Becoming an Anti-Ableist Storyteller with Tiffany Yu
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In This Episode
In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Yu, disability rights advocate and author of the groundbreaking new book The Anti-Ableist Manifesto, as she shares her journey from a childhood car accident to becoming a leading voice in disability inclusion.
For storytellers, content creators, and anyone looking to make their work more inclusive, this conversation is an essential guide to understanding how language shapes perception and how we can all contribute to building a more accessible world.
Through candid discussion and practical insights, Tiffany challenges us to move beyond outdated narratives and fear-based approaches to disability storytelling.
Don't miss this timely and transformative conversation that goes beyond mere political correctness to explore the heart of authentic, respectful storytelling. As Tiffany's new book launches, this episode provides a unique opportunity to learn from someone who has not only lived the experience but has dedicated her life to changing the narrative around disability.
About Tiffany Yu
Tiffany Yu is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, a 3x TEDx speaker, and the author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World. At the age of 9, Tiffany became disabled as a result of a car accident that also took the life of her father. As an adult, she started her career at Goldman Sachs before becoming a speaker and writer on disability. She has recently released her book, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto.
Connect with Tiffany Yu
The Anti-Ableist Manifesto Book | Website
Connect with Maria
Speaking & Training | LinkedIn | Email
Transcripts
We have a very special guest today. Tiffany Yu is the CEO and founder of Diversability, a three time TEDx speaker, and the author of The Anti Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability Inclusive World.
At the age of nine, Tiffany became disabled as a result of a car accident that also took the life of her father. As an adult, she began her career at Goldman Sachs before becoming a speaker and writer focused on disability advocacy.
Today, we are celebrating the release of her book The Anti Ableist Manifesto, and talking about how storytellers can advocate with care.
Maria Bryan:
Hello, Tiffany, and welcome to the show. When this episode goes live, your book will also be live. I have it in my hands right now. It is truly a powerhouse. I am learning so much, and it feels like a lifetime of experience and wisdom now in print form.
As much as you feel comfortable, can you share what brought you here?
Tiffany Yu:
I love that description, a lifetime now in print form.
My entrance into this work comes from my own lived experience. When I was nine years old, I was in a car accident. My dad was driving, and he passed away. I acquired several injuries, including breaking bones in one of my legs.
I was a temporary wheelchair user for about four months, permanently paralyzed one of my arms, and later was diagnosed with a non apparent disability, post traumatic stress disorder.
Growing up, I felt isolated and excluded. As I have gotten older and met more disabled people, and now run a community of about 80,000 people in our ecosystem, I no longer feel alone. It has made me realize how unnecessary much of that hardship was.
My hope is that this book and the work I am doing make it easier for people with bodies or minds that are different, and that anyone who touches this work understands that change is possible.
Maria Bryan:
Thank you for sharing that. It is incredible to see how you have built such a massive community and are moving the needle on disability rights in such meaningful ways.
There are a few ideas in your book that I think are especially supportive for nonprofit and social good storytellers. You talk about reframing disability as a health condition rather than a deficit. How can storytellers support this shift through language and narrative?
Tiffany Yu:
One thing I talk about in the book is leaning toward neutral or positive language when discussing disability. That means not erasing disability, but also not framing it negatively.
For example, phrases like paralyzed by fear, analysis paralysis, or blind spots all use disability terms to imply something negative. I encourage storytellers to pause and ask, what am I really trying to say, and what other language could I use instead?
Language is powerful, and we have so many ways to express ourselves.
I will also say that I am learning too. Years ago, I described my paralyzed arm as a funny hand. I no longer use that language because I do not want to give others permission to describe bodies that way. There are many ways to add levity without diminishing ourselves.
Maria Bryan:
One story in your book that really stood out to me was about someone messaging you and telling you how you should talk about your own disability. It felt like such an important reminder about nuance and community leadership.
Tiffany Yu:
That story was about person first language versus identity first language. Person first language, saying a person with a disability, was popularized to assert personhood. But it also assumes that disability somehow makes someone less of a person.
Identity first language, saying disabled person, is something many in the community are reclaiming. I personally use both interchangeably.
When people outside the community insist on one correct approach, it misses the nuance. My guidance is simple. If you are not part of the community, follow the lead of the community.
We have decades of unlearning ahead of us. Language matters, but my hope is that we can also move toward systemic change, not just linguistic debates.
Maria Bryan:
That resonates deeply. It can be easy to get stuck in fear around language and lose momentum for action.
Tiffany Yu:
Exactly. I try to make language guidance approachable, not paralyzing.
The book is structured in three parts, me, we, and us. The first part is about personal learning. The second is about interpersonal action. The third is about systems change. Language is important, but it is only the starting point.
Maria Bryan:
One chapter I really want to touch on before we close is about storytelling and consent. Many of our listeners are responsible for telling painful stories, especially during moments like Disability Awareness Month.
What advice do you have for storytellers who want to be protective, ethical, and trauma informed when sharing disability stories?
Tiffany Yu:
Advocate with us, not for us.
If you are sharing someone else’s story, you need consent, and you need to frame the story the way they want it framed.
We often see charity or tragedy narratives, especially around fundraising, that show disabled people as sad or helpless. That may move audiences emotionally, but I always wonder how that person will feel about it years later.
I encourage storytellers to think about the model of disability they are using. There is the medical model, the charity tragedy model, and the social model. The social model asks what barriers exist in our environment that make disability disabling.
If there is trauma in the story, ask whether inaccessibility or ableism is the root issue that needs to be addressed.
Whenever possible, let people share their stories in their own words, and be clear about what parts of a story are yours to share and what parts are not.
Maria Bryan:
That question of what is and is not ours to share comes up constantly. It is such an important boundary.
Tiffany, I could talk to you forever. Today is also release day for The Anti Ableist Manifesto. I am about a third of the way through and have already had so many moments of learning and reflection.
Where can listeners learn more about you and your work?
Tiffany Yu:
You can visit tiffanyyu.com. There is a book page with links to retailers and my social media. I would love for people to stay connected there.
Maria Bryan:
Thank you so much, Tiffany. Your advocacy is powerful, and I deeply appreciate the work you are doing.
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