jesse_the_k: Ultra modern white fabric interlaced to create strong weave (interdependence)
[personal profile] jesse_the_k

This brief documentary introduced me to a disabled hero I’d never known. Del Rey edited and published the science fiction and fantasy I loved growing up.

Explore the story of a woman with dwarfism who revolutionized the world of science fiction by editing and publishing books from sci-fi writers such as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick. See how science fiction narratives offer a more inclusive and equitable lens through which to redefine disability.

It’s part of RENEGADES, five stories of disabled artists from U.S. public broadcasting’s American Masters series: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/

I appreciate that Lachi, the blind host, includes realistic assessments of the current state of access in SF as well as some aspirational "this is the world that’s open to everyone."

The film is available in three flavors with different access strategies —

  1. as broadcast: with closed captions and closed audio description, runtime 12:52 https://www.pbs.org/video/judy-lynn-del-rey-3q6lsp/
  2. on-screen ASL plus open captions, runtime 12:52 https://www.pbs.org/video/judy-lynn-del-rey-the-galaxy-gal-asl-oc-yfedu4/
  3. larger captions and open audio description, runtime 15:35 https://www.pbs.org/video/judy-lynn-del-rey-the-galaxy-gal-extended-audio-description-oc-rkf6ic/

SF/F scholar Dennis Wilson Wise, who’s interviewed in the documentary, has more to say: https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

jesse_the_k: iPod nestles in hollowed-out print book (Alt format reader)
[personal profile] jesse_the_k

[personal profile] kestrell explains how we can make more books readable.

Bookshare.org provides ebooks to folks who have official status as print-impaired. Unlimited access is free for students and US$50 per year for adults.

Many writers and publishers still don't know about Bookshare, so in my emails I usually include a link to the Bookshare page describing how authors can get their books added to the library
https://www.bookshare.org/cms/partners/authors

Heartening success story: [personal profile] kestrell chatted with his publisher in the Readercon dealer's room and next year Chip Delany's books were on Bookshare

davidgillon: Illo of Oracle in her manual chair in long white dress with short red hair and glasses (wheelchair)
[personal profile] davidgillon


The Disabled People Destroy SF Kickstarter*, to produce a disability themed special issue of Uncanny magazine, is up and running here and well on its way to meeting the initial funding goal (about 80% funded with 29 days to go).

And the first of their personal essays on disability and SF is up here, a good piece on Mental Health/neurodiversity** getting in the way of growing up to be the SF protagonist you dreamed of, that the genre allows you to be, so sitting down and setting to work to change the genre to allow for protagonists with MH/neurodiversity. I'm so glad the first piece talks about MH/neurodiversity and invisible disability, as they're the most invisible/most often cured of SFnal disabilities.
 

* If you aren't familiar with the 'x' People Destroy series, it has already done POC Destroy SF and Queers Destroy SF to significant success. I was initially a little disconcerted it's swapped magazines for the disability issue, from Lightspeed to Uncanny, but the editors of Uncanny have a disabled child and they've assembled a solid team of disabled editors for the special issue, so my worries seem unfounded.

** The author talks about a bipolar diagnosis, but then settles on neurodiversity as their preferred community label. It's a view I have some sympathy with, though it can confuse people about non-MH related neurodiversity.

jesse_the_k: iPod nestles in hollowed-out print book (Alt format reader)
[personal profile] jesse_the_k
Elsa Sjunneson-Henry is the Managing Editor of Fireside Fiction, a literary magazine which publishes a variety of things, lots of which are SF.

Her essay on the task, and the metaphor, of "blind reading," does a great job explaining why the phrase "blind reading" is unhelpful

http://firesidefiction.com/blind-reading

Here's a taste: click to read )

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