Library Guides: Disability and Journalism: Journalists with Disabilities: Testimonies and Work

Links and Information

Resources for Journalists with Disabilities
Official resources from the National Center on Disability and Journalism.
National Center on Disability and Journalism Homepage
True Newsroom Diversity Must Account for Disability Status, Too
Sara Luterman, a disabled journalist, writes about why it is important that the newsroom expand to both employ journalists with disabilities and cover stories of those with disabilities.
Why disabled journalists should report on disability
A disabled journalist named Karina Sturm writes about the experience of having someone write about her disability using words like "suffers from" and why those word usages and the circumstances surrounding them needs to change.
Disabled journalists--Disability Visibility Project
A link to projects and articles detailing the experiences of several different journalists with disabilities.
Disabled Writers website
The website of Disabled Writers, an organization dedicated to helping journalists and writers with disabilities find work.
Wendy Lu Writes
The website, blog, and work of Wendy Lu, a journalist with a disability.
Journalists with disabilities share their stories
Several stories from journalists with disabilities on what it's like in the workforce, compiled by Romaniia Gorbach (pictured left).
Sarah Kim--Disability Journalist
The website, blog, and work of Sarah Kim, a journalist with a disability.
How Disabled Journalists Have to Fight to Get In the Newsroom
Bailey Martens writes about her ongoing experience of being a disabled journalist and staying employed.
Journalists with disabilities break paradigms in Latin American newsrooms, but face barriers entering and staying in the profession
A brief overview of the current situation for journalists with disabilities in Latin America.
Pandemic opened newsrooms to journalists with disabilities
A look on the evolving situation for journalists with disabilities in parts of Europe during the pandemic.
Journalism student speaks on national panel
A brief overview of a national panel called "Disability in the Newsroom"--on which Evan Halpop, a journalist with a disability, spoke about several issues, including disclosing his disability to his employers.
Charles Krauthammer inspired journalists with disabilities, including me
Callum Borchers (pictured left), a journalist with cerebral palsy, talks about what journalist Charles Krauthammer, a wheelchair user, meant to him.
The challenges facing disabled people entering employment
A brief overview of what it is like to be a journalist with a disability entering the workforce, with (hopefully) helpful ideas and links on how to combat the difficulties of the situation.
How COVID-19 exposes a disability reporting gap
An overview of one of the lesser-known effects of COVID-19 in the United States--the effect the disease is having on people with disabilities, and how there is very little media on the subject.
"Autism is not a disease--it's a disability"
Matthew Rozsa speaks to Eric Garcia, who debunks several autism myths, and speaks about the situation facing those with autism today.
"Lived Experience"
An article from The Guardian about the experiences of Nas Campanella, a reporter with a disability. Photo courtesy of ABC.
disabled journalist Archives-- Disability Horizons
The website of Disability Horizons, containing several stories about journalists with disabilities and their experiences.
Paul F. Cockburn--how the social model redefined his role as a disabled journalist
Dave Lupton interviewed Paul F. Cockburn, a journalist with a disability, to learn more about his life and his experiences in his work.
Off the Cuff-Jen Deerwater, Indigenous Activist and Journalist
Jen Deerwater speaks about her experiences as a disabled journalist and an activist to Nathan Carpenter and Ella Moxley.
Blind Somali journalist battles insecurity and challenges of disability
Abdifatah Hassan speaks about the challenges of working as a disabled journalist in Somali, and highlights his efforts to bring more awareness to people with disabilities and their issues.
Dr. Frances Ryan
The official website of Dr. Frances Ryan, an activist, author, journalist, and academic with a disability.
Commentary: Covering the world, paralyzed from the shoulders down
Peter Apps talks about what it was like to become paralyzed and how that has changed his work as a journalist, and his life overall.
Disability Journalist Robert Kingett
Robert Kingett writes for the Disability Tribune about his interview for employment with the Chicago Tribune.
Hannah Wise -- RJI
Hannah Wise, social strategy editor at The New York Times, is creating a toolkit that guides newsrooms through how to evaluate the accessibility of their products to the disability community and how they represent disability in their coverage (from RJI website).

Judith Heumann--Disabled Activist and Author

(Cover image of Judith Heumann's latest book)

Crip Camp Documentary--Netflix

See "Profiles" section for link to watch on Youtube