When disability is understood as dependency, disability is posited in direct contrast to American ideals of independence and autonomy.

Disability is often elusive and changing.

Slavery is made to sound as if it happened in a prehistoric age instead of only a few generations ago.

White supremacy illuminates the exceptional instead of blaming the system.

Witness pairs grief and rage with remembrance. Pride pairs joy with a determination to be visible.

When I was small and just learning how to do life in my body, I didn’t hesitate, didn’t hold back, didn’t worry how it would look, didn’t look for cues or ask for a line. My imagination ruled... I was entirely free to be, driven by the innovation my body inspired.

Shame seems to be a bestselling product pumped out of all these crushing systems.

The following is an excerpt from the Theological Statement that opens the May 2018 Report of the UUMA Ableism Task Force. The members of that Task Force were Rev. Josh Pawelek and Rev. Barbara F. Meyers, co-chairs; Rev. Mark Belletini; Rev. Erika Hewitt; Rev. Evan Keely; and Rev. Theresa I. Soto.

Conflict resolution is in fact one of the greatest things that you can accomplish in your life and in your relationship. [W]hen I view people as not bringing conflict up, I think it’s being unfaithful to the relationship. I think it’s an abdication of your role in the relationship, and you are...