, I never planned to climb a mountain. It was never a dream or life pursuit. I’m an active person, but mountain climbing? Never my thing. But, here I am, one week away from traveling to Tanzania and scaling the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. Mt. Kilimanjaro is a picturesque behemoth – […]
How Lizzo and Beyonce Sparked a Conversation Among Black Disabled Activists: “Racism in the Disability Community is an Open Secret”
Stephanie Thomas worked in radio for years. During her time as a DJ in Norfolk, Virginia, she heard countless Billboard Hot-100 hits that included ableist slurs. From Taylor Swift using the word psycho in her song ‘Me’ released in 2019, to Carrie Underwood using the phrase, “Why do you have to be so blind,” in […]
People with Disabilities Experience the Most Unemployment in the Country. A Los Angeles Nonprofit is Working to Change That.
For years, Teren’e Chambers struggled to find employment. She applied for cashier positions and jobs in the service and retail industry. But whenever she’d seemingly get close to landing a position, it would go to someone else. “The interviewers are neurotypicals,” Chambers, 27, of Los Angeles, said. “They don’t know my story at all. I […]
He’s Animated for Internationally Acclaimed Films. He Also Happens to be Disabled.
This article is part of a series called Seen: Spotlighting Disability Representation in Hollywood. Every month, VisABLE will highlight a person with a disability in Hollywood with the purpose of uplifting their voices and showing the impact people with different abilities have on the industry. Eric Swymer has animated some of the most profound, famous […]
Gym Works To ‘Bridge Gap’ Between People With Disabilities And Fitness
Training at the gym used to be a frustrating experience for Emily Grodin. Grodin, who has non-verbal autism, found box gyms inaccessible and trainers ill-equipped to work with someone with a disability. She struggled to create a daily fitness routine because of these experiences. But then, a few years ago, she discovered ZOOZ Fitness, an […]
From 5Ks to Marathons: How A Nonprofit Is Getting People With Disabilities Running
Running is Brian Cannavina’s release. He runs to de-stress. He runs to stay healthy. And he runs to be part of a community. Most recently, Cannavina finished the Boston Marathon — his third marathon in the last five years. Running a marathon is no easy feat; running 26.2 miles wasn’t always on Cannavina’s radar as […]