CHAPTER THREE, PART ONE
Presenting: Dignity Delayed
Content: discrimination, medicaid cuts
Featuring:
Highlights
This chapter tells the story of how the Disability Advisory Committee came into being because of a random encounter between V Fixmer-Oraiz and Seen and Heard, an activity group focused on disability advocacy. Join Emerson as they explore how Seen and Heard’s self-advocacy joins a long legacy of disability rights organizing in the United States. Learn about Seen and Heard, Judith Heumann, and the ongoing struggles to integrate disability into public life.
Conclusion
Seen and Heard’s impact on project design coincided with the period of privatizing Medicaid in Iowa, a moment reminiscent of the era prior to deinstitutionalization. The fight for full inclusion persists.
Transcript
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: disabilityecologiespodcast.buzzsprout.com
Credits
Episode written and narrated by Emerson Cram, University of Iowa. Recorded with Riverside FM. Production and Sound Editing by Maura De Cicco. All media clips are used for educational purposes only. Sound effects licensed through Pixabay.
KWWL, “‘Healing Trail Opens at Johnson County Historic Poor Farm,” November 15, 2023.
C-Span, “Discrimination against the Disabled,” Senate House Labor Subcommittee Hearing, 27 September 1988.
Patty Berne and Stacey Milburne, “My Body Doesn’t Oppress Me, Society Does,” Barnard Center for Research on Women, May 9, 2017.
Des Moines Register, “Disabled Iowans say Medicaid firms Cutting Care,” 16 March 2017.
Zach Boyden-Holmes, “Mom Hopes for Delay of Medicaid Privatization,” The Des Moines Register 4 December 2015.
Who13, “State Auditor claims Iowa’s privatized Medicaid illegally denies care,” 20 October 2021.
Funding
Research, writing, and production have benefitted from generous support from multiple sources, including: the National Communication Association’s Karl R. Wallace Memorial Award; UI OVPR Arts and Humanities Initiative Standard Grant; UI Provost Investment in Strategic Priorities; UI College of Liberal Arts DSHB Humanities Scholar; CLAS Summer Humanities Award.
Special Thanks
With thanks to Maura De Cicco; University of Iowa Departments of Communication Studies, Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies, and American Studies (Especially Angie Looney, Kembrew McLeod, Eric Vázquez, Naomi Greyser, and Hallie Abelman); V Fixmer-Oraiz; Kim Painter, Johnson County Recorder; the 2024 Colby Summer Institute in Environmental Humanities Seminar, Claire Fox; Teresa Mangum; Jennifer New; Phaedra C. Pezzullo; Constance Gordon; and Jesse Waggoner.
Audience Participation
