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Al Etmanski is a community organizer, social entrepreneur and author. He is a founding partner of Social Innovation Generation (SiG) and BC Partners for Social Impact. Previously, he co-founded Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) with his wife Vickie Cammack and Jack Collins. Al is an Ashoka fellow, and a faculty member of John McKnight’s Asset Based Community Development Institute (ABCD). He once played air guitar with Randy Bachman of BTO (Bachman-Turner-Overdrive) in a rock video, which convinced him to stick with his day job.
Author: SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement, Author: Vrooman, Tamara, Author: Harcourt, Mike, Author: Li, Claudia, Author: Mogus, Jason, Author: MacPherson, Donald, Author: Etmanski, Al
Date created: 2015-04-27
Longtime community organizer and social entrepreneur Al Etmanski talks to Am Johal about where the movement for disability justice is headed — with lived experience leading the way. Al speaks to the urgent need for a basic income for people with disabilities, and how to build up a grassroots political movement to advance social change.Al Etmanski is also the host of an upcoming series of Below the Radar, called The Power of Disability. The series will highlight six incredible changemakers with disabilities who are also powerful advocates in the disability community. Al and Am discuss the origins of the series and the importance of shining a light on the often overlooked contributions of people with disabilities.Resources:— Al Etmanski's website: https://aletmanski.com/— The Power of Disability: 10 Lessons for Surviving, Thriving, and Changing the World by Al Etmanski: https://aletmanski.com/books/#powerofdisability— The Power of Disability Digest: https://aletmanski.com/disability-digest/
Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Kathy Feng, Author: Alex Abahmed
Date created: 2021-04-15
Lifelong activist and wheelchair user Judy Heumann joins Al Etmanski for this instalment of The Power of Disability. Judy is a powerful advocate in the disability movement both in the US and globally. She and Al talk about her long history of fighting for the rights of disabled people, a part of which is featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. Judy shares stories about significant organizing moments and camaraderie in liberation movements, speaking to the importance for the voices of disabled people to come forward. They also discuss Judy's appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, creating a thriving disability culture, and the changing nature of allyship."It's important to work collaboratively with people, to try to have big dreams, to recognize they may not happen overnight, and to be able to change." - Judy HeumannRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/judy-heumann/ABOUT THE SERIESThe Power of Disability is a series of Below the Radar. Host Al Etmanski brings us enlightening conversations, featuring guests with disabilities who have been influential in arts, activism, science, and more. This series is a continuation of the work Al has shared in the book, The Power of Disability: 10 Lessons for Surviving, Thriving, and Changing the World, which reveals that people with disabilities are the invisible force that has shaped history.
Author: Judy Heumann, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos
Date created: 2021-04-29
Rabia Khedr, an activist, consultant, former Human Rights Commissioner and motivational speaker who 'wears many hijabs,' joins Al Etmanski for this Power of Disability conversation. They discuss Rabia's advocacy and policy work within the disability community and the Muslim community; bringing a disability benefit, or basic income, to Canada; as well as the vital importance of having people disabled folks driving systems change.Rabia speaks to the significance of having what she calls a 'hyphenated identity' and how disability is just one facet of people's varied and intersecting experiences and identities. She shares with Al how she is working with the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities to connect people to Disability Justice principles through spirituality and culture. She also sheds light on what she means when she says, "Being blind, I see things differently.""The range of disabilities, of lived experience, needs to be reflected in the journey — at the table, making the decisions, leading the work." - Rabia KhedrRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/rabia-khedr/
Author: Rabia Khedr, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Alyha Bardi
Date created: 2021-05-13
Rabia Khedr, an activist, consultant, former Human Rights Commissioner and motivational speaker who 'wears many hijabs,' joins Al Etmanski for this Power of Disability conversation. They discuss Rabia's advocacy and policy work within the disability community and the Muslim community; bringing a disability benefit, or basic income, to Canada; as well as the vital importance of having people disabled folks driving systems change.Rabia speaks to the significance of having what she calls a 'hyphenated identity' and how disability is just one facet of people's varied and intersecting experiences and identities. She shares with Al how she is working with the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities to connect people to Disability Justice principles through spirituality and culture. She also sheds light on what she means when she says, "Being blind, I see things differently.""The range of disabilities, of lived experience, needs to be reflected in the journey — at the table, making the decisions, leading the work." - Rabia KhedrRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/rabia-khedr/
Author: Rabia Khedr, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Alyha Bardi
Date created: 2021-05-13
This final installment of the Power of Disability series highlights an unsung hero of the disability movement, Barb Goode. Host Al Etmanski is in conversation with Barb about her work around self-advocacy for people with learning and developmental disabilities. Barb speaks to the importance of plain language and the harm that comes from labelling people. She also recounts organizing efforts around a milestone legal struggle to prevent the forced sterilization of people with disabilities.In this interview, Barb is joined by her friend and colleague, Aaron Johannes. In addition to being connected through involvement with PLAN, they collaborate on consulting projects around disability and inclusion with ImagineACircle."I think words are very powerful. If we use complicated words, you're going to leave people out of conversations." - Barb GoodeRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/barb-goode/
Author: Barb Goode, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Alyha Bardi, Author: Alex Abahmed
Date created: 2021-05-27
Non-visual artist Carmen Papalia speaks with Al Etmanski about the rampancy of ableism across institutions — from the art world to healthcare, to the symbol of the white cane. Carmen and Al discuss how institutions can be sites of retraumatization that can often overlook and underappreciate variations in ability.Carmen also explores some key ideas central to disability justice, provides some suggestions on how to be a good ally, and considers how accessibility is dependent on the social, cultural, and political conditions of a space and the people within it. Carmen speaks about some of his works, including White Cane Amplified, Mobility Device, and Open Access, drawing out his own positions on the topic of disability, and the importance of mutual aid within the disability community."At the heart of disability justice is the idea of mutual aid, which means building a capacity for care that isn't otherwise available." - Carmen PapaliaRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/carmen-papalia/
Author: Carmen Papalia, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos
Date created: 2021-05-06
Non-visual artist Carmen Papalia speaks with Al Etmanski about the rampancy of ableism across institutions — from the art world to healthcare, to the symbol of the white cane. Carmen and Al discuss how institutions can be sites of retraumatization that can often overlook and underappreciate variations in ability.Carmen also explores some key ideas central to disability justice, provides some suggestions on how to be a good ally, and considers how accessibility is dependent on the social, cultural, and political conditions of a space and the people within it. Carmen speaks about some of his works, including White Cane Amplified, Mobility Device, and Open Access, drawing out his own positions on the topic of disability, and the importance of mutual aid within the disability community."At the heart of disability justice is the idea of mutual aid, which means building a capacity for care that isn't otherwise available." - Carmen PapaliaRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/carmen-papalia/
Author: Carmen Papalia, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos
Date created: 2021-05-06
Al Etmanski interviews Victoria Maxwell, the Bipolar Princess. They discuss the role of art and creativity in the process of change, the dramatic increase in antidepressant prescriptions and the fact that depression is the number one source of disability in the world today. They also speak to the need for universal mental health care. Victoria explains why we need to shift from recovery as a possibility to recovery as an expectation. The podcast ends with Victoria providing the answer to her most recent Psychology Today post, "Is there Love after the Psych Ward?""Recovery shouldn't be a possibility. It should be an expectation." – Victoria Maxwell Read the full transcript of this episode: ABOUT THE SERIESThe Power of Disability is a series of Below the Radar. Host Al Etmanski brings us enlightening conversations, featuring guests with disabilities who have been influential in arts, activism, science, and more. This series is a continuation of the work Al has shared in the book, The Power of Disability: 10 Lessons for Surviving, Thriving, and Changing the World, which reveals that people with disabilities are the invisible force that has shaped history.
Author: Victoria Maxwell, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Kathy Feng, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Alyha Bardi
Date created: 2021-04-22
The Power of Disability host, Al Etmanski is joined by partners and disability advocates Tim Louis and Penny Parry. Tim is a lawyer, politician, and longtime leader of the disability movement within British Columbia. Penny has worked as a university professor, artist, and youth care practitioner. Tim and Penny share stories and learnings from 40 plus years of working on social issues in their own careers and together as a couple.Tim delves into his experiences working as a lawyer under his mentor, Harry Rankin. He discusses issues with processes that keep supports and monetary assistance behind bureaucratic walls, and problematizes assumptions that disabled folks are fragile, vulnerable, or unresilient.Penny considers her experience with mentorship, reflects on her teaching and work with youth and families, and shares how she sees her art practice as a means of moving people towards understanding, questioning, and social change.Read the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/tim-louis-penny-parry/
Author: Tim Louis, Author: Penny Parry, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Alyha Bardi
Date created: 2021-05-20
Lifelong activist and wheelchair user Judy Heumann joins Al Etmanski for this instalment of The Power of Disability. Judy is a powerful advocate in the disability movement both in the US and globally. She and Al talk about her long history of fighting for the rights of disabled people, a part of which is featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. Judy shares stories about significant organizing moments and camaraderie in liberation movements, speaking to the importance for the voices of disabled people to come forward. They also discuss Judy's appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, creating a thriving disability culture, and the changing nature of allyship."It's important to work collaboratively with people, to try to have big dreams, to recognize they may not happen overnight, and to be able to change." - Judy HeumannRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/judy-heumann/ABOUT THE SERIESThe Power of Disability is a series of Below the Radar. Host Al Etmanski brings us enlightening conversations, featuring guests with disabilities who have been influential in arts, activism, science, and more. This series is a continuation of the work Al has shared in the book, The Power of Disability: 10 Lessons for Surviving, Thriving, and Changing the World, which reveals that people with disabilities are the invisible force that has shaped history.
Author: Judy Heumann, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos
Date created: 2021-04-29
Al Etmanski interviews Victoria Maxwell, the Bipolar Princess. They discuss the role of art and creativity in the process of change, the dramatic increase in antidepressant prescriptions and the fact that depression is the number one source of disability in the world today. They also speak to the need for universal mental health care. Victoria explains why we need to shift from recovery as a possibility to recovery as an expectation. The podcast ends with Victoria providing the answer to her most recent Psychology Today post, "Is there Love after the Psych Ward?""Recovery shouldn't be a possibility. It should be an expectation." – Victoria Maxwell Read the full transcript of this episode: ABOUT THE SERIESThe Power of Disability is a series of Below the Radar. Host Al Etmanski brings us enlightening conversations, featuring guests with disabilities who have been influential in arts, activism, science, and more. This series is a continuation of the work Al has shared in the book, The Power of Disability: 10 Lessons for Surviving, Thriving, and Changing the World, which reveals that people with disabilities are the invisible force that has shaped history.
Author: Victoria Maxwell, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Kathy Feng, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Alyha Bardi
Date created: 2021-04-22
This final installment of the Power of Disability series highlights an unsung hero of the disability movement, Barb Goode. Host Al Etmanski is in conversation with Barb about her work around self-advocacy for people with learning and developmental disabilities. Barb speaks to the importance of plain language and the harm that comes from labelling people. She also recounts organizing efforts around a milestone legal struggle to prevent the forced sterilization of people with disabilities.In this interview, Barb is joined by her friend and colleague, Aaron Johannes. In addition to being connected through involvement with PLAN, they collaborate on consulting projects around disability and inclusion with ImagineACircle."I think words are very powerful. If we use complicated words, you're going to leave people out of conversations." - Barb GoodeRead the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/barb-goode/
Author: Barb Goode, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Alyha Bardi, Author: Alex Abahmed
Date created: 2021-05-27
The Power of Disability host, Al Etmanski is joined by partners and disability advocates Tim Louis and Penny Parry. Tim is a lawyer, politician, and longtime leader of the disability movement within British Columbia. Penny has worked as a university professor, artist, and youth care practitioner. Tim and Penny share stories and learnings from 40 plus years of working on social issues in their own careers and together as a couple.Tim delves into his experiences working as a lawyer under his mentor, Harry Rankin. He discusses issues with processes that keep supports and monetary assistance behind bureaucratic walls, and problematizes assumptions that disabled folks are fragile, vulnerable, or unresilient.Penny considers her experience with mentorship, reflects on her teaching and work with youth and families, and shares how she sees her art practice as a means of moving people towards understanding, questioning, and social change.Read the full transcript of this episode: https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/community-engagement/Below-the-Radar/transcripts/tim-louis-penny-parry/
Author: Tim Louis, Author: Penny Parry, Author: Al Etmanski, Author: Johal, Am, Author: Melissa Roach, Author: Paige Smith, Author: Fiorella Pinillos, Author: Alyha Bardi
Date created: 2021-05-20