Twenty-First Century Disability

Hollis Peirce

Let's be honest. Life with a disability can be difficult. Luckily, we are living in the twenty-first century. This podcast is about how living in the modern world has helped people with disabilities to have fairly "normal" lives. Join me as we explore why this is and as I try to look at disability from a social model perspective and change how the world sees disability.

  1. 2D AGO

    Is Disability a Part of Me or All of Me? A Conversation With Anna Schmid

    Send us Fan Mail Guest: Anna Schmid Length: 49:33 Episode Summary: In this personal and reflective episode, we explore the question: Would we be the same people we are today if we did not have our disabilities? Rather than trying to answer that question all at once, we break the conversation down by different periods of our lives and reflect on how disability affected each stage. We look at childhood, elementary school, high school, university, work, and romance, asking whether those experiences shaped who we became and whether a non-disabled version of ourselves would feel like the same person. The episode begins with our earliest memories of disability and how we understood ourselves as children. We discuss family, elementary school, early friendships, and the first moments when we became aware that our experiences were different from those of our peers. From there, we move into high school and talk about how disability affected classes, social life, confidence, and interactions with classmates, including experiences with bullying. We reflect on how those years shaped our self-image, resilience, and sense of belonging. We then discuss university life, both inside and outside the classroom. We talk about accommodations, independence, friendships, navigating campus life, and the ways disability influenced our academic and social experiences. Throughout the episode, we also go on smaller tangents about occupation, career paths, and romantic life, considering how disability has affected the choices we made and the relationships we formed. The episode then moves into a more serious discussion about romance, dating, and relationships. We reflect on how disability can shape vulnerability, confidence, expectations, and the way we see ourselves as romantic partners. Following that conversation, we finish the episode by discussing whether or not our current careers would be the same if we did not have our disabilities. We consider how disability has influenced our career paths, choices, opportunities, and sense of purpose, and whether the work we do today is connected to the experiences we have had because of disability. Ultimately, this conversation does not offer one simple answer. Instead, it explores how disability has influenced who we are across different stages of life, from childhood and school to university, romance, and career. Maybe we would have been similar in some ways without our disabilities. Maybe we would have been completely different in others. The episode invites listeners to think about identity, memory, relationships, work, and the life experiences that shape who we become. Key Topics Covered: • Whether we would be the same people today if we did not have our disabilities • How disability shaped different periods of life, including childhood, elementary school, high school, university, work, and romance • Early memories of disability and beginning to understand difference during childhood • Experiences in elementary school, including friendships, school life, and early self-awareness • High school experiences, including classes, bullying, confidence, social life, and belonging • How disability affected university life both in class and outside of class • Navigating accommodations, independence, friendships, and campus experiences • Tangents on occupation, career paths, and how disability influenced work-related decisions • Reflections on dating, relationships, vulnerability, and romantic life • The complexity of imagining who we might have been without disability What You’ll Learn: 1) Disability can shape identity differently at each stage of life. 2)Childhood and elementary school experiences can influence early self-image and awareness of difference. 3)High school can bring unique challenges related to bullying, confidence, classes, and social belonging. 4)University can create new opportunities and challenges around independence, academics, friendships, and accommodations. 5)Disability can influence career paths, goals, and the way we think about occupation. 6)Romantic relationships can be deeply affected by disability, including confidence, vulnerability, and how we see ourselves as partners. 7)Asking whether we would be the same without our disabilities is complicated because disability can shape our memories, choices, relationships, and personality. 8)There may not be one clear answer, but reflecting on different life periods can help us better understand how we became who we are. Resources & Links: • Website: https://annaschmidspeaker.com • Substack: @lovelylotus247 • Instagram: @lovelylotus247 • LinkedIn: @annaschmid - Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    50 min

  2. MAY 5

    Roddey Or Not, Work Has to Change

    Send us Fan Mail Guest: Roddey Harb Length: 37:09 Episode Summary: In this episode, Roddey Harb discusses how big businesses are adapting—or still need to adapt—to create accessible offices. He notes that accessibility is not a single checklist item or a one-time accommodation, but an ongoing process of listening, responding, and changing how work is designed. As a change management consultant, Roddey helps employees navigate new policies, technologies, programs, and expectations. He explains that disabled people are especially skilled at this work because navigating inaccessible systems builds adaptability, problem-solving, resilience, and communication. These are the same skills organizations often look for when they are trying to guide teams through uncertainty or transformation. The conversation also explores mandatory in-office work and the barriers it can create, especially around commuting. In cities like Toronto and during Canadian winters, snow, ice, inaccessible transit, unsafe sidewalks, blocked curb cuts, parking barriers, and unpredictable weather can make travel unsafe. For many disabled employees, simply getting to work can require extra time, planning, energy, and risk that employers may not always recognize. Roddey’s reflections show that accessibility must go beyond office design to include commuting, safety, culture, flexibility, and hybrid work policies. True accessibility means considering the full employee experience, from leaving home to participating in meetings, collaborating with coworkers, and feeling included in workplace culture. His insights remind firms that flexible work is not just a convenience—it can be essential for equity, retention, and meaningful participation. Key Topics Covered: • Roddey Harb’s work in change management and accessible workplace practices• Why communication, adaptability, and lived disability experience are central to his work • How mandatory in-office days and commuting create major barriers for disabled employees • The risks of winter travel, inaccessible transit, parking, sidewalks, and curb cuts • How workplace inaccessibility affects belonging, inclusion, safety, policy, culture, and flexibility What You’ll Learn: 1)Change management helps workers adapt to new workplace systems, policies, and technologies. 2) Roddey explains how disabled people often develop strong adaptability skills through lived experience. 3)The episode discusses how major companies are improving accessibility, but still have gaps. 4)Mandatory office days can create barriers for disabled employees. 5)Commuting is a major issue, especially because of transit, parking, weather, snow, ice, and safety risks. 6)Accessibility is about more than the office — it includes flexibility, transportation, policy, communication, and belonging. Resources & Links: Connect with Roddey Harb on LinkedIn: https- Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    37 min

  3. APR 14

    More Than Mobility with Dr Zack Yarde: Why Accessibility Includes the Words We Read

    Send us Fan Mail Guest: Dr Zack Yarde Length: 35:05 Episode Summary In this episode, Dr Zack Yarde explores accessibility from a broader, more inclusive perspective. While many people think of accessibility in terms of ramps, doorways, and office design, Zack explains that true inclusion goes much further — including the documents people read every day and the fonts those documents use. Zack reflects on when he realized this work would become his career and shares how his thinking shifted from the medical model of disability to the social model. That change reshaped not only how he understood disability, but also how he understood himself and his own lived experience. The conversation also examines what many workplaces still get wrong about inclusion, and why accessibility must be part of culture, design, communication, and systems — not just compliance. The episode also turns to one of Zack’s side projects: a book on accessibility in tabletop role-playing games. He discusses how villains are often written in ableist, simplistic ways, and why more complex, contextualized characters can make storytelling more thoughtful and inclusive.  Finally, inspired by Zack’s LinkedIn post urging people not to default to Times New Roman, the episode explores inaccessible fonts, why font choice matters, and why Lexend is currently his preferred option. Key Topics Covered • When Dr Zack Yarde realized accessibility and disability inclusion would shape his career • What many offices still get wrong about inclusion • The shift from the medical model of disability to the social model • How this shift changed how Zack understands disability and himself • Zack’s upcoming book on accessibility in tabletop role-playing games • How villains are often depicted in ableist ways in games and storytelling • Why villains need more complexity and context • Accessible fonts and why font choice matters • Why Zack advocates moving beyond Times New Roman • Why Lexend is one of his favorite accessible fonts What You’ll Learn 1)Accessibility is more than physical accessZack highlights how inclusion also depends on communication, systems, and document design. 2)Models of disabilityThe episode contrasts the medical and social models of disability and how each shapes responsibility and barriers. 3)Changing self-perceptionZack reflects on how his understanding of disability changed how he saw himself. 4)Accessibility in tabletop gamesThe conversation looks at how tabletop role-playing games can be designed with accessibility in mind. 5)Rethinking villainsZack argues that villains are often written in ableist ways and should be more nuanced. 6)Accessible fontsHe explains why font choices matter and how text design can create barriers. Resources & Links • Connect with Dr Zack Yarde on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackyarde/ - Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    35 min

  4. APR 2

    It Runs In the Kingdom: Late Diagnosed AuDHD and 4 Neurodivergent Kids - A Conversation with Tracy King

    Send us Fan Mail Guest: Tracy King Length: 35:28 Episode Summary Tracy shares their experience of receiving a disability diagnosis later in life—and how that moment helped reframe decades of masking, overcompensating, and trying to “fit” into professional and social expectations. Together, Tracy and Hollis explore the emotional reality of invisible disability, the complications of disclosure, and what real inclusion looks like beyond performative policies. Tracy also explains how this journey shaped their parenting and inspired the creation of Inspire Ed, a company focused on helping workplaces become genuinely accessible and inclusive.In the closing minutes, they broaden the conversation to the way autistic people and people “on the spectrum” are represented in social culture—what that portrayal gets wrong, what it leaves out, and why better representation matters. Key Topics Covered •Late diagnosis and the emotional aftermath (relief, grief, clarity, anger) •The hidden cost of masking and “passing” at work •Invisible disability and the burden of having to prove your needs •Disclosure decisions: when to share, how much to share, and why it’s complicated •Workplace culture vs. workplace policy: why inclusion fails without both •Building environments where people can work in ways that actually suit them •Parenting with new awareness: unlearning coping strategies and breaking cycles •Advocacy fatigue and navigating systems built for skepticism •The founding of Inspire Ed and the mission behind it •Representation of people on the spectrum in social culture (media tropes, stereotypes, and who gets left out) What You'll Learn 1) A diagnosis can change the story you tell about yourself A late diagnosis didn’t “change” who Tracy was—but changed how they understood their history, behaviours, limits, and needs. 2) Masking is often rewarded—until it’s unsustainable Many workplaces unintentionally reward masking (productivity, professionalism, “resilience”), while the long-term cost goes unseen. 3) Invisible disability creates a unique credibility problem When disability isn’t visible, people are often forced into repeated explanation and justification, which is exhausting and can be dehumanizing. 4) Inclusion isn’t just accommodations—it’s culture Policies matter, but culture determines whether people feel safe using them. Real inclusion is proactive design, not reactive exceptions. 5) Self-awareness reshapes parenting Recognizing one’s own coping patterns can help prevent unhelpful cycles from being passed down and make room for healthier support. Resources & Links •Inspire Ed (Tracy’s organization): https://www.inspired-ed.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracykingceo/ - Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    35 min

  5. MAR 17

    Two Identities, One Fight—Danise Sugita on Surviving and Speaking Out

    Send us Fan Mail Content warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is struggling and you are living in Canada or the United States, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). You can also find support and resources at https://helpguide.org/. Guest: Danise Sugita What You’ll Learn: •How Danise’s lived experience shaped her work and her approach to healing and support •What suicidal thoughts can look like (and why they’re often hidden or misunderstood) •Whether Danise identifies more closely with being a disabled Asian American or a disabled person •How the dual identity impacts her ability to seek help •The frustration and challenges of living with an invisible disability (including being doubted, misunderstood, or having to repeatedly self-advocate) •How a passion for disability rights and justice can stem from multiple things that are not related to being disabled •What the relationship between attendants and their clients are like Topics We Cover: •How trauma can lead to suicidal thoughts •Lived experience •Recovery and resilience •Identity •Disability justice •Attendant care Who This Episode Is For: •Anyone who’s personally navigating suicidal thoughts or mental health challenges •Anyone who has or wants to know more about living with an invisible disability •Listeners who want to know more about the struggle of being a member of two minority groups •Those interested in mental health advocacy and stigma reduction •Anyone who wants to know more about the relationship between an attendant and client Follow Danise: •LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danisesugita/ •Podcast — The Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community: https://open.spotify.com/show/0pcM5LWXexnuWNKpsndYjb?si=c4e6fb0338fe4be3 •Episode (Spotify) — The Voices That Propel Us (with me as a guest): https://open.spotify.com/episode/0It5mDi7BvWXVYd2iPzAvj?si=944baae856b04779 •Episode (Apple Podcasts) — Beyond the Barriers: Hollis Peirce on Disability: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/beyond-the-barriers-hollis-peirce-on-disability/id1832052249?i=1000741675477 - Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    28 min

  6. MAR 3

    En Garde with Trinity Lowthian: Paris 2024 Paralympic Stories

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: On this episode of 21st Century Disability, I sit down with Ottawa wheelchair fencer Trinity Lowthian to talk about how she became disabled, what it’s really like living with feeding tubes, and how she found her way into wheelchair fencing. We also get into where she’s competed so far and the academic wins she’s worked hard for along the way. What You’ll Learn •What it can look like to become disabled and adapt to major life changes •A clearer understanding of feeding tubes (including different types) and day-to-day realities of living with one •How someone gets started in wheelchair fencing, and what training/competition can involve •Ways to pursue sport and academics at the same time, even with complex medical needs Topics We Cover •Trinity’s story: how she became disabled •Feeding tubes we’ve both experienced ◦Different tube types and practical considerations •Trinity’s path into wheelchair fencing ◦How she found the sport ◦Where she has competed and what competition has been like •Trinity’s academic achievements and what helped her succeed Stand Out Moments •A candid look at the learning curve of adjusting to disability and rebuilding routines •Practical, lived-experience talk about feeding tube life—what people often misunderstand and what actually helps •The moment Trinity realized wheelchair fencing could be a serious competitive path, not just “something to try” •How Trinity approaches high performance + academics without sacrificing her health Who This Episode Is For •Disabled listeners navigating new diagnoses or major changes and looking for perspective •Anyone living with (or caring for someone with) a feeding tube who wants more real-world conversation about it •People curious about adaptive sports, especially wheelchair fencing •Students and athletes trying to balance health, school, and training •Allies who want to better understand disability beyond inspiration tropes—through lived experience Follow Trinity •Instagram: @lowthian_canhttps://www.instagram.com/lowthian_can/ Support the Canadian Paralympic Team Donate: https://paralympic.ca/donate - Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    28 min

  7. FEB 17

    Less ‘Whoa!’ More ‘Let’s Go’: Zeen for People Committed to Maintaining Mobility. A conversation with Rick Sherak

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this episode, Rick Sherak breaks down the safety and support features behind Zeen, a mobility device designed for people who are committed to maintaining or regaining their ability. We talk about how Zeen helps reduce common risks like tripping, stumbles, and fatigue—and why many first-time users are genuinely surprised by how supportive it feels, including its ability to help someone move from seated to fully supported standing using what Exokinetics calls “Bar Stool Mode.” What You’ll Learn The inventor of the Zeen Garrett Brown, and his other renowned inventionWhat the Zeen is and what it is designed to do Why many users are shocked (in a good way) by how stable and supportive it  feelsHow “Bar Stool Mode” helps users go from seated to fully supported standingWho Zeen tends to be a good fit for (and who it may not be for)Topics We Cover Stability and support: what “safe walking” actually means day-to-dayConfidence-building: support that encourages movement (not avoidance)Transitions matter: standing up safely, stopping to rest, and getting moving again“Bar Stool Mode” explained: a supported seated position and assisted rise to standingFatigue management and pacing strategies Standout Moments / Quotable Lines (Optional placeholders) "I tell you Hollis, and I just always have to say this, the Zeen, though it is a transformative device for many many people, it's not for everybody. It truly is for active minded people that want to either maintain, or in most cases regain, their mobility. It's all in the mind.""You say to them, it has you, it has you. Trust it. And as soon as you see that trust clicking in their minds, it's amazing how the individual has confidence in the device and they can step out and use their body in ways that they haven't in a long time, if ever in some cases.""We often call it 'Barstool Mode' you are sitting up high and you are a part of the conversation."Who This Episode Is For People working to maintain mobility and keep walking part of daily lifePeople who struggle most with sit-to-stand transitionsCare partners seeking safer ways to support independenceClinicians/therapists evaluating real-world mobility tools that still encourage activity Friendly Reminder This episode is for general education and isn’t medical advice. Talk with a qualified clinician about what’s appropriate for your needs and environment. Links & Resources Learn more about Zeen: https://gozeen.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqAAbh4JIBiuuGIBNJYiOxcZu7uF5OaSch-lPMMrtkzB9c2X7hOCall Rick at Exokinetics: +1-833-367-9336Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/go_zeen/https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=zeenTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeenmobility- Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    37 min

  8. FEB 5

    When the Body Limits, the Art Expands: Bucko on Muscular Dystrophy and Creativity

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary Chris "Bucko" Binkowski joins the show to talk about how muscular dystrophy shapes his day-to-day life—and how it also informs the way he makes music and visual art. We get into adaptation as a creative practice, the tools and routines that make creative art possible, and how access needs can become part of an aesthetic rather than a barrier. In This Episode •Bucko’s origin story: how he found music and visual art •Living with muscular dystrophy: what people misunderstand most •How physical limitations affect process, stamina, and scheduling •Adapting tools, instruments, and workflows to keep creating •The emotional side of making art in a changing body •Disability, identity, and how it comes through in the work (directly or indirectly) •Collaboration, community, and asking for (and receiving) help •What Bucko wants audiences to notice—or stop assuming •His most memorable experience or event of his career  Key Quotes •“I consider myself a musical performer rather than an artist.” •"...we don't know where we are heading or what our life is going to become, but once you get through life you look back and you do see a picture.” Topics & Themes •Disability and creativity •Access as part of artistic practice •Process over productivity •Tools, tech, and technique changes over time •Authentic representation vs. inspiration narratives Links & Resources  •Bucko Binkowski — Website: https://www.patreon.com/buckoart •Bucko on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckoart/ •Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): https://www.mda.org/ - Connect with us on social media to share your thoughts about this episode.      Instagram: @21stcenturydisabilityFacebook: Twenty-First Century DisabilityBluesky: @21centdisability.bsky.socialTikTok: @21stcenturydisabilityLinkedIn: Hollis Peirce- Use the hashtag #21stCenturyDisability to join the discussion online. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming episodes and events by clicking here: https://www.21stcenturydisability.com/contact!

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Let's be honest. Life with a disability can be difficult. Luckily, we are living in the twenty-first century. This podcast is about how living in the modern world has helped people with disabilities to have fairly "normal" lives. Join me as we explore why this is and as I try to look at disability from a social model perspective and change how the world sees disability.

Information

  • Creator
    Hollis Peirce
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Twenty-First Century Disability
  • Show Website
    Twenty-First Century Disability