Amanda Listens’
A space to share my thoughts, concerns, dreams, and aspirations for advocacy and social change.
Blog
International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is coming up on December 3rd, 2024. This year’s theme is Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.
Accessibility and Disability Inclusion: What is the Difference?
Accessibility and disability inclusion co-exist in the space of including persons with disabilities in society but what is the difference? Explore the difference in action and how the interconnection is the goal.
What YOU need to know about the disability community
What do you think when you see the words “disability community”? Come explore what the disability community is and why it is important to know the intersectionality and differences within the community.
Living with a Dynamic Disability
A dynamic disability is an experience that is full of ups and downs. Learn about what is it is living with a dynamic disability from personal experience.
Accessibility is Not “Extra Steps” | Disrupt the Status Quo
The attitude of status quo in accessibility is the concept of “extra steps” in the process. This is a mindset that requires rethinking of the processes that exists, especially with information. Read how it is not "extra steps."
Accessing Media and Information Literacy
We need media and information literacy. In the digital world, we are surrounded by more media and information than ever before at the tips of our fingers. As the media is utilized to connect with us, it is crucial to know how to engage with the media.
Exploring the Cost of Living with a Disability
Living with a disability can be expensive as it does come with additional costs compared to people without disabilities. Read to see how it impacts time, money and energy.
Grateful for American Sign Language: International Day of Sign Languages
In the spirit of Deaf Awareness Month, International Day of Sign Languages next week during International Week for Deaf People, I have written how grateful I am about learning ASL and the learnings along the way.
The Issue with One Tool for Access: The Importance of Options
As a society, we make many assumptions which influences our decisions on the decisions in our environment. Learn from personal experience of how having one reliable option for access is not ideal for accessibility and inclusion.
Connecting Human Rights and The Ability to Choose
It is hard to think that change is needed when you do not know the alternatives or different experiences connected to human rights. Read to see how knowledge and existence of rights should allow the ability to have choices in society.
Start Updating, not Following: Improving Accessibility in Your Work
Accessibility and disability inclusion are becoming part of the mainstream conversation to improve standards, experiences, and quality of life. Read how the focus should be updating your process, not following the crowd when improving accessibility.
Tips to Improve Accessibility During a Busy Time
If you did not plan for accessibility from the beginning, do not worry. You can still find ways to improve your activity by reading some tips to help during a busy time.
Importance of Access Awareness Week
2024 Access Awareness Weeks is from May 26th to June 1st. In Canada, there are many weeks that are happenning to work toward improve accessibility and inclusion. Learn more about what AAWNS means and NAAW.
Take Action on Accessibility: How to Navigate Different Needs and Structures
When it comes to accessibility and disability inclusion, most people think they are doing the “standard” of what is expected from them. However, it requires taking initiative to improve access in our community. Learn how to navigate the structures that currently exists and how to reframe thinkig about accessibility.
World Day of Safety and Health at Work | Illustrating Disability
World Day for Safety and Health at Work is on April 28th to internationally recognize the need for a healthy and safe working environment and prevent harm in the workplace. Persons with disabilities is a crucial part of this discussion. Learn more about how understanding and including the disability experience is important.
Setting Boundaries in an Inaccessible World
When access needs are not considered, boundaries can be crossed to gain some access. Long term, this is not helpful when living with a disability. Read to learn how important setting boundaries can be and how it can help with your access needs.
Importance of Time: Time Use in an Inaccessible World
Time is a precious resource. How we are able to utilized time in our day to day lives depends on many factors that we interact with. For persons with disabilities, time use can be impacted. Learn about the three (3) differents ways that affects the time use of persons with disabilities.
Is The “Best Approach” How We Should Be Developing Our Policies?
We are always looking for the “best approach.” From our personal lives to policy decision-making, there is pressure to make the most optimal decision. But, should it be how we approach solving problems in our communities? Read more to see why this idea exists and why it may also cause issues when improving society.
There is one thing you really need to know about accessibility
There are many things to know about accessibility. However, there is one thing that people forget or choose not to consider when designing and making decisions surrounding access and accommodations.
Stop Preaching Self-Advocacy: Navigating an Inaccessible World
Self-advocacy is a common tool that is preached to persons with disabilities to obtain the access they need. But should it be? Learn about how self-advocacy is currently being preached, how it should be utilized, and where the line is to switch over to greater advocacy.