From Where I Sit

About

From Where I Sit by Kathy Bates offers an informative, honest, and sometimes deeply personal look into the world of disability. The topics Kathy writes about are not just disability issues; they are timely and relevant community issues. It is her hope that this blog will encourage the understanding that disability never discriminates, and it touches us all sooner or later.

Now Featuring "Ask Kathy"

I became a blogger in February 2016 when “From Where I Sit” began. I have researched and written on many disability-related topics, including disability rights, representation, language, pride, identity, and more! I have learned a lot from all of this blogging. But now I want to hear from you, my readers. What’s on your mind?

a caricature of Kathy Bates, a woman with blond hair in a wheel chair answering emails with a light bulb above her head

Ask Kathy

 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) logo
Ask Kathy: A Great IDEA
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides diverse learners with opportunities to grow, while building skills in empathy and acce... Learn More
Disability rights are civil rights
Ask Kathy: 5 People Extremely Important to the Disability Rights Movement
Here is a list of five people that I think have been extremely important to the disability rights movement and my thoughts about underrepresentation. Learn More
2021 Disability pride flag with parallel diagonal stripes in five colors
The ADA and Disability Pride
July is Disability Pride month, which also commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Whether you grew up with a disabilit... Learn More
Diversity and inclusion illustration depicting drawings of people of different gender, race, age and walks of life.
A Seat at the Table
Kathy Bates explores the belief that people who have disabilities should take an active role in the management of organizations with a disability clie... Learn More
A letterboard sign with the words Diversity, Inclusion, Equality
Ask Kathy: Nothing About Us
Could tell me what the phrase “Nothing about us, without us” means, and how it pertains to schools and school policies? Learn More
Kathy Bates (left) is a woman with a short blond bob and Amy Frechette (right) is a woman with short brown hair posing with her fluffy service dog Judah.
Autism on Screen
April was autism awareness month. My friend and colleague Amy Frechette who works at the Institute on Disability has Asperger’s Syndrome. We decided t... Learn More
Tommy, an artist with Cerebral Palsy uses a paintbrush clipped to his baseball cap to paint a water color landscape
Ask Kathy: Making Art Accessible
Could you tell me one way art teachers (in any medium) could continue to make sure their classrooms are inclusive, accessible environments for student... Learn More
Black glasses with rainbows in the lenses surrounded by a rainy day
Ask Kathy: Trauma diagnosis and education
Hi Kathy, Do you think a complex trauma diagnosis should be an eligibility factor for the education of students with disabilities? Why or why not? Learn More
The word "Language" is highlighted in pink in a book
She's Nobody Special
I started the second grade at eight years old in 1969—my first opportunity to attend public school. My parents were strong advocates for me, and in th... Learn More
A pink box with a red heart. Sound or light waves are coming from the heart.
Ask Kathy: Should my daughter go to the Valentine's Day dance?
I am the parent of a 14-year-old daughter, Ginny, who has a mild intellectual disability and wants to attend the local middle school’s Valentine’s Day... Learn More