Average human life is getting busier by every generation. All of us are committed to increasing daily responsibilities and life runs at the demand of the clock. It is well documented that responsibilities/work life needs to be balanced with fun to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Fun is every human’s need, but with the changing times, many of the fun activities are not accessible to all. In today’s world, fun stuff like video games is not accommodating all the abilities. Upon realizing this, Erin was inspired to start her own blog “The Geeky Gimp” to make sure that disabled people have access to popular media and culture. She is also passionately working as a Digital Content Producer with Easter Seals Thrive, an online community empowering young women with disabilities.

Can you tell us your role in “Easterseals Thrive”? What is the best part about this role?E:  I joined Easterseals last year as a Digital Content Producer for their Thrive website. Easterseals Thrive is an online community for young women with disabilities (www.easterseals.com/thrive). We focus on the power of others to create belonging, understanding, and ultimately empowerment. My job includes writing articles, hosting live events on social media, managing the Facebook and Twitter accounts, runing the Letters to Thrive blog (where adult women with disabilities write letters to their younger selves), and more. It’s a lot of work, but when someone says “I’m so glad Thrive is around,” or “I love what Thrive is doing,” it’s all worth it. The best part is seeing all the great advocacy work young women with disabilities are doing, and being able to promote that through Easterseals.

What inspired you to start “The Geeky Gimp” blog? Who can benefit from this blog?E: I started The Geeky Gimp because I didn’t see people like me in media – TV, movies, comics included. I didn’t see any tabletop or video game developers prioritizing accessibility. I wanted to put it out there that disabled people should also have access to popular media and culture. Accessibility laws prioritize “important” information, but what about the fun stuff? Shouldn’t we be part of that, too? I think anyone can benefit from the blog; I wrote for both disabled and abled audiences, geeky and not geeky. But what’s crucial is that it’s my thoughts and words.

How do you usually pick topics to review for the blog?E:  I don’t have a set method. Sometimes it’s people wanting me to review their tabletop game. Sometimes I just write what’s on my mind or reviewing what I’m reading/playing/doing at the moment. I’ve also started to write about broader disability topics, since a lot of people respond and connect to that more than reviews; there’s room for both types of content on my page.

What opportunities are available for today’s disabled women? How is society helping to keep empowering themselves?E: With the internet, there’s more room for expression and a global connection to the disability community. I see so many disabled people working together through social media, for example. We are using technology to empower ourselves and each other. But we need to remember there are thousands of disabled people cut off from technology, either through poverty, accessibility, or institutionalization. We need to find a way to reach out everyone in the disability community, not just those with internet access. But it’s hard to do that when transportation and accessibility are not integrated into society.

What kind of challenges do you face in your daily life?E: I’m so used to my disability, that I don’t think of it as a daily challenge. It is, sometimes, difficult to deal with pain, anxiety, and whatever else pops up. And ableism is never fun – misconceptions about me and my disability are a daily occurrence. It gets tiring and frustrating, but I have a fantastic support system among friends, loved ones, and the online disability community.

Who is your inspiration?E: The women in my family, who taught me invaluable lessons about finding strength within yourself. My abuela died when I was only eight, but I remember her so vividly. My abuela, abuelo, mom, two aunts, and great grandmother came to the US from Cuba as refugees in the 60s, with literally just the clothes on their backs. My father’s mother lost her husband while she was pregnant with my dad, and died from cancer when I was 3. I don’t remember her much at all, but the stories I’ve heard, and knowing what she had to endure, lets me know what kind of person she was. They inspire me daily.

What are your other hobbies?E: I’m a huge bibliophile – hand me a book, and I’ll read it. I’m kind of a foodie, as I grew up watching cooking shows with my mom, who is also a fantastic home chef. I collect postcards. My main hobbies are board games, video games, and comics, though.

What is your favorite place to visit and why?E: Museums! Anywhere I go, I have to visit a museum. Some of my favorites are the Newseum in Washingon DC, the MoMA in NYC, and the naval museum in Bermuda (which is in an old fort and completely wheelchair accessible – amazing).

Any special message for our community?E: Doctors can be really scary, and often don’t understand the social or political side of disability. Growing up, my parents were told many times, in different ways, that I wouldn’t achieve much in my life. But I work (both traditionally and on my own time), have friends, am in a serious romantic relationship, and love my life. Expect nothing less from your child or for yourself. Don’t listen to doctors or teachers who belittle your or your child’s worth because of disability.