People with disabilities will not be erased.

Recently, many people have asked me if it’s been harder to talk about DEI under the current political climate.

My answer? No.

You can't erase me. You can't erase my community. You can't erase our disabilities. We're not going anywhere.

And simultaneously, it feels like those who discriminate against the disabled community and other marginalized groups aren't going anywhere either. There have always been bigots and ignorant people who try to belittle and take advantage of those with marginalized identities.

But don't let the news fool you... most people in this world have GOOD INTENTIONS! They care about marginalized people- they want all people to live balanced, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

And yet, good intentions don't always lead to helpful or supportive actions. Sometimes, people feel like they are doing the right thing, and yet, their actions are harmful and hurtful. This can cause immense anger, frustration, and feelings of disbelief.

How can people who believe they are doing good in the world be causing so much harm to people like me with marginalized identities?

It’s easy to let anger lead the charge. But for me, advocacy is about balancing frustration with purpose. Here’s how I navigate feelings of anger while still creating impact:

Step 1: Validate Your Feelings – Anger is natural. It means you care. Give yourself space to feel it without guilt and self-judgment.

Step 2: Assess the Landscape – What’s actually happening? What narratives are being pushed? What narratives are being suppressed?

Step 3: Align with Your Values – Are the narratives being pushed aligning with your values? More importantly, are the ways that people are combatting and protesting these agendas aligning with your values? Take stock of what feels authentic to you and your lived experience.

Step 4: Choose Your Action – How can you turn frustration into meaningful steps? Who can you support? What conversations can you start? Invest in what feels productive.

Step 5: Check Back In – When the hype and media attention dies down, that's a great time for you to circle back and see how the action steps you chose to align with are progressing. Keep the pylon moving!

Anger is fuel. Channel your anger into a focused energy of purpose to power real change.

Advocacy isn’t just for when it’s easy—it’s for when it’s hard. If you feel frustrated, exhausted, or unseen, I see you. We are in this together. We aren't going anywhere, and we will not back down.

Love is always stronger than hate.

We will get through this, and I'm always here to support you.

Sending love,

Charlie