Mary Fashik: Upgrade Accessibility & How Representation Is Vital and Empowering

Mary Fashik is a Lebanese-born, Queer Disability Rights Activist, author, public speaker and workshop facilitator.  In 2019, Mary founded Upgrade Accessibility, a movement designed to challenge today’s accessibility standards.  The movement has grown to include disability rights, intersectionality, disability justice, equity and unequivocally supports Black Lives Matter / Black Disabled Lives Matter.  

In the conversation today, Mary shares the backstory to Upgrade Accessibility and where and why the “Mary Mic Drops” have come from. We hear about why so many disabled people have neglected medical care during the pandemic as well as some personal experiences of Mary’s during the last few years. Mary also tells us about a very exciting upcoming project with Row House and Wheat Penny Press, and why representation is so vital. 

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Mary on Instagram: @upgradeaccessibility  |  @maryfashik  

Shout Out: @catalina_bliss 

Row House Publishing on Instagram: @rowhousepub

Podcast Transcriptions Available: www.rowhousepublishing.com/podcast 

​​Learn more about Row House Publishing and our mission to Raise the Volume on Voices That Matter™: http://rowhousepublishing.com 

Original Book Stoop theme: anonymous

Cover art: Danielle Pioli (https://www.daniellepioli.com)