Crutches and Spice

When I first began my career in disability advocacy as a professional, I was bright-eyed, believing that I would be working with the most vocal supporters of DEI and who rallied behind diversity as an answer to the first Trump Administration.

They call us the “chronically online,” those who “need to touch grass,” the people who need to “log off,” but for disabled people, online spaces have been a lifeline in a world that seeks to erase and eradicate us.

March 13, 2020, it was evening.

TW: Weight When I was in high school, I experienced extremely painful periods.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Imani Barbarin (@crutches_and_spice)

During the insurrection at the Capitol building, white supremacy was all I could think about.

*Trigger Warning: This article contains discussion about COVID, sexual assault and disabled death and discrimination.

When I was about 7 or eight years old, I wanted to be a ballerina and actress.

Fret not, dear friends, the celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act is here.

This past week, I watched Crip Camp on my birthday in self-isolation.

TW: Ableism and Death, Mentions of COVID19 This week has been a jarring time for disabled people in the United States.

TW: All of them You.

As the world grapples with quarantines, self-isolation, and COVID-19, it is also dealing with something people have been loath to recognize: ableism.

On any given day ending in “y,” traverse to the comments section of any black disabled person post speaking their existence, and you’ll find a white disabled person “all lives matter”-ing themselves into a tizzy.

Check out @JoeBiden on #inclusive #education.

It’s 2020 and the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

https://crutchesandspice.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/s1e2-dating-someone-cant-marry.mp3 In this episode, Imani talks with her boyfriend, Tito Quevedo, about going into a relationship knowing marriage wasn’t an option because of healthcare needs.

https://crutchesandspice.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ableism-in-dating-with-marina-carlos.mp3 For a Transcript of this episode, click here: Transcript of Crutches and Spice Podcast Episode 2 To support this episode, click here: https://www.patreon.com/…

https://crutchesandspice.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/draft-internalized-ableism.mp3 In the inaugural episode of the Crutches And Spice Podcast, Imani talks about Internalized ableism and ways to combat it.

I’m sitting on the edge of my bed in my bathing suit.

“You will too be disabled one day.”

It’s 2004, and I’m locked in my room.

Now that the two Democratic Debates have concluded, the evaluation begins.

Contrary to popular belief, disabled people actually like to be thought of and invited out with friends.

Shock conveys many things.

This spring, I had the opportunity to sit down and collaborate with three amazing women, Emily Ladau, Maryangel Garcia-Ramos and Hannah Soyer and discuss the ways in which media shapes our understanding and how that affects our daily lives for South by So…

There’s a unique invisibility that comes with being black and disabled.

The 2020 presidential election is upon us and God help us all.

On my left knee, there’s a strange scar.

Promotional Poster for the Upside | Facebook: The Upside I know this is something you likely don’t want to hear about your Breaking Bad fave, but he’s problematic.

I can feel the rage inside me.

Me pouting at a computer screen while drinking tea out of a BB8 mug.

I want to tell you a story.

Have you ever been forgotten about?

My body is uncooperative.

Anthony Bourdain in tropical environment by Trey Ratcliff via Flikr Creative Commons I am ashamed to say that I saw Anthony Bourdain as my inspiration.

I live in France and despite the fact that a Costco opened just outside of the city, I deeply miss bulk shopping.

My mom and I were in the store when it happened.

I can feel your gaze.

Sometimes I find myself walking down the street huffing and puffing from going to fast.

Let me make myself clear, this post is not an opportunity for majority culture to attack black people, not even a little bit.

This week is my birthday, so in the spirit of gift-giving, I want to share you a mundane moment that changed my life.

Stephen Hawking, renowned physicist and vocal defender of disability rights has passed at the age of 76.

Spoilers.

It’s 3PM and my mom and I have had a long day.

Three femmes standing in my studio apartment with me seated.

There’s a spirituality to black femme-dom.

The first post of the year took awhile for me to write.

*All the Trigger Warnings (even if you’re a fan, you DO NOT owe it to me to read this) Via Pixabay In the hospital room after breaking my leg a couple of years ago, I asked my night nurse to go to the bathroom.

No one plans for this to befall their friends or family, but now that ableds are in your life, you suddenly become aware that they are, in fact, actual people.