S01 Episode 9 Pt. 2- Abuse in the Disability Community with Natalie Weaver

04/08/19 • 43 min

Today’s episode is part two of a series all about abuse in the disability community. On today's episode we sat down with Natalie Weaver. Natalie's daughter Sophia has a facial difference and has endured an unspeakable amount of hate online. Natalie has even received death threats. Natalie shares with us how she used to hide at home with Sophia and what happened in her life that turned her into the advocate she is today. Natalie is a powerhouse advocate and does not back down. She stood up to Twitter along with an army behind her and was able to get them to include disability in their abuse reporting tool, in response to the many hateful and violent comments she has gotten when she posts photos of Sophia. She is now standing up to Instagram. Natalie said that the abuse she and Sophia has received on Instagram is 3x what she has received on Facebook and Twitter combined. And she's only been on Instagram less than a year. When she reported a comment that said "drown her," Instagram responded that the comment doesn't violate community guidelines. Will you stand with Natalie? Let's join her in this fight. Follow her on Instagram @nataliecweaver and tag @instagram along with @zuck and @mosseri and ask them to include disabilities in their abuse reporting tool until they can't ignore us any longer. To any parent who's child has experienced abuse, you are not alone. We are here to help encourage you, and to help find your community. Michelle CONNECT WITH OUR SHOW INSTAGRAM | www.instagram.com/advocatelikeamother TWITTER | www.twitter.com/advocatelikeamom EMAIL | [email protected] PATREON | www.patreon.com/advocatelikeamother

Previous Episode

S01 - Episode 8 - Abuse in the Disability Community Pt. 1 with Casey Murphy

Today’s episode is part one of a two part series all about abuse in the disability community. On today's episode I sat down with Kasey Murphy. Kasey's son Owen was in a SD classroom at Berkeley Heights Elementary in Martinsburg, West Virginia. A secret recording caught eight hours of the teacher and two aides verbally abusing and threatening the 4 kids in the class. Here is a sample of just a few of the things the kids endured: Owen, are you gonna jerk off in the chair? Adriana, gonna vomit on me today, unibrow? I’m gonna beat your butt. Elasia, I don’t know if I trust you- you’re a cannibal- you gonna murder me? As soon as she stops crying, I am going to put her hands right back inside these scissors. I ought to backhand you right in your teeth. You’re not getting anything to eat. I’ll punch you in your face. I’m going to pull your hair until you start crying. Don’t throw it, you animal. You wench. You’re like a Pygmy. I’m gonna knock you out. Kasey shared with us the shocking details of how law enforcement and the school district has completely dropped the ball and let these kids down. Justice has not been served, but we are hopeful that this will go to court and criminal charges will come. Please call Berkley County Prosecutor Katherine Delegate: 304-264-1971 and let her know that you think it's disgusting that she found no criminal wrongdoing. Please let her know that she should press criminal charges against the teacher, aides and all other school personnel who knew of the recording and failed to report the abuse. To any parent who's child has experienced abuse, you are not alone. We are here to help encourage you, and to help find your community. Mini Voice Recorder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/EVIDA-Compatible-Dictaphone-Recording-Rechargeable/dp/B07F8RVJJK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=small+recording+device&qid=1552681242&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Follow Owen's Army: https://www.facebook.com/Owens-Army-157936894362881/

Next Episode

S01 Episode 10 - Changing the Face of Beauty with Katie Driscoll

Hey Everyone! Today’s episode is all about representation in advertising. We sat down with Katie Driscoll, founder of Changing The Face of Beauty. Katie has 6 kids - she had 5 boys and then her daughter Grace came along. Grace has a magical extra chromosome and Grace is also the inspiration behind Changing The Face of Beauty. Katie shares with us how she stared this amazing organization from the ground up. Katie continues to advocate for change in advertising because 1 out 5 people has a disability, but that number is not represented in ads/media. Let’s help change that! If you see a company including people of all abilities in their ads, will you let them know you notice and that you appreciate it? If you are a talent agency, please hire people of all abilities so everyone is represented.