A barrier exists: Disability justice and the social construction of disability

A barrier exists: Disability justice and the social construction of disability

Author: Charts & Leisure July 16, 2025 Duration: 40:02

In this Disability Pride Month episode of Unravelling, hosts Mary Wilson Kurt White sit down with Cat Milo, former Coordinator of Accessibility and Diversity at Hampshire College and Dr. Madeline Peters, former longtime Director of Disability Services at the University of Massachusetts, to discuss the intersection of mental health and disability. They explore the concept of disability justice, emphasizing that societal barriers, not inherent conditions, are what truly disable people. Cat Milo and Dr. Peters highlight the importance of accommodations and the need for a shift in societal attitudes towards disability. They discuss the challenges of invisible disabilities and the benefits of community and care networks. The conversation underscores the need for inclusive policies and spaces that support all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

Links
Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, 4th Edition


There’s a thread that connects our inner lives to the culture we live in, and Unravelling pulls on it to see what emerges. This isn’t a lecture series, but a conversation guided by therapist Kurt White and journalist Mary Wilson, who bring their distinct perspectives to every discussion. They explore how mental health is woven into everything from our daily fitness routines and societal pressures to the art we consume and the relationships we keep. In each episode, you’ll hear from experts who study the mind alongside individuals sharing their personal, lived experiences, creating a dialogue that feels both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. The aim is to move beyond simple definitions, examining how anxiety, resilience, joy, and struggle shape our collective reality. Produced by Charts & Leisure, this podcast provides a space for nuance, challenging the idea that our psychological worlds exist in a vacuum. It’s for anyone who has ever felt the tension between their private thoughts and the public world, offering not easy answers but a more textured understanding. By listening, you become part of a broader exploration into how compassion, for ourselves and our society, can actually be built from a place of genuine curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Unravelling
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