Down to the Struts

This bonus episode features excerpts from a panel discussion that Qudsiya facilitated on “Disability as Freedom” for the Equal Justice Works leadership Development Training in 2021. In the featured excerpts of the discussion, you’ll learn about approaching legal advocacy within the frame of disability rights, justice and intersectionality in order to carve a pathway to equal justice for all. The s...

Qudsiya is joined by visually impaired, self- taught artist Michael A. Williams for a discussion about disability and the creative process. Michael and Qudsiya talk about his artistic techniques, what drew him to add electronic music composition to his artistic portfolio, and how his art wound up in the collection of our 44th president, Barack Obama. If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread t...

Qudsiya interviews Eli Dvorkin from the Center for an Urban Future about the new report, Access Opportunity: Expanding Economic Opportunity for New Yorkers with Disabilities. New York City experienced a nearly 10% increase in the unemployment rate among city residents with disabilities from 7.4% in 2019 to more than 17% in 2021 as a result of the pandemic-induced economic downturn. This is not inc...

Qudsiya is joined by youth activist Lou Paniccioli, an Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies fellow, secretary of the Young Democrats of America Disability Issues Caucus, and vice chair of the New York Young Democrats Disability Issues Caucus. They talk about Lou’s journey to political activism as his chosen tool to affect social change, and the role models that have guided hi...

Qudsiya is joined by Mamadi Corra, Professor of Sociology at East Carolina University (ECU). They discuss Professor Corra's research on access for people with disabilities in the US federal judicial system, his approach to disability and scholarship and his advice for disabled people of color pursuing an academic path. If you're enjoying the podcast, please spread the word by leaving a rating and...

In this episode, Qudsiya is joined by Jennifer Natalya Fink, professor of English and the director of the program in Disability Studies at Georgetown University. They talk about Jennifer’s new book, All Our Families: Disability Lineage and the Future of Kinship. This is a powerful reflection that documents the erasure of disability from our family narratives, the damage that this can cause as we n...

The overturning of Roe v. Wade has sent shockwaves around the world. In this special bonus episode of Down to the Struts, Qudsiya is joined by journalist Sara Luterman. Sara and Qudsiya discuss a first-of-its-kind poll conducted by Data for Progress about disabled people’s views on abortion, the history of reproductive autonomy for disabled people in the U.S., and the implications of the Supreme C...

In the first episode of season 5, Qudsiya is joined by musician Precious Perez. They talk about her experiences as a disabled artist and musician, her participation in the newly-launched advocacy coalition, RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), and her vision for a music industry that centers and elevates disabled artists and music professionals. If you're enjoying t...

With support from the Disability Visibility Project, Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid are gathering information about disabled podcasters and podcasts focused on disability and accessibility (or “disability podcasts” for short). They will use your answers to develop an online listing of podcasts and resource for disabled podcasters to find each other and find audiences.

Down to the Struts will return for its fifth season on June 14. Listen to the trailer for a preview from this season’s guests, including a disabled musician, educator and youth activist, a social psychologist and more. If you're excited for the upcoming season, please spread the word by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts, tagging us @DownToTheStruts on social media, or sharing the podca...

Dr. Arielle Silverman was the very first guest on Down to the Struts. Now, the disability researcher and consultant returns for a very special bonus episode. Arielle joins Qudsiya to talk about her new memoir, Just Human: The Quest for Disability Wisdom, Respect and Inclusion. Arielle tells Qudsiya about what led her to write Just Human, her own journey as a blind person, and how she's translated...

The season 4 finale gets a little meta - Qudsiya is joined by Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid to talk about disability and the world of podcasting! Cheryl and Thomas tell Qudsiya about the early days of disabled podcasting and audio production; their creative process; and a new initiative they are launching in collaboration with the Disability Visibility Project to create a learning and collaboration...

Qudsiya is joined by Robert Kingett, a totally blind, gay, author, essayist and freelance journalist. Qudsiya and Robert discuss Robert’s journey to becoming a writer, the creation of his anthology, Artificial Divide, and why the publishing industry should advance works of fiction created by disabled authors.

Qudsiya is joined by Erika Rickard, director of a project at The Pew Charitable Trusts aimed at modernizing our nation's civil legal system. They talked about the findings of a new report from The Pew Charitable Trusts entitled, “How Courts Embraced Technology, Met the Pandemic Challenge, and Revolutionized Their Operations,” and what more needs to be done to ensure that disabled people can access...

Qudsiya is joined by Sandy Ho, a disability policy researcher and the founder of the Disability & Intersectionality summit. They talk about Sandy’s journey to becoming a disability justice activist and scholar and her creation of the Disability and Intersectionality Summit. Together, they discuss how we can reimagine the way we think about academia and scholarship, and who is included in those spa...

Qudsiya is joined by writer and educator Rebekah Taussig. They talk about social media as a tool for organizing and community-building, Rebekah’s memoir, Sitting Pretty, and the lessons of disabled parenting.

Judy Heumann looks back on the lessons she learned as a disability civil rights leader, her vision of access and inclusion for disabled people in the future, and how to press forward, even amidst our divided politics.

Season 4 of Down to the Struts launches December 7. We can't wait for you to hear these conversations with these powerful voices in the disability advocacy community. Listen to a sneak peek of the season, and share with a friend who would enjoy the podcast.

Stephanie DeLuca joins Down to the Struts to discuss her work as a legislative assistant for Senator Tammy Duckworth, where she works on health care and disability policy. Stephanie shares her journey as a disabled scientist to the halls of Congress, how her experiences as a disabled person have informed her approach to public policy, and the need to break down barriers and expand opportunities fo...

Christy Smith discusses her experiences as the first deaf contestant on the reality TV show "Survivor", and how it propelled her in her work as an international advocate on behalf of Deaf communities in the US and around the world.

Kathy Martinez, president and CEO of Disability Rights Advocates, has had a long career building accessible workplaces, from Wells Fargo to the White House. In her conversation with Qudsiya, she offers advice and thoughts for employers and employees about designing a workplace that is inclusive and accessible to all.

Algorithmic machine learning is everywhere, from resume scanning software to advertisements social media. But the discrimination inherently programmed into these algorithms can have real consequences for marginalized groups, including people of color and disabled people. In this episode, advocate, educator and attorney Lydia X.Z. Brown tells Qudsiya about their work to help more people understand...

In this episode, Qudsiya sits down with Lisa Schur and Doug Kruse, both professors at Rutgers University. They discuss their research on voting access for people with disabilities, and how to ensure participation in democracy is accessible to everyone.

This season is kicking off with a very special guest: Alice Wong, disabled activist, author and podcaster behind “Disability Visibility,” and the first person Qudsiya reached out to for advice on podcasting. In their conversation, Alice tells Qudsiya what she’s learned about the visibility of the disabled experience in media and culture, and her desire to contribute to those narratives by telling...

Season 3 of Down to the Struts launches July 13. Listen to a sneak peek of the season, and share with a friend who would enjoy the podcast.