Skip to main content
What's Up WID

What's Up WID

By World Institute on Disability

The World Institute on Disability’s podcast, where we discuss what’s up in the Disability Community across the globe.

Watch with American Sign Language and read transcripts on our website: wid.org/whats-up-wid/
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

The Intersections of Race, Disability and Policing

What's Up WIDAug 11, 2023

00:00
44:11
The Intersections of Race, Disability and Policing

The Intersections of Race, Disability and Policing

WID Board Member and Coordinator of Advocacy Services at Everybody Counts, Inc., Lorrell D. Kilpatrick is discussing her activism work pertaining to the intersections of race, disability, policing, and Black-disabled liberation.

Aug 11, 202344:11
Global Disability Rights, Justice and Inclusion

Global Disability Rights, Justice and Inclusion

Kathy Martinez, WID's former Executive Director and the current Vice President of Global Disability Inclusion at Expedia, discusses global disability rights, justice and inclusion, her memories of Judy Heumann and WID's 40th anniversary.


Jun 16, 202326:35
Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

WID's Former Executive Director Deborah Kaplan and WID’s current Senior Director of Operations and Deputy Director, Kat Zigmont discuss the past, present and future of accessibility in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

May 18, 202359:07
Celebrating Judy Heumann and Disability Rights Activism

Celebrating Judy Heumann and Disability Rights Activism

International disability rights activist and WID’s former International Program Director, Bruce Curtis, reflects on his years in activism alongside Judy Heumann and Ed Roberts and the importance of disability rights activism today.

Apr 21, 202301:04:10
Black Disabled Womanhood

Black Disabled Womanhood

Keri Gray, a cancer survivor, entrepreneur, speaker, and facilitator discusses Black-disabled womanhood.

Dec 09, 202233:36
The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital” Sheri Fink and WID Executive Director & CEO Marcie Roth discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on people with disabilities, which is chronicled in Sheri's book “Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital” and Apple TV+ Series of the same name.

Nov 30, 202201:08:51
Climate Justice for People with Disabilities

Climate Justice for People with Disabilities

Disabled climate activist Pauline Castres joins us to discuss the importance of climate policy, justice and activism for people with disabilities.

Sep 16, 202237:52
Autistic and ADHD Representation

Autistic and ADHD Representation

Chloé Hayden, an influencer and content creator who has amassed half a million followers and nearly half a billion views across social media joins us to discuss being autistic and having ADHD, navigating Internet trolls and the importance of disability representation.

Aug 19, 202225:48
The Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality, and Disability

The Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality, and Disability

Acclaimed writer and activist Eli Clare discusses the legacy of the ADA and how the path forward must include a deep analysis of the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability to achieve collective liberation.

Jul 29, 202235:39
Housing Accessibility

Housing Accessibility

Multi-award-winning disabled architect, inclusive designer and access consultant Amy Francis-Smith is discussing why housing accessibility matters.

Jul 08, 202241:35
Accessible Workplace Accommodations

Accessible Workplace Accommodations

ADA and HR Facilitator and author Sheryl Ellis is discussing the importance of accessible workplace accommodations and why employers must lead the way in accessibility.

Jun 24, 202241:18
LGBTQIA+ and Disability Intersectionality

LGBTQIA+ and Disability Intersectionality

Guest disabled LGBTQIA+ content creator and accessibility consultant Shona Louise discusses the intersectionality of being LGBTQIA+ and disabled.

Jun 10, 202240:22
Why Digital Accessibility Matters

Why Digital Accessibility Matters

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Google User Experience Research Manager and WID Board Member Miguel Quiñones is sharing why digital accessibility benefits people with disabilities and why it should be prioritized.

May 19, 202227:56
Disabled Women's Rights in the Congo

Disabled Women's Rights in the Congo

Congolese disability rights activist and founder of Hero Women Rising, also known as Maman Shujaa, Neema Namadamu, is discussing how disabled women’s rights are violated in the Congo and why we need to advocate for them.

May 13, 202226:48
Supporting Ukrainians with Disabilities

Supporting Ukrainians with Disabilities

Tanya Herasymova, project manager for Fight For Right, a Ukrainian disability rights organization, is discussing how the ongoing war is impacting Ukrainians with disabilities and how you can provide support.

Apr 29, 202222:01
Mental Health in the Disability Community

Mental Health in the Disability Community

Bri Beck, LCPC, a disabled artist, arts therapist and disability arts coordinator is discussing the importance of mental health in the disability community. 

Apr 15, 202237:46
Accessibility, Community Inclusion and the Life of Helen Keller

Accessibility, Community Inclusion and the Life of Helen Keller

Award-winning author, psychotherapist and disability advocate Rebecca Alexander is discussing accessibility, community inclusion and the documentary American Masters: Becoming Helen Keller, which chronicles the life of Helen Keller. We also discuss the upcoming Netflix film being developed about Rebecca's life.

Dec 10, 202135:36
Disability Justice in Kenya

Disability Justice in Kenya

Kenyan WID Fellow Angeline Akai-Lodi is discussing her experiences as a Blind woman living in Kenya and how she hopes to use the knowledge she has gained from working with WID to continue to advocate for people with disabilities.


Nov 12, 202133:36
Demystifying Disability & The Importance of Allyship

Demystifying Disability & The Importance of Allyship

Disability Rights Activist Emily Ladau is discussing her new book “Demystifying  Disability” and the importance of allyship for the disability community.

Oct 22, 202131:30
Disability Justice

Disability Justice

Dustin Gibson, Access, Disability, and Language Justice Coordinator at PeoplesHub discusses the disability justice framework, the origins of ableism and its interconnectedness to other systems of oppression.

Oct 08, 202140:45
The Role of Artists in Disability Activism

The Role of Artists in Disability Activism

Photographer and disability activist Tom Olin is discussing the role of artists in disability activism and the importance of community organizing.

Sep 24, 202149:42
Intersectionality Between Racism and Ableism

Intersectionality Between Racism and Ableism

Nikki Brown Booker, Program Officer for the Disability Inclusion Fund at Borealis Philanthropy is discussing her experiences as a Black and Filipino woman with a disability and the intersectionality between racism and ableism.

Sep 10, 202131:34
How COVID 19 Transformed the Lives of People With Disabilities

How COVID 19 Transformed the Lives of People With Disabilities

Damian Gregory, founder of the South Florida-based organization Nothing About Us Without Us is discussing how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the lives of people with disabilities and how we can take what we’ve learned from the pandemic to create a society that is more inclusive of people with disabilities.

Aug 27, 202155:39
Disability Representation in the Media

Disability Representation in the Media

Disability activist and founder of the nonprofit Mexican Women With Disabilities Maryangel García-Ramos discusses the lack of disability representation in the media.

Aug 13, 202155:11
Celebrating ADA 31 & Moving Forward

Celebrating ADA 31 & Moving Forward

Join us for a special edition of What's Up WID, celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Olivia Babis, the Senior Public Policy Analyst at Disability Rights Florida and Sarah Goldman, the Director of Administration and Youth Initiatives at the Florida Independent Living Council discuss why although major strides have been made, the fight for disability rights and justice is far from over. 

Jul 26, 202142:11
Unconscious Bias & Returning "Back to Normal"

Unconscious Bias & Returning "Back to Normal"

Kamilah Martin-Proctor, former Vice-Chair on President Obama‘s National Council on Disability and Founder of the Martin Multiple Sclerosis Alliance Foundation (MMSAF) is discussing how unconscious bias affects people with disabilities and why people with disabilities fear going "back to normal."

Jul 09, 202131:45
Disability Inclusion

Disability Inclusion

Global Disability Inclusion Strategist Debra Ruh is discussing why businesses, corporations and governments need to prioritize disability inclusion.

Jun 17, 202135:15
Latinx Disabled Intersectionality

Latinx Disabled Intersectionality

Blind and Low Vision Specialist and founder of Mentoring Engaging and Teaching All Students (METAS) Conchita Hernandez, discusses her experiences as a disabled Latina woman and why Blind and Low Vision students of color deserve access to a quality education.

Jun 04, 202132:38
Whole Community Disaster Preparedness & Response

Whole Community Disaster Preparedness & Response

WID’s Emergency, Disaster and Climate Resilience Specialist Dawn Skaggs discusses whole community disaster preparedness and response for people with disabilities.  

May 21, 202140:30
 Institutionalization of People with Disabilities in Nursing Homes & Congregate Settings

Institutionalization of People with Disabilities in Nursing Homes & Congregate Settings

For decades, people with disabilities have been institutionalized in nursing homes and congregate settings. In the U.S. alone, there are about two million people with disabilities living in these long-term facilities. In this episode, World Institute on Disability CEO and Executive Director Marcie Roth discusses the deadly and inhumane consequences of the placing people with disabilities in congregate settings.  

May 07, 202153:01