Elena ChambersDisability, Identity, and the Allure of “Normal”Early in life, I developed a habit of escaping my (sometimes) lonely and isolating reality by retreating into an ongoing fantasy of my…7 min read·Feb 28, 2023----
Elena ChambersAbleism is a Cyclical Problem: How Social Prejudice Perpetuates Structural LimitationI looked out the window of the grocery store to see pouring rain. I nervously checked the uber prices, knowing they had undoubtedly gone up…4 min read·Feb 28, 2023----
Elena Chambers“Smart” Is Not The New “Pretty”When I was young, I was the kind of kid who tried a bit of everything. Gymnastics, ballet, soccer, tap dance, pottery, theatre, and choir…5 min read·Sep 17, 2022----
Elena ChambersThe Matilda Problem: Is It Time to Retire the “Genius Kid” Trope?Tonight as I was watching the first episode of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, I began to put words to a particular annoyance that has been…8 min read·Jan 13, 2021----
Elena ChambersDecommodifying Intelligence: How the ACT Score Became the New Thigh GapIt’s only attainable for a small number of people born with specific traits, it’s often directly tied to privilege, and societal pressure…6 min read·Dec 29, 2020----
Elena ChambersHow to Criticize Politicians 101: Now With 100% Less Ableism!Now that most of the country has breathed a collective sigh of relief after successfully voting out a dangerous bigoted asshole with no…6 min read·Nov 14, 2020----
Elena ChambersWheelchair Ramps Are Only The Bare Minimum: Expanding The Conversation About AccessibilityWhen we think about accessibility, we usually think about physical adaptations to buildings and other public spaces to allow people with…4 min read·Oct 23, 2020----
Elena ChambersEmbracing the “And” in Disability AdvocacyWhen neurotypical/able-bodied people do the work of centering and supporting individuals with disabilities (which we love to see!), there…5 min read·Oct 14, 2020----
Elena ChambersWhen Ability Isn’t QuantifiableI’m going to describe a 21-year-old woman with dyscalculia who I know. Because of her disability, she can’t drive, read a map, tell time…4 min read·Jul 23, 2020----
Elena ChambersThe Biggest Sign I MissedWhen I came to terms with the fact that I was struggling with anorexia with the help of family and health professionals, I found myself…9 min read·Jul 3, 2020----