Mat Wilson

It took me over a decade to realize I was disabled, and even longer to publicly identify as such.

Invisible illnesses are tricky, and internalized ableism is a heck of a drug.

There’s also fear of abandonment, judgment, isolation and “not being disabled enough” 🧵

If You Could Speak My Language — Disability Torah Project By Kochav Yehudis “If You Could Speak My Language” | Parashat Balak | 5785

"...the systems are not made for us. We are the ones who most clearly see the world’s brokenness, and so we most clearly hear the call to get creative and make something new."

www.disabilitytorahproject.org/writings/bal...

Mental health conditions are disabilities. They are valid and important parts of the disability experience. We are committed to replacing myths with facts and building greater understanding.

If you live in one of these districts, make the call today

The Big Bloated Bill has passed the Senate, now goes back to the House for approval of changes.

Call your Representative TODAY and tell them, "Hell NO!"
The misery that will come from this bill is incalculable.

The Ambiguity of Promise: An Autistic Interpretation — Disability Torah Project By Harper Hazelmare “The Ambiguity of Promise: An Autistic Interpretation” | Parashat Sh’lach | 5785

"I have access to the inner wilderness and Promised Land... There are times of sensory overload when I cannot feel the seed of compassion, yet that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. This is what faith is all about."

www.disabilitytorah.org/writings/shl...

Solidarity — Disability Torah Project By Noah Strauss “Solidarity” | Parashat Beha'alotcha | 5785

"We all lose when disabled people do not have access to leadership. There is a difference between creating a community inclusive of disabled congregants, and creating a community in which disabled people lead."

www.disabilitytorah.org/writings/beh...

Your monthly reminder:

Keep writing. When no one cares, persist. When things appear to be crumbling, keep at it. When it's difficult, push through. When you feel alone, listen to the stories in your blood. Just write.

What can we do? We do what we can. — Disability Torah Project By puck glass “What can we do? We do what we can.” | Parashat Bamidbar | 5785

People with disabilities of all kinds were in the Torah. People with hearing loss and chronic pain and neurodivergence and limb differences. How many of them were counted because they could ... carry arms? No way to know. But they were there. They had to be.

www.disabilitytorah.org/writings/bam...

I don’t know who is ready to hear this but people don’t have to add value

Like people should also be allowed to exist for free

Rest Is a Holy Covenant, Not a Privilege — Disability Torah Project By Mati Boulakia-Bortnick “Rest Is a Holy Covenant, Not a Privilege” | Parashat Behar-Behukotai | 5785

Rest is a holy covenant, not a privilege

My daughter’s speech therapist went out of business because Medicaid reimbursement rates were too low. We do not have Medicaid. I’m going to keep posting this until people understand that when Medicaid gets cut *everyone* loses services.

Ruin a movie by replacing one word with the name of a city.

Divine Secrets Of The Yavne Sisterhood

A Torah I Cannot Carry: Disability, Holiness, and the Divine — Disability Torah Project By Mat Wilson “A Torah I Cannot Carry: Disability, Holiness, and the Divine” | Parashat Shmini | 5785

“Disabled people often encounter narratives, sometimes from within ourselves, that frame our need for support as weakness or failure. But Leviticus offers a different model: holiness emerges through structured interdependence.”

www.disabilitytorah.org/writings/shm...

You all desperately need to consider the possibility that it’s ok and good actually for disabled people to exist and our existence doesn’t make our lives less real or worthy or human. We’re not a drain on society. We’re not a burden. We’re literally just people.

The entire RFK Jr quote is terrible, but look what he led with.

“These are kids who will never pay taxes. Never hold a job”.

That’s where his priorities lie. Ensuring people can be good capitalist soldiers. If you can’t work, you’re useless.

We are more than our economic contributions. Much more

Keshet-HFLS “Move to Thrive” Interest-Free Loan Program - Keshet Keshet and the Hebrew Free Loan Society are partnering to offer interest-free loans of up to $10,000 for individuals and families to support relocation

An interest-free loan program for LGBTQ+ people who need to move in search of safety. You do not need to be Jewish to qualify. www.keshetonline.org/movetothrive/

Stay connected! Subscribe to the Disability Torah Project newsletter and get powerful new Torah insights from disabled writers delivered to your inbox each week.

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As someone who measures size in olives, this makes total sense to me

AP: A person with measles in West Texas dies-- more than 120 people have measles now. @HipHopPrez, Walter Kimbrough: There are more cases of measles than NCAA trans athletes, you'd never know from listening to lawmakers.

Nothing to add here, @hiphopprez.bsky.social.

Gentle reminder that many disabled people can’t always shop local, especially if housebound. We’re dependent on delivery & sometimes left with big chains as only option.

If you can, help someone get what they need from a great local minority owned business!

Community will save us in the end.

When it comes to boycotting, just a thought. It’s okay if you can’t quit a company cold turkey. In Master Gardeners, when we encourage people to switch to native plants, the goal is 70% native, not 100%. If you were shopping at a store 80% of the time and cut it back to 60%, that 20% still hurts.

Pay workers what they deserve (hint: it’s a living wage. every worker deserves a living wage, because no one deserves to live in poverty)

Google is tripe kosher All Images Videos Shopping Forums News Al Overview Learn more : Whether tripe is kosher depends on the religion of the cow. Kosher meat can be ordered online, including kosher beef tripe. ~ Generative Al is experimental.

I don’t know if Google can top this, their finest work to date

I love this framing.

We have had highly effective vaccines against measles since 1963. That is 62 years!
Allowing a measles outbreak to spread unchecked as though this is a new and unknown infection is a choice.
A cruel and morally bankrupt choice that harms innocent children.
#Measles #Texas

Having a disability or chronic pain is not only about limitations when you can't do something. It's also about the price you are paying for doing something.