Everything You Know About Disability Is Wrong – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Amanda Steijlen is a therapist, lifestyle creator, and founder of Wheelie Big Dreams, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities pursue their goals. She also leads True Bloom Therapy, supporting clients through life transitions with strategies that are both practical and grounded.

In this episode, Amanda shares her path to mental health work, the ways we misunderstand independence, and how caregiving can be reciprocal. She speaks candidly about online self-image, burnout, and the importance of showing up as your real self especially when people expect you to hide what you’re going through.

Amanda also reflects on Disability Pride Month and how it intersects with mental health, personal growth, and finding purpose. Whether she's guiding clients through the five core human needs or cultivating supportive friendships, Amanda emphasizes the power of real connection and redefining what success looks like.

Key Moments

02:46 Redefining independence and interdependence

10:48 Becoming a therapist after anxiety and loss

16:18 Balancing Disability Pride with grief

25:39 Managing self-image as a content creator

33:00 Finding community with other disabled creators

41:36 Rethinking mental health care in schools

47:43 Know the facts: 1 in 4 people are disabled

Connect with Amanda Steijlen

Instagram: @amandasteijlen
Website: https://www.truebloomtherapy.com
Nonprofit: https://www.wheeliebigdreams.org

Courn Ahn is a designer, content creator, and advocate who cares deeply about accessibility and social justice. Their work focuses on helping people see disability, identity, and community support in a new way, especially through the lens of queerness, race, and being neurodivergent.

As a Queer, nonbinary, mixed-race Korean creative, Courn shares from personal experience and speaks honestly about the challenges that come with being disabled in a world full of assumptions. Courn's journey has been about unlearning shame, accepting who they are, and understanding that using visible accommodations isn’t something to hide, it’s a powerful way to take care of yourself.

Courn also talks about how people often assume you don’t need help if you look like you’re doing well, and how sharing online as a disabled person can be both meaningful and exhausting. Through their design work and presence on social media, Courn is not just creating content, Courn Ahn is also  creating space for real conversations, celebrating differences, and reminding us that accessibility should matter to everyone

Key Moments
 00:00  What people get wrong about autistic people
 06:43  Struggling with what to share online
 14:18  Tools that make life easier
 20:42  How style helps show who I am
 27:01  Feeling free to be myself
 33:13  How different parts of my identity connect
 52:57  Finding confidence through disability

Connect with Courn Ahn
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyahndesign 

Website: https://www.courtneyahndesign.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candy.courn/

Your co-hosts Lily Newton and Erin Hawley return with a candid "Just Between Us" segment on this episode of Everything You Know. They discuss the importance of authentic storytelling in media, using recent casting choices in "Wicked" and Disney adaptations as a jumping-off point. The hosts explore why representation isn’t enough without real inclusion and the need for self-accommodation to destigmatize accessibility. Lily and Erin also reflect on highlights from the past year, sharing their "All I Want" asks for better support.

Key Moments

00:00 Authentic casting matters

03:44 Frustration with film clichés

11:38 Tart cherry juice helps sleep

14:20 Joining Easterseals' campaign

17:14 Destigmatize accessibility

Connect with Lily Newton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-newton-3b0b5b229

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/

Connect with Erin Hawley

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhawley2

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/

Advocacy is not just about raising awareness; it’s about creating real change.

Madison Tevlin is an actor, Host, Model, and Advocate. She is known for her impactful work in the "Assume That I Can" campaign for World Down Syndrome Day and her role in "Champions" alongside Woody Harrelson. Madison shares her wonderful journey and passion for music and storytelling.

Madison talks about her upcoming podcast, "21 Questions," featuring stars like Paris Hilton and Nelly Furtado. Madison opens up about the challenges of breaking stereotypes associated with Down syndrome and emphasizes the importance of community support in her life.

Key Moments

00:00 Multi-faceted journey

06:24 Music and family enhance wellness

17:53 Opening up about Down syndrome

22:19 Perfect fit for the roles

27:26 Redefining Stereotypes Through Storytelling

45:25 Education integration fosters community

Connect with Madison Tevlin
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/madisontevlin/?hl=en 

Website: https://www.madisontevlin.com/ 

Humor is a bridge to understanding; it transforms conversations about disability into moments of connection.

Pamela Schuller is a passionate disability advocate and stand-up comedian. Pamela shares her journey with Tourette syndrome and how humor has helped her tackle tough conversations about disabilities.

Pamela opens up about finding the right balance between vulnerability and oversharing, the challenges of accommodating disabilities in public spaces, and her unexpected shift from stand-up to storytelling. Pamela discusses the impact of her experiences on her mission to create more inclusive environments.

Key Moments

08:05 Challenging stereotypes.

14:27 Humor fosters resilience.

17:37 Goals: laughter and inclusivity.

30:53 Accepting emotions reduces judgment.

43:45 Tourette's and performance.

Connect with Pamela Schuller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelaschuller 

Website: https://pamelacomedy.com/ 

Rachel Lowenstein, Founder and Culture Expert at Rachel Lowenstein Consulting and Divergent Convergent, joins Lily Newton and Erin Hawley on the show. Rachel talks about why neuro-inclusion is a crucial part of workplace accessibility and how her work with Divergent Convergent is making a difference. 

Rachel also opens up about her own experiences with finding her true identity, avoiding burnout, and shifting from a corporate job to running her own business. In this episode, Rachel shares her thoughts on creating inclusive work environments, the challenges of traditional corporate settings, and the importance of community support.

Key Moments

13:41 Impact of Inclusive Marketing

26:34  Building Authentic Friendships

35:47 Mentor’s Advice: Pay It Forward

47:35 Remote Work and Inclusion

Connect with Rachel Lowenstein
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-lowenstein-49431a38

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelissan/?hl=en 

Divergent Convergent: https://parsnip-tetra-f2ny.squarespace.com/ 

"The journey of self-acceptance is ongoing and deeply personal."

Jennifer Gasner, author of *My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis*,

shares her journey of self-acceptance and understanding of her own identity. She explores the importance of supportive workplaces, the power of tell your own story, and addressing misconceptions about disability.

Jennifer also highlights her personal growth in accepting help and fostering inclusivity. Her story is a powerful testament to self-acceptance, resilience, and the push for a more inclusive world, providing guidance for anyone navigating their own journey.

Timestamps

0:00 Jennifer Gasner’s Story 

10:45 Finding Balance

20:30 Embracing Change

30:00 Breaking Barriers

45:15 Everyday Triumphs

55:00 Redefining Strength

1:05:00 Looking Forward

Connect with Jennifer Gasner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gasner-4b1aaa50/ 

Website:https://jennifergasner.com/ 

My Unexpected Life by Jennifer Gasner: https://www.amazon.com/My-Unexpected-Life-Finding-Diagnosis/dp/B0CCCPG1ZJ 

Author and Activist, Lauren Melissa, shares a powerful story of resilience and creativity. Diagnosed with autism in her twenties, Lauren Melissa turned the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic into an opportunity, hand-writing a novel that was later accepted by Bold Strokes Books. 

Based in New York City, she passionately advocates for the representation of queer, BIPOC, and disabled individuals in fiction, bringing to life diverse, multiracial, neurodivergent, and queer characters. Her journey is a powerful testament to the strength found at the intersections of identity and creativity.

Timestamps

08:27 Getting Into Writing

16:03 Having Relatable Characters in Fiction

21:16 Portraying Neurodiversity in Fiction 

25:09 Getting Published As An Independent Publisher

33:34 Advocacy on Autism, Race, and Queerness

44:12 Social Expectations, Codependence, and Autistic Identity

Connect with Lauren Melissa Ellzey

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmellzey 

Website: https://laurenmelissaellzey.com/ 

"I don't concern myself with what they get wrong. I like to just show up as myself and then let any preconceived notion, if there is any, flow like, float away”

Oliver Scheier, is a 19-year-old filmmaker, artist, and sophomore in college. Oliver discusses his approach to authenticity in both his work and personal life. He shares insights on his short film "Read a Page," his journey as a young artist, and how he navigates the perceptions of others.

Key Moments

00:00 Embracing individuality

13:01 Life-changing question

15:12 Gaelynn Lea's inspiring violin journey

23:54 Grateful for diverse talent support

26:59 Joy in directing, beyond acting

37:43 University program: ADHD, autism support

49:50 Educators' role in accessibility

Connect with  Oliver Scheier

Website: https://news.tulane.edu/news/tulane-freshman-muscular-dystrophy-finds-joy-and-fulfillment-campus 

Read a Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9SfkFG3lL4 

Your co-hosts Erin & Lily have a special in-person segment for the first time ever on the podcast. They Kick things off by discussing the significance of Disability Pride Month and the joys of creating content together as friends who are both disabled.

They also discuss some light-hearted topics like newfound interests—Erin’s evolving relationship with pizza and Lily’s dive into the world of fantasy books, including some great disability representation in certain titles. They get real about the power of virtual friendships, especially within the disability community, and how these connections help navigate their experiences authentically.

Timestamps

09:19 Embracing wheelchair for comfort

21:02 Public perception and aging with disability

26:21 Masculinity, ableism, and disability

31:51 Susan B. Anthony's advocacy

35:09 Government, ableism, and organizing change

48:18 Theater accessibility solutions

52:19 Budget pushback on accessibility

59:55 Theater, friendships, and community

Connect with Lily Newton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-newton-3b0b5b229

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/

Connect with Erin Hawley

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhawley2

Website: https://www.easterseals.com