Amanda Listens’
A space to share my thoughts, concerns, dreams, and aspirations for advocacy and social change.
Blog
Setting Boundaries in an Inaccessible World
When access needs are not considered, boundaries can be crossed to gain some access. Long term, this is not helpful when living with a disability. Read to learn how important setting boundaries can be and how it can help with your access needs.
6 Qualities to Design a Better World
There are many ways to contribute to taking action. However, there are qualities tht can make taking action to design a better world a little easier (and more fun). Read to see what the 6 qualities are.
Importance of Time: Time Use in an Inaccessible World
Time is a precious resource. How we are able to utilized time in our day to day lives depends on many factors that we interact with. For persons with disabilities, time use can be impacted. Learn about the three (3) differents ways that affects the time use of persons with disabilities.
International Day of Happiness
International Day of Happiness happens annually on March 20th to recognize happiness as a goal in order to drive an equitable, inclusive approach to well-being. Learn more about different aspects of happiness and actions that can help persons with disabilities.
Importance of Policies to Take Effective Action
When you need to make decisions that affects someone’s needs and rights, policies and procedures are develop to meet the gaps that exist in our society. Learn how important it is to know about the policy process to effectively take action.
Reflecting on International Women's Day in 2024
Reflecting on the time on doing advocacy work including the intersectionality of gender equality. Read more to learn what I have learned over the years on women and girls rights.
Is The “Best Approach” How We Should Be Developing Our Policies?
We are always looking for the “best approach.” From our personal lives to policy decision-making, there is pressure to make the most optimal decision. But, should it be how we approach solving problems in our communities? Read more to see why this idea exists and why it may also cause issues when improving society.
Feel Like More Impact: Group Advocacy vs. Individual Advocacy
When doing advocacy and activism, there is always a wonder and push to make the most impact for change. Read to explore the perceived notions of impact and making change with the common question of working with a group, or working as an individual.
Social Justice | Illustrating Disability
As World Social Justice Day is coming up on February 20th, let’s have a conversation on the connection of disability and social justice. Exploring poverty, employment, and the stigma and attitudes that exists for people with disabilities, learn how importance social justice is and how you can contribute to the change.
Waiting to be a Choice | Art Piece
Learn why Amanda made this art piece of “Waiting to be a choice” with her experience with hearing devices and deaf identity.
There is one thing you really need to know about accessibility
There are many things to know about accessibility. However, there is one thing that people forget or choose not to consider when designing and making decisions surrounding access and accommodations.
Connecting the Thread of Global Work to Local Work
When considering activism and advocacy, many times, it is the personal connection and local impact that motivates people to do the work. How do we not work in silo? Read to learn how connecting global concepts to local work can help you work.
Stop Preaching Self-Advocacy: Navigating an Inaccessible World
Self-advocacy is a common tool that is preached to persons with disabilities to obtain the access they need. But should it be? Learn about how self-advocacy is currently being preached, how it should be utilized, and where the line is to switch over to greater advocacy.
Action Into Passion: Your Journey to Activism and Advocacy
Have you ever questioned why you do activism or advocacy work? This blog post will explore how to turn action into passion for doing activism and advocacy work through the seven lessons I learned along my journey so far.
So, I did NaNoWriMo.
I reached 50,000 word count goal in a writing challenge called NaNoWriMo. Learn more about why I chose to do NaNoWriMo, my process, and how I did it!
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities! There are different ways to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities so read to learn more about what the day is and what you can do for it.
Journey to Universal Design: What does it take to be accessible and inclusive
Universal Design is a process. It is not something that can be developed and implemented in an instant. There are principles, steps, and considerations to make into your process. Learn more how these key steps are important and how it can be included in your process effectively.
Adapting to Never-Ending Changes: Systems Challenges
Change is always hard. However as a disabled person, change can affect all aspects of day to day life to the point that the ability to do certain tasks you used to do is heavily reduced. Learn how changes can impact as a person with a disability, especially with technology and choices.
Is it worth it? Activism and Advocacy
Activism and advocacy is hard. You likely enter the work with the energy and passion to make change you care about, only to be faced with difficulties and turmoil on whether it is worth it to continue on. Come explore why the question will keep popping up and how to evaluate your decision for yourself.
Is it Accessible? : The Approach to Accommodation Policies
An accessibility accommodation policy is typically in place when the space is inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Is this really the approach to an accessible and inclusive society? Read about how accommodation polices are designed and what is missing throughout the process.