The Take Imani Barbarin on disability rights, COVID and the war on Gaza
Dec 18, 2025
Imani Barbarin, a disability advocate and creator of the Crutches and Spice persona, dives deep into the intersection of disability, COVID, and the war on Gaza. She explores the societal lag in understanding disability and critiques how the pandemic exposed systemic ableism. Barbarin elaborates on how COVID became a mass disabling event and connects its implications to global issues, including the genocidal tactics used against disabled individuals in Gaza. Her insights challenge listeners to confront personal ableism and advocate for accessibility and justice.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Reconsider What Counts As Disability
- The legal and social definition of disability is broad and not a fixed checklist, so people should reconsider whether conditions like asthma or migraines count.
- Learn the definition and accept vulnerability instead of forcing yourself to 'power through.'
Medical Vs Social Models
- The medical model treats disability as a personal medical issue, while the social model locates disability in inaccessible environments.
- Effective advocacy blends both models because medical care and societal accessibility are both necessary.
Why Disability Rates Vary Globally
- Global disability prevalence differences may reflect under-identification and hidden disabled populations, not real lower need.
- Systemic oppression and lack of infrastructure can suppress reported disability rates abroad.