What is Reality Check — Crip Edition?
I am Teri Adams, and Reality Check — Crip Edition is my newsletter. Together with Disability-Related Academic Accommodations and my Crip Glossary: Crip Culture - Disability Definitions, I want to bring the reality of life with disabilities into mainstream culture. For other people with disabilities, I want you to have solid evidence that you are not alone and you are not “the only one.”
I was born with a genetic disability called epidermolytic ichthyosis. This skin disorder causes the body to make skin too fast, and the skin cells don’t break down properly, so I get flaking, callouses, and painful blisters from friction (from walking and repetitive motion.) My body doesn’t sweat properly, so I tend to overheat. Consequently. I use a power wheelchair for mobility, and I can’t exercise (swimming is out—water is not my friend.)
My newsletters include opinions (mine) and information (factual information—not just my opinion) related to disability. I also write memoir pieces about my disabilities’ impact on my life experiences.
Reality Check — Crip Edition
This is the umbrella newsletter where I write about current events from a disability perspective. It might be humorous, or an angry rant, or both.
Disability-Related Academic Accommodations
Each newsletter in this section will explain a specific type of disability-related academic accommodation. My writing is based on my twenty-seven years of professional experience serving students with disabilities at a prestigious university. I will include factual and editorial information and let you know which is which by providing the applicable laws as appropriate.
This section was inspired by one of my Substack subscribers, Robyn Ryle.
who asked me some questions about accommodations at the college level.
You may be interested in this newsletter if you have a disability, have a student in your life with a disability (any type), or are an instructor or a college administrator. This is worth a read if you are just curious about how accommodations work.
Crip Culture’s — Disability Definitions
The deeper I get into the topics surrounding disability and disability culture, the more I realize that we need a shared understanding of what various words mean — like ableism. Here is my discussion of that word:
Subscribe to Reality Check — Crip Edition!
Free subscribers will receive emails for all three of my newsletters. As time passes, older posts will be archived, and some new posts will be behind a paywall. I will give you plenty of warning before that happens.
Be a Part of Our Substack Community
Be a part of a community of people who share your interests. Reality Check — Crip Edition has a Chat channel. Ask a question, post a poll, or share an opinion. You can also private message me if there is a topic you would like me to write about.
To learn more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
