Kirsten Grady

This weekend’s edition of “filling my cup” included volunteering and watching He’s All That. Equal parts heartwarming and cringe...aka perfect balance. The nostalgia was big for this Xennial, and honestly… sometimes rest looks like laughing at bad remakes (while secretly loving them).

It’s 9:17 pm EDT and if you’re thinking “I didn’t do enough,” please delete that thought like spam. You breathed. You cared. You survived a society allergic to rest. That’s the work. Take your gold star and get cozy.

#GoodEnough #CollectiveCare

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Becoming disabled can shatter everything you thought you knew about yourself. You don’t have to go through this alone. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 anytime. If outside the U.S., visit findahelpline.com for local support. There are people who will hold this with you until it gets lighter.

Because of Judy Heumann, Ed Roberts, Patrisha Wright, Stacey Park Milbern, and all those who risked it...we get to push for access today. This NDEAM, their names matter. Their fights matter. Let’s move through their doors with courage.
#NDEAM #DisabilityJustice #LegacyOfActivism
#SocialWorkRewind

Disability is the only marginalized group you can join at any time. One accident. One illness. One shift in your body. Growing older. That’s not fear... it’s perspective. Inclusion isn’t “for them.” It’s for all of us.
#NDEAM #DisabilityJustice #AccessForAll

Did you know: workers with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed vs non-disabled peers. They face attitudinal, structural, and logistical barriers: lack of access, biases, hidden costs of accommodations. Disability inclusion isn’t charity... it’s equity.
#NDEAM #DisabilityInclusion

Today's email is brought to you by the letter S for sarcasm. My Rep is a GOP sending out more spin at the Dems. I'm pretty sure the point will go over his head but it made me feel better.

Omg! I legit lol'd. They are great. Now off to TT to follow for more.

Because if we don’t laugh at the absurdity, we’ll cry. Or rage. Or both. Your turn: which meme wins the week? #LaughterThroughTears

Alt text: Captain Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation sits in uniform with his face in his hand in exasperation. Overlaid text lists recent GOP quotes — Trump bragging about Project 2025, Cruz defending pedophiles, Johnson admitting Trump is “unwell” — with the punchline: “GOP wishing their leaders would STFU.”

Trump brags about Project 2025 meetings, Cruz says “let’s stop attacking pedophiles,” and Johnson doesn't deny Trump is “unwell.” The GOP? Just one long Picard facepalm.

Alt text: Actor Nicolas Cage stares intensely at the camera. Caption reads: “Now that the government is shut down, I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence.”

Government’s shut down? Perfect time for Nicolas Cage to finally steal the Declaration of Independence.

Alt text: A screenshot of Maury Povich holding a card, overlaid text says: “Trump said he knew nothing about Project 2025. Trump determined that was a lie.” Beside him are screenshots of Trump’s conflicting social media posts denying and admitting involvement.

Trump: “I know nothing about Project 2025.” Maury: That was a lie. (Peak GOP facepalm moment of the week.)

Alt text: Vintage black-and-white photo of Amelia Earhart in a pilot’s seat, holding a handwritten sign that reads: “Nice try. Release the files.”

Amelia Earhart says: “Nice try. Release the files.” Because even she knows government cover stories are paper-thin.

Alt text: Ozzy Osbourne sings into a microphone on stage, overlaid text says: “Generals gathered in their masses, just to listen to two dumbasses,” parodying Black Sabbath lyrics.

Generals gathered in their masses… 🎶 just to listen to two dumbasses. (Sorry Ozzy, you warned us.)

Alt text: Military officers stare forward with flat, skeptical expressions. Caption: “If “Bitch Please” were a photo."

If “Bitch Please” were a photo. (📸: the generals’ collective face when the world's worst vaudeville team performs)

This week in politics has been one long “are you kidding me?” moment. So let’s play a game: 6 memes that capture the shutdown, Project 2025, and GOP chaos better than any pundit. #MemeGame

A tabby cat sits upright at a table beside a large glass of red wine, looking serious. Text above reads: “My cat getting ready to hear about my day since HIPAA confidentiality rules do not apply to him.”

End of week status: survived, thrived, and overshared my caseload with my pets (HIPAA doesn’t apply to them🐾). If you’re reading this, you made it too! Cheers to resting like it’s your full-time job this weekend. 🍷 #SocialWorkLife #CollectiveCare

When governance feels like improv night at a dive bar, it’s not quirky...it’s dangerous. Every “WTF” headline lands hardest on working families, clients, and communities we serve. #WTFFriday #SocialWorkisaPolitical

Federal agencies blasted out-of-office replies blaming “Radical Left Democrats” for the shutdown. Imagine needing help and getting campaign spam instead. Hatch Act? More like Hatch-what?

The administration rebrands cartels as “nonstate armed groups,” paving the way for military escalation. That's the latest attempt to get away with bombing Venezuelian boats. Spin it anyway you like. Fascists gonna fascist.

Trump calls public health, housing, and education “Democrat agencies” and uses the shutdown to slash them. Translation: if you don’t vote for me, you don’t deserve basic services. That’s not budgeting...it’s blackmail.

It’s only October 3rd and the political circus already gave us enough chaos for a whole month. Here are this month's biggest (so far) WTF did I just read? moments. Buckle up. #SocialWorkIsPolitical #WTFFRIDAY

That's so awesome!

These aren’t just gaffes...they’re cracks in the façade. And cracks matter, because that’s where the light gets in. #WTFFriday #SocialWorkIsPolitical

Speaker Mike Johnson got caught on a hot mic not denying that Trump is “unwell” and "I don’t control him." Imagine being second-in-line to the presidency and admitting the emperor’s naked.

Trump said the shutdown is a “perfect opportunity” to push Project 2025. Subtlety? Never heard of her. Even his own strategists are screaming into throw pillows at this one. The quiet part wasn’t supposed to be loud.

For the cringe file: the GOP’s “oops, the mask slipped” moments. These are the ones they’d rather you scroll past. Spoiler: you’re not going to.
#SocialWorkisPolitical #WTFFRIDAY

That's really cool to think about. She was amazing!

Jane was a firm believer in the passion of young individuals, their drive to strive for more than just "okay." Let's honor her legacy by amplifying their voices, providing them with encouragement and opportunities to shine. Legacy is about nurturing growth. #VoicesWorthHearing

A smiling Jane Goodall with long gray hair pulled back, wearing a cream turtleneck and patterned jacket, standing in front of green plants. Text on the image reads: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Below, it says “Jane Goodall (1934–2025).

Jane Goodall passed away on October 1 at 91. She showed us all that every life matters and that what we do makes a difference. Today we honor her by holding more wonder, more compassion, more courage.

#VoicesWorthHearing #JaneGoodall