Spread the Word, Being Disabled Is Just Part of the Story
Hi there! I’m Karin Hitselberger, MSSW, but you can call me K. I am an award-winning writer, social worker, content creator, social influencer, public speaker, and consultant on a variety of issues including brand inclusivity, accessibility, size diversity, authentic representation, the power of using fashion and beauty to show the world who you are and how you want to be seen, and effective storytelling narrative creation. I'm based in the East Coast region of the United States but I work with clients across the country and all over the world. I am a natural storyteller and believe in the power of relatable and authentic narratives. I share my stories without shame or apology and help others to do the same because it is stories that have the power to change hearts and minds and propel us to a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
I believe that sharing your story has the ability to change lives and minds.
Welcome to my corner of the Internet! Here, I share my story of navigating the world as a disabled, fat woman. I claim my identities and my experiences instead of hiding from them. I practice radical authenticity, tell my own story, and create my own narrative, instead of letting my existence be defined by the stereotypes, expectations, and misconceptions of others about what it means to show up in the world the way I do.
I believe that people deserve to be seen, understood, and respected for all that they are, and not in spite of any part of their identity or their story. I believe that the way I move through the world as a disabled, and plus-size woman is nothing to be ashamed of or apologize for, and that it is not my body that needs to change to fit into society, but rather society that needs to change to be more welcoming and inclusive to all the varieties of ways people exist.
I believe that fashion and beauty are not shallow and service-level pursuits, but important tools that allow us to express to the world who we truly are and how we want to be seen. I believe authentic representation and radical authenticity have the power to radically change the world around us, and I believe that sharing your truth is a beautiful part of holistic healing and radical self-acceptance.
I believe that accepting your body is not the same as uncritical self-love or toxic positivity that forces people to ignore the complexity of life, but rather a radical act that proclaims constant self-confidence and unwavering satisfaction in with every aspect of your physical being is not a prerequisite for deserving to be treated with respect and dignity, and being able to access all the things the world has to offer exactly as you are.
In this space, and in life in general, I am constantly working towards being a more authentic, honest, and unapologetic version of myself, and creating an environment where others feel empowered to do the same.
Thank you for being here, and taking this journey with me.
[Image description: Photo of Karin sitting outside on a deck in her power chair and smiling at the camera. Karin is a plus sized blonde woman wearing glasses. Karin's dress is in an autumnal floral pattern in pink, brown, gray, and black. Karin is wearing natural makeup on her face.]
Plastic straw bans are the latest policy to forget the disability community
Laws, rules and regulations developed without input from people with disabilities often end up penalizing us.
I was about to enjoy my morning cup of tea at my favorite local coffee shop when I realized they were out of plastic straws. For most people, this would be a minor annoyance or inconvenience, but for me it was a crisis. For me, a disabled person, no straw means no drink — if I try drinking my tea without a straw, I risk choking or burning myself with the hot liquid. Not willing to take the risk, I offered my tea to my friend, knowing I just couldn’t drink it.
The banning of plastic straws continues to gain steam with major companies and cities across the globe. To reduce ocean pollution, Seattle enacted a citywide ban on plastic straws and utensils on July 1. D.C. is considering a similar measure. Starbucks this week joined the push to ban single-use plastic straws, following an announcement by McDonald’s that it would no longer offer plastic straws in its Ireland and Britain locations.
l don’t, and I have never believed that there’s a clear reason everything happens exactly the way it does or that all things are predestined and we are just pawns in an unchangeable fate.
I don’t think that you can live my life and not, on some level, believe that we can make choices that will make a meaningful difference in the world around us and in the outcomes of our actions. I also believe that the idea of fate as some predetermined, random, unchangeable destiny allows people to deny that we all make choices, and at the end of the day, actions have consequences whether we realize it in the moment or not.
People often use fate as a scapegoat to avoid owning up to their responsibilities in their lives.
That said, I do, however, believe that you can learn something from every person and every situation, and those lessons make you a better person who makes better choices and more informed decisions in the future.