Read the following contributions from Disabled writers and writers with disabilities:

IDJ is accepting personal stories! For additional information, please check out the Submission Guidelines.

Contributors are welcome to share their personal views and stories in typed/handwritten or video formats to educate others about the lived experiences of people with disabilities and enhance people’s capacity to prevent harm against people with disabilities. Essays, videos, audio clips, and other formats welcome.  Any length is welcome as long as the content is focused on education regarding living as a person with a disability and/or survivors conveying stories that will enhance prevention and intervention work. 

Some topic ideas include:

  • What your disability means to you.
  • How you have become empowered in your disability.
  • How you support others in becoming empowered in their disabilities.
  • Ways non-disabled people might support people with disabilities in their everyday lives.
  • What efforts you have co-lead to support wellness and violence prevention among disability communities.
  • How survivorship has shaped you.
  • How those around you supported or hindered your healing after violence.
  • Ideas for prevention of harm against people with disabilities.
  • How disability and survivorship are connected in your life.
  • Any other stories about disability, survivorship, and/or prevention!

The Task Force realizes that the breadth of experiences among people with disabilities and survivors is vast and we welcome stories from those who do not necessarily ascribe to the social model of disability.  If a person’s story includes a perspective that goes against known best practices, the Task Force may request the addition of an editor’s note to provide additional information.  For example, many Autistic people perceive themselves as neurodivergent and strongly oppose the “cure” mentality teachings of Autism Speaks.  However, some Autistic people do wish to be “cured”, or to be not Autistic, and may even support the messages of Autism Speaks.  The Task Force will accept stories from these different perspectives, and may request that an editor’s note is added to give context to why many people have a different view than the author.  All submission authors will have an opportunity to review and accept (or reject) editor’s notes and/or edits before proceeding with publication.

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