Lauren Gerken

TXST PhD student and disability policy professional who is #KeepingAustinWobbly with cerebral palsy! This is my personal account with personal views.

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

Just a girl and her baseball Buddy! Happy #leagueoween @LeagueOnPrime #ALOTO  #Halloween #spookyandgay

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

https://t.co/MskqBsE4qp

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

Here's the #inclusive #Halloween2022 for today! If your budget allows, have different treats, not just candy. Not every #TrickorTreater can have candy. Think about adding fun erasers or poppers to the mix. See options in the replies.

#DisabilityTwitter #DisabilityAwareness

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

https://t.co/BbOwkYG4uS

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

Halloween is in 1 week! Time to get spooky! Here's #inclusion tip #3: Pass out treats to #trickortreaters of all ages. First of all, treats and fun don't have age limits. And some folks process with a more youthful lens due to an intellectual #disability.

#DisabilityTwitter

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

#Halloween is in 8 days! Here's tip #2 for being #inclusive! Some trick-or-treaters are #noverbal, and honestly, some are really shy. Don't be upset if they don't *speak* to you, and don't force them to speak to get their treat.

#DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityTwitter

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

#Halloween is 9 days away! The 1st #inclusive tip is to have a clear path to where you are passing out treats. That way #TrickorTreaters with mobility disabilities can get their treats with ease!

#DisabilityTwitter #Disability #DisabilityAwareness

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

#Halloween is only 10 days away!!! Check in every day at 10am CST for a new fun and easy way you can make #TrickorTreating #accessible and #inclusive in your neighborhood!

#DisabilityInclusion #disabilityawareness #spookymonth

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

@Pellmellppl @BetoORourke Do you find the mail-in ballot application and ballot in AZ accessible? Many people who are legally blind have to trust another person to fill out the voting materials because they're only available as hard copies in TX.

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

@DamienM26881175 @BetoORourke It's certainly a non-partisan issue. There are disabled voters on both sides experiencing barriers.

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

@Jen_Hough_Again @8Country8 @BetoORourke Many pwds rely on others for transportation as well. You may be able to travel one day and not the next. Public transportation is poor here, it is not easy for pwd to get to the polls. And there are many reasons people use mail in ballots, liking being out of town.

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

Let's #stopthestigma that people with #disabilities are unintelligent and lazy. Love, A Proud, Hardworkworking, #disabled Phd student #endableism

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

Great guide to #PeopleFirstLanguage and #IdentityFirstLanguage by @TxCDD! Hot #CripTip: Always follow the lead of who you are talking to. They will tell you what they want to be called, and we should always respect their choice. #DisabilityPrideMonth #Identity

[Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities @TxCDD]

People with disabilities are, first and foremost, people. Here is a quick guide to People First and Identity First Language. You can find the full guide on the TCDD website: https://t.co/rC8ZRlG2Zj

#DDAwareness #PeopleFirstLanguage #IdentityFirstLanguage #DisabilityVisibility

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

@ARCarr Message me the details?

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

#Accessibility is so important for voters with #disabilities. Signature curing, assistance, and electronic mail-in-ballot applications help #CripTheVote! Please listen to disabled voters as they share their stories and needs! #voting #txledge https://t.co/dkZdpwP7aH

[Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities @TxCDD]

In honor of DD Awareness Month, we are sharing information on ableism, how it creates discrimination targeting people with disabilities in our communities, and what we can do to stop it.
#DDAwareness2021 #Ableism #DisabilityAdvocacy

[Lauren Gerken @KeepATXWobbly]

Thank you @beverlypowelltx for your passion and commitment, taking the time out of your very busy schedule to chat with me, @TxCDD, about disability voting access!

[Senator Beverly Powell @beverlypowelltx]

Lauren is a bright light that make these long, dark nights worth it. She is the embodiment of persistence, courage, and bravery. Thank you, Lauren, for your story and sharing how bills like SB1 can impact the voting rights of Texans with disabilities.