Our Voices: Conversations of Disability

Andrew Letchuk

Our Voices is an independent podcast that opens critical conversations on disability by engaging with disabled people, scholars, activists, and advocates. Our Voices is defined as the conception of acknowledging and recognizing disabled people's voices. This podcast holds space to imagine and desire building an alternative world that can value and/or accept our identities in the disability community. What would an accessible world look like without systemic barriers? What issues we still continue to experience? Join me as I dive into discussions independently and with disabled guests.

  1. 2d ago

    304 - Redefining "Crip" in the Context of Disability Studies

    The word "Crip" has traditionally or historically been understood as a derogatory term, but is now redefined and reclaimed by disabled people. Its modern terminology refers to the idea of the way(s) we experience disability together, despite the contrasts in our lived experiences. Some disabled folks may not necessarily agree if the term doesn't resonate with them. For others, especially disabled scholars and activists, we choose to use the verb. How has "Crip" shaped and redefined disability as a socio-political phenomenon? I am joined by Sean Lee (he/they), a disabled curator, artist and director of programming at Tangled Art + Disability. Sean and I explore this subject through conversations about disability arts as a site of political resistance. For instance, Sean articulates reimagining the future through crip horizons.

  2. 4d ago

    303 - Book Author Talk: Part 2

    In the second episode of the book talk episode, I'm joined by Emily Ava Gillespie (they/she). Ava is a neurodivergent author who has published their latest book, Wait With Me, which follows a fictional character who challenges barriers in the healthcare system. The plot and supporting characters were based on her lived experience with mental health and the medical model of disability. Furthermore, Ava discusses the benefits and limitations of writing books with disability, privilege vs. oppression and the status quo. Her book is available to buy online http://www.amazon.ca/Wait-Me-Emily-Ava-Gillespie/dp/1069635103/ref=asc_df_1069635103?tag=bingshopdesk-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80195840416882&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=5254&hvtargid=pla-4583795327954055&psc=1&msclkid=306634107a50145e8b3f5eca2181e3cf Sick Stories: Books, Zines, & Poetry | Sick Stories

  3. 6d ago

    302 - Book Author Talk: Part 1

    Part 1 of the special two-part book author episode. I am joined by returning guest speaker Ghofran Alyass, a disabled writer and educator. Ghofran and I discuss her debut memoir, You Have 24 Hours to Live, by exploring emerging themes of perseverance, grievance, and her academic journey. Additional links below for more information about her work Welcome to my author website. This is a journey from staying alive to living the life I desireYou have 24 Hours to Live: A memoir: Alyass, Ghofran: 9781068916700: Books - Amazon.ca Fundraiser by Ghofran Alyass : Help me turn my memoir into an audiobook

  4. Oct 2

    301 - The Future Looks Good on You in FUTURES

    The future looks brighter than ever for disabled youth in a program where you can just be yourself. Launched over a year ago, FUTURES is a leadership program for disabled youth who are passionate about making social change. The program offers a variety of programs for disabled youth. This includes a book club, social media internship, and a visual arts program. Prospective participants can choose to join an in-person or online cohort (Fall, winter, spring or summer). The question we'll be answering is: What are some ways FUTURES can help disabled youth become innovative leaders? For the Season 3 premiere, Kelly Johnston joins me in this exciting conversation. Kelly and I became close friends in the Fall 2025 cohort! We discussed our favourite moments from the program, such as the Map Mission and dance workshop activity. We discussed our journey in the program and offered advice to prospective participants. If you're disabled, D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, or neurodivergent and are passionate about building community, FUTURES is the right program for you. Additional information can be found on its website: Futures - The AccessStudioSeasons 1 and 2: The complete series is available to listen.

  5. Sep 2

    211 - Disability and Accommodations in Post-Secondary Education

    When non-disabled people hear the word "accessibility", they think about wheelchair ramps and automated doors with a push button. Let's consider accommodations in post-secondary education. Let's consider how we, as disabled people, have to pay extra money out of our pockets for psycho-educational assessments or medical equipment. We experience financial barriers in Ontario, and with the new school year, Doug Ford makes financial life harder for disabled students. In the season finale episode, Julie "Jules' Emeid and I discuss our lived experience with college and university accommodations. We discuss ways of making post-secondary life accessible and how to improve accessibility policies. This includes giving disabled students a seat at the table as consultants, compensating them for panel talks, and building relationships with professors. The complete episodes of seasons 1 and 2 are available to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Season 3 will be premiering on October 2nd. Our Voices: Conversations of Disability is a podcast series. Distributed by Cafe Time Productions

  6. Aug 5

    210 - Artist Talks, Curation and Curiosity: Conversations within Disability Arts

    Artist Talks is how we learn to explore and engage in conversations that involve politics and identity. Because Tangled Arts is Canada's first accessible gallery in downtown Toronto, the organization firmly believes in audience engagement. Disability arts challenges the traditional museum norms of visualizing art. This includes the tactile touch of an exhibit. It's important to emphasize that disability must be represented authentically. How have artist talks shaped nuanced perceptions of disability, D/deaf culture, and neurodiversity? In this episode, Sarah Sproule and I had a thorough conversation around our experience with artist talks and curating art exhibitions. Sarah introduces me to the intersections of disability and religion by explaining the ableist logic of the afterlife, arguing that a disabled body can be left behind. We both agreed that this belief is ableist. Disabled bodies and minds are, in fact, desirable. Furthermore, Sarah offered moral support for disabled artists by advising us to work on crip time; the ability to adapt our own pace and productivity level.

  7. Jul 21

    209 - For Justice, For Peace: Disability Pride at the Intersection of LGBTQA+ Rights

    Bigotry, ableism, discrimination. This is the reality we experience every day across the world. These issues occur when we are left vulnerable to discriminatory policies and right-wing politicians. Despite living in dark times, disabled and neurodivergent people in the LGBTQA+ communities continue to resist in a unified voice. This includes advocating trans rights and gender-affirming care, gay rights, and centring disability justice in social movements. How do we interpret community care? Why is it important to speak up? What does it mean to fight for your rights? In this episode, I'm joined by Derek Newman-Stille (they/them), a faculty member from the Gender and Social Justice Department at Trent University. We had an intimate conversation about the social constructions of disability and queerness, analyzing anti-trans rhetoric, and being intentionally vulnerable about authentic identity. We also emphasized the significance of community care through active listening and storytelling.

  8. Jun 24

    208 - Invisible Disabilities in Dialogues of Lived Experiences

    When non-disabled people think about the terms "disability" or "disabled", they recognize it as a physical appearance. What happens when they meet someone whose disability is non-apparent? The answer: frequent stigmatization. For instance, accusing a chronically ill person of faking their disability or an autistic person being told they don't look autistic. In this episode, Kat and I chatted about her lived experience as a neurodivergent Vietnamese woman in her education and workplace. Secondly, we uncovered the many reasons why non-visibly disabled people face stigmatization, one-sided tropes and stereotypes by society. We also discussed the wonderful social group we made on Instagram called NeuroAmigos.

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Our Voices is an independent podcast that opens critical conversations on disability by engaging with disabled people, scholars, activists, and advocates. Our Voices is defined as the conception of acknowledging and recognizing disabled people's voices. This podcast holds space to imagine and desire building an alternative world that can value and/or accept our identities in the disability community. What would an accessible world look like without systemic barriers? What issues we still continue to experience? Join me as I dive into discussions independently and with disabled guests.

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