DeepSummary
Siren Nagakiri, a disabled activist and founder of Disabled Hikers, shares their journey of finding solace in nature despite facing challenges as a person with multiple invisible disabilities. They discuss the lack of accessibility and inaccurate information about trails that led them to create detailed guides for hikes accessible to people with varying mobility needs.
Nagakiri explains the concept of 'inspiration porn' and how portraying disabled people doing everyday activities as inspirational is problematic. They also talk about addressing racism and privilege within the disability community. The interview delves into Nagakiri's upcoming guidebook featuring 60 accessible trails in the Pacific Northwest.
Nagakiri emphasizes the importance of listening to disabled people's needs without questioning, avoiding ableist language, and providing accurate accessibility information. They encourage acknowledging Indigenous land rights and incorporating spiritual practices for personal well-being.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Disabled Hikers aims to make the outdoors accessible by creating detailed trail guides with accurate accessibility information.
- The concept of 'inspiration porn' portrays disabled people doing everyday activities as inspirational, which perpetuates ableist attitudes.
- The disability community needs to address intersectionality and recognize the privilege and marginalization within its own ranks.
- Listening to disabled people's needs without questioning and avoiding ableist language are important steps towards inclusivity.
- Acknowledging Indigenous land rights and incorporating spiritual practices can contribute to personal well-being.
- The 'spoon theory' is a metaphor used to describe the limited energy levels of disabled individuals and the need to prioritize activities.
- Providing accurate accessibility information on trails, including terrain details and available resources, is crucial for disabled hikers.
- Disabled individuals face challenges in finding accurate information and resources for accessible outdoor recreation.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The only disability in life is a society that is inherently ablest in an accessible world.“ by Siren Nagakiri
- “Inspiration porn is basically using experiences that disabled people have, and it's often just very basic, everyday things that anyone would do in the course of their life, and which, if a non-disabled person did it, it would be completely unremarkable. But because a disabled person did it, now, it's this amazing, inspiring thing that inspires everyone who is not disabled to go out and live their best life and conquer their dreams and all this other stuff.“ by Siren Nagakiri
- “If we really want to go even deeper into it. Of course, there's a lot of intersections with white supremacy and colonialism and ableism, but all kind of works together to uphold this idea that some people and places are more valuable than others, and it's okay to extract the resources and energy from people.“ by Siren Nagakiri
- “To value my own time and energy as much as I value everyone else's.“ by Siren Nagakiri
- “Probably understanding nuance. Like, I'm really good at, like, kind of seeing all the threads that weave into a problem and how they connect and how we have to, like, tease them out to really understand something.“ by Siren Nagakiri
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Episode Information
Breaking Green Ceilings
Sapna Mulki
7/21/20
Syren Nagakyrie (they/she) is a long-time disabled activist and community builder who is passionate about liberation through connection. Syren grew up with multiple invisible disabilities; they found connection with nature to be a source of comfort in times of social isolation. Syren is the founder of Disabled Hikers, (www.disabledhikers.com), an organization providing resources, events, and advocacy. Syren is a freelance writer, consultant, and presenter. They are the author of The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon: outdoor adventures accessible by car, wheelchair, and foot, to be published by FalconGuides. Syren currently resides on traditional lands of the Quileute, in Forks, Washington. Syren identifies as a white, queer, and poor person from a disabled and working-class background.
- Topics Discussed:
- Disabled Hikers Initiative
- How to be Inclusive to People with Disabilities
- Inspiration Porn
- Spoon Theory
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