Episode 5.9: Is Disability a Part of Me or All of Me? A Conversation With Anna Schmid

Season 5

May 19

What You’ll Learn

Disability can shape identity differently at each stage of life
Childhood and elementary school experiences can influence early self-image and awareness of difference
High school can bring unique challenges related to bullying, confidence, classes, and social belonging
University can create new opportunities and challenges around independence, academics, friendships, and accommodations
Disability can influence career paths, goals, and the way we think about occupation
Romantic relationships can be deeply affected by disability, including confidence, vulnerability, and how we see ourselves as partners
Asking whether we would be the same without our disabilities is complicated because disability can shape our memories, choices, relationships, and personality
There may not be one clear answer, but reflecting on different life periods can help us better understand how we became who we are

Topics We Cover

Whether we would be the same people today if we did not have our disabilities
How disability shaped different periods of life, including childhood, elementary school, high school, university, work, and romance
Early memories of disability and beginning to understand difference during childhood
Experiences in elementary school, including friendships, school life, and early self-awareness
High school experiences, including classes, bullying, confidence, social life, and belonging
How disability affected university life both in class and outside of class
Navigating accommodations, independence, friendships, and campus experiences
Tangents on occupation, career paths, and how disability influenced work-related decisions
Reflections on dating, relationships, vulnerability, and romantic life
The complexity of imagining who we might have been without disability

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