Author Archives: Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

About Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Leah Kelley, M.Ed, Ed.D., Writer, Consultant, Activist, Speaker, and Educator, working with Teacher Candidates at UBC. Authors blog: 30 Days of Autism. Projects support social understanding, Neurodiversity paradigm, Disability Justice, and connecting Disability Studies in Education(DSE)to Educational Practice. Twitter: @leah_kelley Facebook: 30 Days of Autism: Leah Kelley

Let’s talk about language: Is disability a bad word?

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

(CW – for outdated ableist terms in article) In my work as an educator and an activist, I have long wondered why it is so difficult for us to use the word “disability.” The word “special” and the notion of … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, Autism, BCTF, Disability, Discrimination, prejudice, Public Education, Special Education, the R word | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dysregulated: Excavation and Big Feels

Posted on August 15, 2022 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

I am sad and oh so dysregulated. In some ways I don’t feel like I have a good reason – not when I compare what is going on for me with what so many others are currently experiencing in this … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, ADD/ADHD, Disability, Disclosure, executive function, neurodivergent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Untethered and Shiny Things

Posted on July 3, 2022 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

I have been so absent in this space for so long as I have been busy writing my dissertation. So yes I have absolutely been writing – just not here. I am finished that now and working on writing new … Continue reading →

Posted in poetry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holding Space

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

“As adults we must hold space for young people, and nurture their sense of identity and caring for the world, so that there is room and opportunity for all their wild and wonderful imaginings… and so they can make the world their own.
The future is not really ours to be imagined – it belongs to our children…”

https://30daysofautism.blog/2022/06/20/holding-space/ Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, Autism, Autistic, childhood, poetry, relationships, Space and Pace, trust | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Resistance

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Sometimes I barely keep breathing winded gutted witnessing the pain and trauma of friends neighbours fellow humans Sometimes the next breath seems impossible sucked away by horror intensity hopelessness And yet… it comes the next breath in and out The … Continue reading →

Posted in Collective Responsibility, poetry, prejudice, privilege, Rail Against Stigma | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

On the ABLEISM of Participation Marks

Posted on August 20, 2018 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

I was recently involved in an online discussion that has me considering that the common practice or focus on participation is often stacked against people who might participate or engage differently. When I encounter a situation where I am graded … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, acceptance, ADD/ADHD, Disability, Distributed Learning, Educator, privilege, Visual Notes | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Counting… The Day of Mourning and the Disability Clothesline

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

By Emma Van der Klift On March 1st of every year for the last three, a small group of activists – mostly activists with disabilities – have gathered together at Woodland’s Memorial Gardens in New Westminster, BC. The Gardens are … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, Activist, ASAN, Disability Day of Mourning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Toward the River: A Poem of Hope

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Toward the River… Toward the River I saw the bird-tipped tree written strong against the smoke-faded hills and sky Living paintbrushes witnessing entwined as silhouette amidst destruction desolation resting there holding space and promise for tomorrow Leah Kelley February 23, … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, poem, poetry, social justice | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Electronic Resources: Arizona TASH 2018

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Links to information, visuals, and other resources: Hierarchy of Language Prompts When – not if Communication ‘The Tone Hierarchy’ Limit Setting In this House Conference Support Cards Friendship and Relationships: You, yes you, need autistic friends: A guest post by … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona TASH, Autism, Autistic, Neurodiversity, TASH | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fabulous Fringes: A Short Film by Alex Kronstein

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

 I don’t know if you have had the opportunity to check out the work of Alex Kronstein, the ever-wonderful curator, creator, and host of the The NeurodiveCast.   Alex’s podcasts offer an alternative way to access information from a wide range … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Kronstein, Autism, NeurodiveCast, perspective of others, poem, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment