Peter Torres Fremlin

Together as a collective force Debrief readers, relevant stories, and more from the mailbag

Do personal stories ignore global inequity? One Disability Debrief reader thought so.

www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/coll...

Thanks Phil!

Do disabled artists have to be activists? Reflecting on 10 years of making disability media

Are disabled artists allowed to tell the stories we want? What's the relationship between art and activism? And can art actually end ableism?

In my new essay, I reflect on 10 years of making disability media. www.bodybabble.com/p/do-disable...

“The parents distance themselves from the harm they inflict by telling themselves it comes from a place of love.”

Illustration of a magical scene of a woman and child sitting across from a table from each other. They are Black, and sit with hands outstretched towards each other but not meeting. On the ground, there are large cracks appearing, broken chains, and a knife. They are framed by growing plants and sparkling stars, and outside of that, by healing beads that are breaking apart.

"I teach my students to be bold warriors against any mistreatment, to find their own place in our culture. But I'm not able to do that in my own case."

www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/root...

Great to hear it resonated with you 🙏🏼 how are you navigating community?

Really loved reading this and the voice you are writing in Naomi. Can't wait for the next instalment and many more.

Dhaka pre-election diary (pt 1, possibly, of 2) January 6-19 2026

I spent the month in pre-election Dhaka, and heard a lot of conspiracy theories

Digital illustration close-up on person making a sign with their hands, one of which holds a nut and is stained in oil. The person, who is black, touches their fingers together, one palm on top of another, forming a triangular shape. Their shirt is also stained.

On the fruits and flaws of disability community: "You can’t pick palm nuts without your hands getting oily".

Alexander Ogheneruemu writes about Deaf community in Nigeria, how it liberated him and others at the same time as its challenges and corruption.

www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/pick...

Thank you Phil!

🥳

Searching for silence Tinnitus 1 - 0 Trinidad and Tobago

"Silence has long been one of my dearest companions. But over the past months it has abandoned me."

Tharā Gabriel evocatively shares her experience of tinnitus the impact on her life, and the search for an assistive technology that might help - or hurt.

www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/sear...

Someone told me that the moat in front of the Castle is in fact caused by a WW2 bomb. I was wondering if there's any truth in that?

ah well caught 😇 will mention it in today's newsletter

hey :) your DMs are closed?

yeah it looks like a space that ppl are discussing writing and finding new things

i was thinking of using it to do a "here's this exciting topic and btw read more at this link" as i do on linkedin

there is a pushy side to substack but i guess existing users are used to that

amazing 😍

yes i moved my newsletter off it some years ago, but i was thinking of reestablishing a presence there & treat it as social media, namely a way to help w discovery and discussions

hey Dermot, I think I have a similar chair (mine is a sunrise q300m) and i was wondering what snow it could and couldn't do! i guess this video shows the piles up are the limit?

I saw John, and great to see how you took the work forward. Looking forward to our next one!

A difficult topic but thankful to the team @truthout.org and to my dear friend and collaborator @mariannedhe.bsky.social for suggesting me as a possible person to write this.

Thanks so much Phil! All best to you and yours for the new year

would happily know more - but that link doesn't show me the text?

thanks for all the work that goes into this

Onwards into the unknown Setbacks and soulmates: a disabled look back on 2025

In 2025 I took my first flight in over four years, started using a machine to help me breathe at night, and fell in love.

As for the wider world? This year was the most significant setback to global disability rights in my lifetime.

www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/onwa...

nice one Sam, congrats!

Netanyahu takes a leaf from Hafez Assad’s playbook A new form of militarization of Israeli politics and society is reminiscent of how dictator Hafez al-Assad built authoritarian rule in Syria

I've started my own Substack! Brief weekly comments on Middle East political & conflict trends.

My first post argues that a new form of militarization is driving authoritarian transformation in Israel:

Netanyahu takes a leaf from Hafez Assad’s playbook
open.substack.com/pub/sayighye...

in the uk we had to do age verification to get on DM

For a perspective that gives an important counterweight to some mainstream disability influencers see @racheldl.bsky.social

For example in her comments here www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/forg...

I've enjoyed reflecting on it since then, really evocative. And perhaps my fave quote this week -

bsky.app/profile/did:...

“Self-advocacy is hard work” Explaining our experiences, “cripping up”, and kids' questions

Part of disability is trying to explain our experiences, whether it be to children, bureaucrats or a new lover.

My favourite quotes on self-advocacy and much more, including @accease.bsky.social @rossshowalter.com @afropersonnage.ch et al

www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/self...