Disability Studies and Eugenics

On March 24 2025, I spoke to another class of students online who are learning to be elementary school teachers. The students asked about IEPs, my (Margot’s) academic challenges and successes and “A Stroke Of Endurance”. One student told me she had a disabled son and we talked about services that help disabled people get their needs met. One student shared she had a nephew with Cerebral Palsy. To my surprise one student asked about how DEI policy affects disabled people and I explained that disability rights began long before DEI was ever a term. One student asked how I felt about the high abortion rate for babies with Down syndrome which I think is ableist, and this led to a discussion of the history of eugenics and racism, and how these things/policies are rooted in ableism. This discussion was the first presentation I have ever given where these harder topics were addressed and I am forever grateful for the honesty of these students. One student asked where the original idea for “A Stroke Of Endurance” came from and I spoke about how it was a true story and how it was my reply to some movies that I felt were ableist stereotypes of disabled people wanting to die rather than live disabled. Super special thanks to the professor and the class for inviting me!

Insights for Educators - A Presentation by Margot Cole video

https://youtu.be/37zAqRdCXTU Join Margot Cole from Crip Video Productions as she shares her invaluable insights on Cerebral Palsy with future educators in Professor Carol Carielli's class on early childhood education and development. This presentation is a must-watch for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of disability advocacy and accessible teaching strategies. Margot, a passionate advocate and storyteller, draws from her own experiences and the mission of Crip Video Productions to create films that increase understanding of disabilities through engaging storytelling depicting disabled people living vibrantly in the film’s narratives. Her talk is informative, providing practical tips for new educators on how to create a fully accessible classroom environment for all students. During this enlightening presentation, other impactful resources are discussed such as videos created by Crip Video Productions producer Dylan Rothbein, including those about the historic capitol crawl in 1990. https://youtu.be/7srPFCa2QU0?si=5N_vVTGlfkZQV1CY These videos offer a glimpse into the pivotal moments of the disability rights movement and serve as a powerful educational resource, along with information about Teatro Paraguas https://www.teatroparaguasnm.org . ‍ What You'll Learn: • Understanding Cerebral Palsy and its impact on learning. • Effective teaching methods for students with disabilities. • The importance of disability advocacy in education. Further Viewing: "A Stroke of Endurance" - A film by Margot Cole “Drama Sighted” A Film by Margot Cole • Dylan Rothbein's videos on the capitol crawl, a significant event that led to the Americans with Disabilities Act For more information on Crip Video Productions and their work, visit their official website http://www.cripvideoproductions.com/. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more content on disability awareness and advocacy. This video is posted with Carol Carrielli’s full permission. This video was recorded by Carol Carielli.