disability work

Over the last decade or so, I’ve spent an increasing amount of my time making noise in various ways and places about disability awareness, disability rights and justice, accessibility, mental health, invisible illnesses, combatting stigma, pushing for better representation, and equity and equality for all humans, with a specific focus on the disabled community. This is a smattering of the things I’ve been honoured to do.

Places You May Have Seen Me

Politics, Policy, & State Work

• I am honored to serve on the Connecticut State Independent Living Council, where we work to make the state of Connecticut more accessible and equitable, provide resources for disabled folx, and ensure that our politics continues to progress for disability rights, not stagnate or regress.
  

• I’m part of the Connecticut Wheelchair Reform Coalition, where we are working to create legislative change to improve wheelchair repair times for wheelchair users in CT (& hopefully beyond). #WheelchairsAreFreedom!
  

• I served on the Town of Stonington Plastic Bags and Straws Ad Hoc Committee to speak to the importance of plastic straws for the disabled community.
  

• I ran for The Town of Stonington Board of Finance (and I won but was barred from taking my seat. It’s complicated) on the platform of accessibility, disability rights, & equity.
  
  Learn more about my politics & activism here

Public Speaking, Interviews, & Podcasts

• I was honoured to speak at Tufts University in November 2023 at their Best Buddies Program on Disability Activism, Politics, Government, and how no one is too small to make a difference.
  

• I had the deepest pleasure of being interviewed on NPR’s “Where We Live” about wheelchair repair issues and what the CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition is doing about it!
  

• I was utterly delighted to return to St. Cloud State University to speak about Disability, Sexuality, and Inclusion in July of 2023.
  

• I had the pleasure of being the guest speaker for IKEA US’s Disability Empowerment & Advocacy CRG during Pride Month, June 2023.
  

• I was a panelist/speaker at St. Cloud University’s “Empowering Youth with Disabilities: A Tribute to Judy Heumann,” April 2023.
  

• I was a speaker at Transport Hartford’s 2018 Multimodal Transport Summit, regarding disability transportation and mobility concerns.
  

• I was a repeat guest on the Complexities Podcast, speaking about complex PTSD.
  
  Learn more about my talks & interviews here

If you’d like me to speak for your group, company, university, what have you, please contact me or check out my Speaker Hub profile!

Places I create & have Created

Education & Awareness

• I put together a collection of educational Disability Pride Month posts

• I work under the name AccessibilityPSA on Instagram to do education on social media platforms about accessibility in public spaces, as well as disability rights, etc. (on Facebook this has been merged into my The Farrah Garland page)

• I work as a fine art model and use that work to bring awareness and education to disability and disability rights issues

• I am proud to be a member of Patients Rising Advocates

• I’m proud to be a member of Rare Patient Voice

Writing & Speaking

• You can find my published wirings and things written about me here.
  
  

Things People Have Had To Say

• 7 Queer and Trans Creators with Disabilities Fighting for an Accessible World

• Mobility Designed User Spotlight: Disabled Model Farrah Garland

Most of the work that I do in this arena is unpaid; it is work that I do because it matters deeply to me, impacts me personally, and absolutely lights my fire. That said, I would like to say that disabled folk, as much as anyone else, deserve to be paid for their work. My work should not be held up as an example of how disabled folk should work for free for causes we care about or that matter to us.

With that in mind, if you appreciate the work that I do and would like to support it and me, you can Buy Me A Coffee or become a Patron.