During the pandemic, life was turned upside down for many. We had to find new ways to do everyday tasks like shopping, working, teaching, etc. Recently, there have been a number of shifts than nudge us closer to how things were in 2019, but many don't want some changes to go away. Avery shares why she hopes working from home, virtual events, and flexibility don't disappear.
Being a woman comes with its own challenges. Avery reflects on how women can be shamed about taking care of themselves with the term "high maintenance." You rarely hear men described that way, and society puts less pressure on men for how they look than women. Avery unpacks this phrase and reclaims what it says about someone.
No one can do it alone. It is important to find a group of people who you can connect with and who support you through good and hard times. Avery reflects on the many groups she has sought out during her life including a peer support group in middle school called the Friendship Club.
No, we're not talking about the iconic scene from Friends where Ross yells, "Pivot!" repeatedly in an effort to navigate moving a couch upstairs (watch here). Right now, many people are leaving their current jobs for new ones. Some are staying on the same career path, while others are taking the opportunity to set off on a new course. Avery shares how she successfully pivoted her career and her advice to others trying to do the same.Mentioned Resource: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett & Dan Evans
spring is here, and change is in the air. Avery shares updates from her recent trip to the eye doctor and changes around health, career, and lifestyle.
This month Avery read Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau. She goes over the content, main themes, and tone of the book and shares what she learned, critiques, and her honest recommendation on whether to read or skip it.
Learning from each other and sharing lived experiences is one of the most powerful ways to influence people. On the heels of celebrating 6 years of marriage, Cam and Avery review what they've learned from each other.
Quitting can feel like a failure. It is hard to separate the fact that your current situation is no longer serving you vs. you just not being able to cut it. Avery talks through the mental process she works through when deciding if she should quit a job, relationship, or community group, and the intense internal struggle of knowing she has to let someone down to do what is best for her.
The experience of going to the movies is hard to beat. From the film itself to the popcorn and snacks, it just hits different. Streaming platforms often have audio descriptions available, but not all theaters offer this accommodation. Avery recently tried out using audio description technology at a movie theater for the first time and shares her experience and gives recommendations on how to avoid some of the issues she ran into.
The Academy Award-winning movie CODA follows Ruby, a high school senior who is the only hearing member of her immediate family. The film explores isolation, fear of the unknown, and the need we all have to be understood. Avery invites Cam on the podcast to discuss how each of them could relate and the biggest takeaways.
People with disabilities can live independently, but like anyone else, every once in a while they may need help. But when should you help and how should you offer it? No one wants to risk offending others, but it can be so hard to watch someone struggle with a task. Avery provides guidance and personal examples on how to best navigate this.
Belonging is a term commonly used alongside Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Brene Brown has said, "The opposite of belong, from the research, is fitting in. Fitting in is assessing and acclimating: 'Here's what I should say, or be, here's what I shouldn't say and avoid talking about. That's fitting in. Belonging is belonging to yourself first." Avery reflects on the many ways she's tried to diminish having a disability to make others more comfortable over the years. Becoming confident about what makes you different doesn't happen overnight, but there is no reason someone can't start working toward it today.
It is important for people to be trailblazers and break into spaces where someone with their identity hasn't had access to before, but there is a significant burden that falls on people who are the first. Avery talks about her own experiences with this and gives tips on how to be an ally.
Society is taking diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) more seriously than ever before. We've made huge strides, but there is a long way to go. There are still so many instances when people can feel like they don't belong. Avery reflects on how isolating it can feel to exist in spaces where you're the only person with a certain identity.
The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, a black teenager who leads two separate lives. There is the version of herself for Garden Heights, the predominantly black neighborhood she calls home, and another version of herself that exists at the mostly white prep school she attends in an affluent suburb. After witnessing her childhood friend being killed by a police officer during a traffic stop, Starr's two worlds collide. She is forced to confront the privilege and prejudice of her classmates and has to reevaluate relationships with others and herself. Avery recaps the main plot points and themes around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility that appear in the movie.
It is always important to educate yourself on the experiences of others and the privileges you have that others may not. This applies to any group that society presses. In honor of Black History Month, Avery shares some of her picks for books, movies, and TV shows. There are so many great resources out there, and this is just a sampler.BooksBetween the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi CoatesUncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel AchoHow to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. KendiWhite Fragility by Robin DiAngeloTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Vanishing Half by Brit BennettSuch a Fun Age by Kiley ReidThe Hate U Give by Angie ThomasMovies13thThe Hate U GiveI Am Not Your NegroIf Beale Street Could TalkTV ShowsThe WireInsecureAbbott Elementary
Sure, dating can be fun, but as Olivia Rodrigo would say, "God, it's brutal out here." Add on a historically marginalized identity like having a disability, and the dating world can be an even trickier space to navigate. Avery opens up and reflects on her dating life and how being legally blind impacted it. She reminds people that even if society or "friends" say you should settle, you deserve to find your ideal partner just as much as anyone else.
Setting boundaries can be difficult for everyone, but it gets even trickier when you move through life with an identity that society views as having less power. The need to be liked and seen as capable seems even more important when you're in that position. Avery talks about how she's struggled with this and how leveraging the word "no" has changed things for her.
The Social Model of Disability is the belief that people with disabilities aren't at a disadvantage due to their disability but due to barriers created by society and environments. Avery speaks on this and refers to how this YouTube video cleverly shows how the Social Model of Disability works.
Job hunting is exhausting. In a perfect world, all companies would value diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Unfortunately, that's not the case, and the burden of evaluating how inclusive a company is falls on the job seeker. Avery goes over tips on how to find a company and manager that values DEIA.