Black History Month 2019: Black, Disabled, & Into Alternative Spiritual Practices February 27, 2019 Vilissa Thompson, LMSW
When life shakes us at our core, we long to find something to ground us again. For me, that grounding has come in the form of expanding my spirituality after the death of my beloved Grandmother on Christmas Eve of 2015. I have always been spiritual; being raised Baptist by her (though I don’t claim ...
Planners & Disability: When Two Worlds Collide Effortlessly December 16, 2018 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWMy fondness for all things stationery began as a child. Pens, notebooks, journals, stickers, markers – you name it, I loved it. Lisa Frank everything – had to have it. At the height of the gel pens hype, I had all sorts of notebooks that allowed my friends to write notes to me with metallic ...
The Harriet Tubman Casting Cripping Up Issue September 20, 2018 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWOver the past week, I have watched and listened to several conversations on Twitter about the casting uproar for the Harriet Tubman film.
Yet no one mentioned the obvious issue: a Black disabled actress is not playing a Black disabled historical figure.
An issue I run into within Black history and in the portrayals of ...
Aunt Vi, #QueenSugar, Black Women, & Our Disabled Bodies: Why We’re Still Whole June 7, 2018 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWIf you haven’t watched the show “Queen Sugar,” I don’t know what you’re doing with your life.
The new season premiered on OWN last week, and the series is spearheaded by the talented Ava DuVernay.
In this season, one of the beloved characters, Aunt Vi, has an illness that is a part of her character story. It ...
Why Black Disability History Matters February 27, 2018 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWFor the past few years on the blog, I have featured the stories and activism of Black disabled figures who are unsung heroes during Black History Month. I began doing this because I did not want our experiences as Black disabled people to be overlooked since that has occurred for far too long. If we ...
2/28/2018 Black Disability History Twitter Chat February 23, 2018 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWFor Black History Month, I am honored to co-host a #BlackDisabilityHistory Twitter chat with members of my community. If you have been following the blog for awhile, you know that February is special to me in amplifying the visibility and accomplishments of Black disabled people during Black History Month. This Twitter chat is another means ...
My 2017 Was Lit!: Year in Reflection December 31, 2017 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWToday is the last day of 2017, and as I reflect, I am amazed at all I have experienced.
This was the year where all of my hard work has come to life, with so many collaborations, interviews, and awesome people I have encountered.
Even the small hiccups did not derail me – I believe ...
Tackling Inaccessibility in Seattle & NYC: My Travels on 4 Wheels September 30, 2017 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWThis month has been full of so many phenomenal things. September is a special time for me for two reasons: my birthday and the start of autumn.
For both my birthday and the season changing, I was bi-coastal – I spent the first full week in celebrating year 32 in Seattle and then set off ...
New Things On the Horizon August 31, 2017 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWThe blog has been quiet for awhile, and that is due to all that I have been getting into recently.
First is the new adventure I am on – I am the co-host of the Wheelin’ & Dealin’ podcast, which made its debut on the CSPN network last week. This podcast is politically-focused, and I am ...
4 Years Going Strong: RYV! Anniversary Reflection July 19, 2017 Vilissa Thompson, LMSWToday marks the fourth anniversary of Ramp Your Voice! The past year has been filled with so many opportunities, connections, partnerships, and articles that has resonated with individuals within and outside of the disabled community.
As Ramp Your Voice! matures, I also mature, particularly for my vision and the impact I want to make with ...
