Disability Activism Through Art - with Jen White-Johnson

In this episode of You First, we talk with Jen White-Johnson (she/they), a renowned artist, educator, and disability activist who uses the arts as a medium to champion the life, joy, and experiences of the disabled and neurodivergent community. Jen discusses their journey as someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, the barriers for disabled Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to getting a diagnosis, and the impact of their son being diagnosed with autism. They talk about the need for more disabled BIPOC representation in visual media, their efforts to bring disabled artists to the forefront, and how they work to deconstruct ableism in the classroom. Jen discusses their artwork that celebrates Disability Justice and celebrates Disability Joy through visual arts, digital design, zine-making, installations, and more.

Episode 62 Relevant links mentioned: 

• Jen’s website
• Disrupt and Resist Exhibition
• Critical Design Lab Disability Solidarity Statement
• An Anthology of Blackness: The State of Black Design
• Disability Justice Culture Club 
• Anti-Ableist Art Educator Manifesto
• Homie House Press 
• Disability Visibility
• Krip Hop Nation
• Sins Invalid 
• Jen's Zine Workshops
• Black Feminist Future Collective