You’ll see across my site information about my professional, academic life. You’ll also notice when you meet me that I am disabled. In fact, I’ve been disabled my whole life. But I’ve only been visibly disabled for a few years. So many people will be meeting me in a chair for the first time. What to do?

You might find this page because I handed you a card or dropped a link in a chat window. Please consider this an invitation. I’m still learning about being visibly disabled and I want to be in right relationship with you as a member of my community.

Here are some tips for hours of fun in three topic areas…
1. What to notice/ask about
2. What not to do
3. If we’re friends, jokes that I’m down for

Teo wears a mask, large white earrings, a red cardigan, and green tshirt. Teo's hair is a bright purple and their tattoo is slightly visible on their chest.
Teo sits in their wheelchair with Gracie pup on their lap. Teo is wearing a green linen top and denim jeans. Teo's wheelchair is showing wheelcovers with birds in bright colors painted on them.
A very young toddler Teo sits in front of piano. Teo has large ribbon tying up two tiny children-of-the-corn pigtails and is attempting desperately to form something like a smile.
Teo sits outdoors with pup Gracie behind them. Teo is wearing a stylish outfit of red linen pants, a gold lame tank, and white linen blazer. Teo is styling with bold blue glasses, a teal wood necklace, and large bright pink and black acrylic earrings.
Teo sits on a bridge in Montana with trees behind them. Teo holds Gracie, a rescue pup. Teo smiles wearing clear glasses and a big scarf.
Someone holds an old button photo of a young gymnast Teo. Teo stares awkwardly into the depths of the viewers sole wearing a very Lisa Frank rainbow and tiger striped leotard.
Teo sits outside wearing a grey/green scarf and blue waffle blanket. Teo's hair has faded from a dye job to a blue/green color and is sitting wildly on their head
Teo with hair pulled back and clear glasses on has a small smile on, sitting in front of a brick wall. Teo wears a striped shirt and gray cardigan.

What to notice/ask about…

I have killer style. (see photos above)

  • See that picture of me in my manual chair? Ask me about those amazing wheelchair covers! (want to recommend them to a friend, here’s the company site. they have fab options for kids and adults.)
  • Wonder if I might decorate my motorized chair? Ask! I have plans!!
  • Notice my new haircut/dye/tattoo? Pretty rad. Let’s talk about self expression!
  • Notice my amazing jewelry? I mean, I can’t blame you. I have a library I share with Dé Scipio and we have great taste.
  • Wonder about my on point look for the day? No surprise. Let’s talk style!

I have ideas and experiences well beyond being disabled, but certainly positioned within an experience of being disabled. Ask me about….

  • My professional work and research.
    • Partnerships with children and caregivers.
    • Collaborations with teachers.
    • Recent service work for the community (uni, society).
    • Students who are brilliant and keep me moving in this work.
    • Children’s brilliance.
    • Interaction analysis methods.
    • Justice-oriented work.
    • How I’m currently envisioning radical disruptions of powered hierarchies to empower children, junior scholars, and teachers.
    • My most recent, certainly awesome article.
  • What I’ve been up to in my personal life.
    • My favorite form of rest in recent days.
    • Creative work.
    • How I’m planning to decorate for Halloween next year.
    • Why TNG is still my favorite Trek.
    • The top 3 Dairy Queens (and why) in the continental US.

Want to help me? Advocate for more accessible spaces!
Disability is a socially constructed issue. Yes, I have limitations. But I’m disabled by design.

  • I’m disabled when there is no elevator or ramp (what would you do if buildings had no doors but only 6ft high windows you had to jump into…so many of more of us would suddenly be disabled by social design).
  • I’m disabled when few people wear masks (please check out CDC recommendations, as of summer 2023 most of the US is still under risk levels that require universal masking even though it’s not making the news much anymore).
  • I’m disabled by rigid structures that expect assimilation instead of honoring heterogeneity as a strength of humanity (let’s talk about disrupting hierarchies, developing responsive communities of care).

    I invite you to work in solidarity to affect social change. I’m doing my part, find a way to do yours.

Super desperate to talk about my killer mobility aids? That’s cool, here are respectful ways to do that.

  • Are you thinking about getting a mobility aid? This is a favorite topic of mine. Let’s chat!!
  • My mobility aids all have names. So does my modified vehicle. Ask me about them. If you’re brave, ask me for the history behind my naming of my aids.


What NOT to do (not just for me, really for anyone, but check in with people, disabled folks are not a monolith)….

  • Do not touch my body. This includes my mobility aids. My mobility aids are part of my body. That means you must ASK before touching or moving me. That’s basic consent. Also, mobility aids are super expensive and you really don’t want to shell out the cash to fix them and pay for a temporary rental while my aid is being fixed.

  • Don’t ask ANY questions that require sharing of private medical information. This includes avoiding questions like…
    • What happened?! (not your business)
    • What’s wrong with you? (nothing, i’m awesome)
    • Why are you using a mobility device? (still not your business)
    • Why are you using a different mobility device today compared to yesterday? (google dynamic disability)

  • Don’t give advice. I promise, you have no idea how much work taking care of a disabled and chronically ill body can be.
    • i like kale. it’s not going to change my disability status.
    • “Have you tried yoga?” actually yes. it’s one of the worst things i could do for my body.
    • “The [insert diet] cured my [human I know].” no, it didn’t. there are some medical diets that can help treat certain problems, but likely they make others things much worse.
    • “Loose weight!” bugger off. (a) it’s impossible (b) that’s a total supremacy move (c) i’m gorgeous in my fat body that has traveled with me to places you can’t imagine.

  • Don’t assume you know how I feel about my mobility aids.
    • “Oh, I’m so sorry!”
      Why? My mobility aids are awesome. I’m a cyborg (I prefer cylon). How rad is that? (again, ask me about my wheelchairs’ names)
    • “How terrible to be wheelchair bound.” We don’t use this term. I’m a wheelchair user. And an ambulatory user at that. I use my mobility aids flexibly and it’s amazing. They are part of my liberation.
    • “But you don’t LOOK disabled.” You’re wrong. Google invisible disabilities.


If we’re friends, jokes that I’m down for.

  • I’m moving too fast in my chair? Yes, you may ask me to slow my roll.
  • Irritated by a “this is more of a comment than a question?” Yes, we can imagine me rolling over their toes.
  • Am I killing it right now? I grant you full permission to say “you are on a roll!“
  • Have suggestions for others?
    Do share.
An icon of a person in a wheelchair holding a balloon. The ballon trails behind as speed indicators show the person rolling quickly.