Cass Stewart

things were better when the computer lived in its own specific room and you only went in there sometimes

I stand against ICE. I want peace. If resisting fascism isn’t peaceful, it is the fault of the fascists, not those who oppose them.

I wish I could disconnect my hips from my body and give them a good shake

There is nothing more frustrating than admitting to your own exhaustion but unable to fall asleep to make the most of the evening.

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope

eight leatherbound books all titled "FERNS" volumes 1 through 8

Everyone in the past was neurotypical, which is how we got things like this single-author, eight-volume encyclopedia of ferns

The image is an informational poster featuring a panelist named Aubrey Sparks. It has a dark teal background with subtle, small dot patterns and several light blue accent lines in the upper right corner. The main text is in a bold, large sans-serif font with varying sizes for emphasis. It introduces Aubrey Sparks as a panelist, noting her role as the ACLU West Virginia Legal Director with pronouns listed as She/Her. There is a small color photograph of the panelist on the left side, depicting a person with long dark hair, wearing a red top and smiling at the camera in front of a brick wall. Next to the image is a block of text that reads: Aubrey will join the town hall as a panelist to update us on the Texas v. Kennedy case and the concerns that still remain. She will also speak to the intersectional impacts, especially how this case could affect trans rights and broader civil rights protections.

The image features a promotional poster for a panelist named Seth DiStefano. The background is a dark blue with light blue and white dotted patterns. At the top, large white and teal letters display the words "Panelist Seth DiStefano." Below, white text indicates his position as the Senior Policy Outreach Director at the WV Center on Budget and Policy, along with his pronouns "He/Him" in teal. The left side of the image includes a photograph of Seth, who is wearing a dark suit and glasses, with a neutral expression. To the right of the photo, white text reads: Seth will join the town hall as a panelist to help us unpack the current and potential impacts of dismantling the Department of Education. He'll focus on how these changes could directly affect disabled students in West Virginia.

5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall
8:30 - 9:30 PM EST

We are just two days away! 🤩

Have you registered? If not, here's that link: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Check out our awesome panelists who will be joining us on Sunday!

#DisabilityJustice #DISrupt

Flyer for a virtual town hall titled "5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall" hosted by DISrupt West Virginia and MomsRising. Event is on Sunday, May 4th, 2025, starting at 8:30 PM EST. Two people are smiling and holding protest signs supporting disability rights. A QR code is included to join the movement.

Join us for 5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall on Sunday, May 4th at 8:30 PM EST as we come together to fight for disability rights and defend Section 504.

#DisabilityJustice #Section504

Slide labeled 8/11 with a hand-drawn arrow pointing to the right on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “Quotes from this weekend.”

Slide labeled 9/11 on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “The hardest part is being the executive director of my person, navigating narcolepsy, ADHD, OCD, and the invisible energy cost of just trying to function. Now, I’m trying to be more present, more gentle with myself.” – Cass Stewart WV Sleep Society 2025 Conference. The bottom left is a picture of Cass smiling, wearing round glasses and a green sweater, with curly brown hair.

Slide labeled 10/11 on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “That’s why I say I’m a second-generation person with narcolepsy. I was fortunate to have been diagnosed so early, unlike my mom, whose story mirrors many others living with narcolepsy worldwide.” – Cass Stewart WV Sleep Society 2025 Conference. The bottom left is a picture of Cass and her mom. Her mom on the left has shoulder-length dark hair and is wearing a navy blue shirt with a vibrant floral pattern in orange, white, and teal. Cass on the right has medium-length dark brown hair, wears glasses with rounded frames, and has a nose piercing. She is dressed in a light blue shirt with subtle horizontal stripes.

Slide labeled 11/11 on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: "My story represents what the future could look like: an early diagnosis, where a child with narcolepsy enters a classroom with a 504 plan and receives classroom support that matches the support at home." – Cass Stewart WV Sleep Society 2025 Conference. The bottom left is a photo of Cass as a child, wearing a blue and white checkered dress over a white t-shirt. She is looking at the camera with a mouthful of cake.

#NarcolepsyNotAlone

Slide labeled 6/11 with an illustration of two simple figures giving a high five on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “While preparing for the conference, that old feeling of desperation returned. A lawsuit threatened Section 504, the very law I’ve relied on my whole life. So, I got to work. I looked for ways to join the fight online and found some new friends. Together, we started a 501(c)(4) disability justice org called DISrupt. I serve as the National Digital Community Organizer and the WV DISrupt Cohort Leader.”

Slide labeled 7/11 with an illustration of two simple figures giving a high five on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “Experiences are just that, and I have gone through a lot of rediscovery in the past few years. But this moment isn’t just about speaking. It’s about reclaiming my story, honoring the past, and continuing the work. So grateful to @project_sleep and @remrunner for reminding that each of us is just one person, but every story matters. And how sharing our story helps us remember that we are not alone.”

And if you missed it, some amazing friends and I started a new #DisabilityJustice coalition: @disruptcoalition.bsky.social. We’re building a movement rooted in true community, one that sees and celebrates everyone at the intersections, especially those too often pushed to the margins.

Slide labeled 5/11 with a hand-drawn exclamation mark on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “Today, I shared my story at the WV Sleep Society Conference. This was my first Rising Voices speaking event, which felt special presenting in my home state of WV. In preparation, I’ve updated and reflected on my story since this past December.” It also includes a picture of her and her neurologist, Dr. Clawges. Cass on the left has shoulder-length dark hair and is wearing a light blue shirt. Dr.Clawges on the right has long, curly gray hair and is wearing a dark gray shirt.

Slide labeled 6/11 with an illustration of two simple figures giving a high five on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “While preparing for the conference, that old feeling of desperation returned. A lawsuit threatened Section 504, the very law I’ve relied on my whole life. So, I got to work. I looked for ways to join the fight online and found some new friends. Together, we started a 501(c)(4) disability justice org called DISrupt. I serve as the National Digital Community Organizer and the WV DISrupt Cohort Leader.”

In preparation to present as a Rising Voices Speaker at the WV Sleep Society Conference, I realize: I’m not that scared kid anymore. I’m someone who speaks, shares, builds, and fights, not just for myself, but for others too.

#Narcolepsy #RisingVoices #ProjectSleep

Slide labeled 1/11 with an accent graphic to add emphasis. The text reads: “How being a Rising Voices Speaker with Project Sleep helped me find my voice again, at a time I needed it most.” The text for the entire carousel is a mix of white and teal on a blue-green gradient background.

Slide labeled 2/11 with hand-drawn stars and arrows on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “In 5th grade, I gave my first presentation on narcolepsy. I was terrified to go to middle school. I was used to one classroom and one teacher who knew me well.” To the right is a photo of Cass from 2009. She is smiling and has long curly hair, wearing a purple graphic t-shirt, white undershirt, jeans, and gray sneakers, sitting cross-legged on a white floor against a white backdrop.

Slide labeled 3/11 with a lightbulb icon and a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: "My first act of advocacy was born out of desperation, fear, and hope. I worked with my parents and teachers to create a presentation about narcolepsy, which I gave to my peers. I wanted them to look out for me. Mostly, I didn’t want to feel so alone in a new system." To the right is a photo of Cass from 2009. She is smiling and has long curly hair, wearing a purple graphic t-shirt, white undershirt, jeans, and gray sneakers, sitting cross-legged on a white floor against a white backdrop.

In 5th grade, I gave my first presentation on narcolepsy out of fear and desperation in an attempt to be understood by my current classmates and future teachers.

#SleepSky #Narcolepsy #Disability #Advocacy

Dark blue background with the text "Affirmations for the Disability Community," a blue heart, and an arrow.

You are not broken. You are not a burden. You are powerful.

#DisabilityJustice #AffirmDisabledLives #RestIsResistance #DISruptWV #DISrupt #SoftAndRadical #DisabilityPride

It is concerning to me, the levels of clarity and uncertainty I feel simultaneously. I am overstimulated by my own ability to see life in fragments of where I draw hope, seek safety, and crumble in despair.

Disability Advocates Alarmed by HHS Removal of Gender Dysphoria Protections The move reduces protections for transgender people who face discrimination in health care, education and housing.

Removing gender dysphoria from Section 504 significantly reduces protections for transgender people who face discrimination in health care, education, and housing. “This opens up those with gender dysphoria to discrimination in [...] pretty much all aspects of life, without legal recourse.”

Protect Section 504 This is a Caard of resources for individuals and groups wanting to know how to help protect Section 504.

🆘 Protect #Section504 🆘

Texas v. Becerra is a court case in Texas. A group of 17 states have sued the United States government. The states are asking the court to get rid of Section 504.

Section 504 is an important law that protects people with disabilities.

#disability #humanrights

If you’ve already started calling it the Gulf of America instead of the Gulf of Mexico, you should have no trouble with someone’s preferred name and pronouns.

If you have a child with a 504 plan or IEP please watch.

If you don’t…watch anyway because if you’re reading this, you know someone who does.

Please call your representatives and tell them to stop this nonsense!

Children need advocates to protect them. Please be one.

Part 1

Some context about the 17 states suing in full-throated support of disability discrimination

THE 17 STATES SUING TO ELIMINATE SECTION 504 West Virginia Alabama Alaska Arkansas Florida Georgia Indiana lowa Kansas Louisiana Missouri Montana Nebraska South Carolina South Dakota Texas Utah

Why is Section 504 important? Section 504 covers all parts of society that get money from the United States government. Section 504 and its rules are very important, especially in education and healthcare. Here are some ways that Section 504 and its rules help us. The rules in Section 504 say that: • Schools must include students with disabilities and help them learn. • Doctors and schools must have sign language interpreters for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing who sign. Videos must have captions. • Doctors must give clear information to disabled people. This includes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. • Websites for schools and hospitals must work for people who are blind and low vision. • Doctors and hospitals cannot stop helping someone because they have a disability. • Doctors and hospitals must have tools and machines that work for wheelchair users. This includes machines that check for cancer.

🚨Critical Thread 🚨 1/2

17 states are suing to eliminate Section 504—a law that protects disabled people from discrimination. Without it, schools, hospitals & public services could deny access & accommodations. This is a direct attack on inclusion & equal rights. Our kids’ futures are at stake.
Cont

Probably good to remember that Section 504 was only enforced after disabled individuals took over a federal building for a almost a month.

Kendrick brought America together the way that "Country Roads" ad was supposed to.

All these healthcare commercials. I want analysis of the impact of NIH cuts on each brand.

this is a weird year for business and communication majors to have analyzing super bowl commercials for homework

Get a library card. Go to the library. Take out books. Read the books. Download the Libby app, borrow ebooks and audiobooks. Lots of them. Put them on hold. Click the “notify me” tag for books not in inventory so the library knows you want them.

And when the shit goes down, we meet at the library!

My university’s DEI department has an event tonight on stalking awareness. Given the histories of the men in charge of our country, their motives continue to speak for themselves.

A document from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) dated January 28, 2025, addresses the DIA workforce. The subject is titled "Pause on Special Emphasis Programs and Related Activities and Events." It states that the agency is pausing activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, special emphasis programs, and observances, citing an executive order titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing." The memo lists various cultural and historical observances (e.g., Black History Month, Pride Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month) that are paused, although federal holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth remain unaffected. Agency resource groups and networking activities are also paused until further notice.

Pay attention to their language—erasing our histories, cultures, and identities as 'radical' and 'wasteful' shows they don’t care about us. This isn’t about fairness; it’s about control. They divide us because united, we’re unstoppable. Speak out, organize, and protect our shared humanity.

YouTube video by NBC News 'Hypocrisy': Mullin suggests some senators drink on the job during Hegseth hearing

I don’t think we have paid enough attention to statements made by congress in defending some of these nominations.

Example:

➡️ January 20: FAA director fired
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years

Making America Great Again!