Vilissa: A woman who wears many hats
Founder & CEO of Ramp Your Voice! • Disability Rights Consultant, Writer, & Advocate • Life Coach • Motivational Speaker • Aspiring Children's Picture Book Author • LMSW • Macro Social Worker • Entrepreneur • Businesswoman • Writer • Blogger • Disabled Womanist • Proud Woman of Color with a Disability • Self-Advocate • Politically Active • Socially Conscious • Virtual Runner (5K & 10K Races) • A Student of Life • One-Of-A-Kind
Who is Vilissa?
I am the Founder & CEO of Ramp Your Voice!, an organization focused on promoting self-advocacy and strengthening empowerment among people with disabilities. Being a Disability Rights Consultant & Advocate affords me the opportunity to become a prominent leader and expert in addressing and educating the public and political figures about the plight of people with disabilities, especially women of color with disabilities, in America and abroad. I also strive to use my writing as a medium to empower and encourage women of color with disabilities to share their life stories and have a more visible presence in our society.
I am a self-advocate; I have spoken at public hearings to raise awareness about the needs of youth and adults with disabilities, as well as shared my life experiences as a woman of color with a disability.
I am also politically conscious; I am working towards becoming involved in politics so that I can spearhead the creation and implementation of more empowering and effective social policies and practices that will improve the lives of people with disabilities, especially women and those of color.
On a lighter, personal note:
I'm a modern Southern Belle who tells it like it is from her point of view. Some of the thoughts/opinions I express on this blog may be unconventional, but do not mistake me for someone who isn't educated. I do possess a Master's degree, but I don't just rely on my education alone; I use a seemingly forgotten thing called COMMON SENSE in my analyses of the world around me. The ideas I express are not meant to offend anyone, but sometimes the truth can be a hard pill to swallow. :)
I do ask that those who desire to post comments to be respectful; offensive comments will be DELETED. This is your only warning.
Until the writing bug "bites" me again, Roses & Tulips, Vilissa, a fearless advocate & heck-raiser for equality for all.
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(I'm an aspiring children's book author, so I definitely had to grab this free button to show my support in advocating for diversity in children's & young adult books.)
Black History Month 2019: Black, Disabled, & Into Alternative Spiritual Practices
Black History Month 2019: Black, Disabled, & Into Alternative Spiritual Practices
When life shakes us at our core, we long to find something to ground us again.  For me, that grounding has come in the form of expanding my spirituality after the death of my beloved Grandmother on Christmas Eve of 2015.  I have always been spiritual; being raised Baptist by her (though I don’t claim a denomination at this time), but also knowing that there was a desire in finding a deeper…
Planners & Disability: When Two Worlds Collide Effortlessly
Planners & Disability: When Two Worlds Collide Effortlessly
Photo of a few planner supplies: a mini sized discbound planner with a big crystal pen, a sticker of my likeness sipping wine, and a postcard of a bluosh-purple crystal.
My fondness for all things stationery began as a child. Pens, notebooks, journals, stickers, markers – you name it, I loved it. Lisa Frank everything – had to have it. At the height of the gel pens hype, I had all sorts of…
Black background with the following text in white font: “Why Black Disability History Matters During Black History Month”
For the past few years on the blog, I have featured the stories and activism of Black disabled figures who are unsung heroes during Black History Month.  I began doing this because I did not want our experiences as Black disabled people to be overlooked since that has occurred…
White graphic with black text that reads, “#BlackDisabilityHistory Twitter Chat, February 28, 2018, 4 pm Pacific / 7 pm Eastern, Follow @VilissaThompson @Imani_Barbarin @nealcarter and @DisVisibility” On the left is an illustration of the Twitter bird icon in black. On the right is an illustration of a fist raised in defiance in black.
For Black History Month, I am honored to co-host a…
Image of 2 cliffs: cliff on the left has 2017 and cliff on the right has 2018. In the middle of the cliff is an animated person leaping towards the cliff with 2018.
Today is the last day of 2017, and as I reflect, I am amazed at all I have experienced. Â
This was the year where all of my hard work has come to life, with so many collaborations, interviews, and awesome people I have encountered. Â
Tackling Inaccessibility in Seattle & NYC: My Travels on 4 Wheels
Tackling Inaccessibility in Seattle & NYC: My Travels on 4Â Wheels
Nighttime view of the Space Needle in Seattle, WA.
This month has been full of so many phenomenal things. Â September is a special time for me for two reasons: Â my birthday and the start of autumn. Â
For both my birthday and the season changing, I was bi-coastal – I spent the first full week in celebrating year 32 in Seattle and then set off to tackle the Big Apple. Â
The blog has been quiet for awhile, and that is due to all that I have been getting into recently.
First is the new adventure I am on – I am the co-host of the Wheelin’ & Dealin’ podcast, which made its debut on the CSPN network last week.  This podcast is politically-focused, and I am leading it with Neal Carter.  Neal approached me earlier this…
4 Years Going Strong: Â RYV! Anniversary Reflection
4 Years Going Strong:  RYV! Anniversary Reflection
Image description: Top of a chocolate cake with candles lit. Candles are curved and multi-colored.
Today marks the fourth anniversary of Ramp Your Voice! Â The past year has been filled with so many opportunities, connections, partnerships, and articles that has resonated with individuals within and outside of the disabled community. Â
As Ramp Your Voice! matures, I also mature, particularly for…
Why “Claws” Autistic Character Dean Should Be Played By An Autistic Actor
Why “Claws” Autistic Character Dean Should Be Played By An Autistic Actor
Harold Perrineau as Dean. (Turner Press / CLAWS)
A new summer show favorite has been CLAWS, which features the incredible Niecy Nash as Desna, a woman who has big dreams of owning a high-end salon and caring for those she loves.  A surprise in the series is the character Dean, who is autistic and Desna’s brother.  Dean is a complex character, mainly due to the fact that the portrayal is a…
BuzzFeed, Dating In A Wheelchair, & Representation: Â Interview with Lolo
BuzzFeed, Dating In A Wheelchair, & Representation:  Interview with Lolo
Screenshot of the title of the video:  “Thoughts You Have While Dating In A Wheelchair” (BuzzFeed)
Buzzfeed is known for creating videos about diverse life experiences, and it has recently produced one that I can wholeheartedly relate to.  The video is “Thoughts You Have While Dating In A Wheelchair” that features vlogger Lolo.  Lolo’s performance spoke deeply to my spirit.  It was the first time…
Disability, Slavery, & The Call to #PickUpUnderground
Aisha Hinds as Harriet Tubman (WGN America)
Social media was abuzz with shock earlier this week when we learned that the critically acclaimed show Underground was canceled on WGN America after two seasons. Â I was incredibly upset that this dynamic show and its compelling depiction of slavery would no longer be returning for a rightfully earned third season.
Today is the hashtagversary (hashtag anniversary) of #DisabilityTooWhite. Â I cannot believe it has been a year since the hashtag went viral, and how it changed my life and the dialogue in the community. Â
It still astounds me that something I created from an impassioned reaction to an article stirred up so much conversation and controversy.  The hashtag forced me, and others, to discuss the…
#IAmAPreExistingCondition: Medicaid is the Lifeline that Saved Me
#IAmAPreExistingCondition: Medicaid is the Lifeline that Saved Me
I owe my health and ability to live in this disabled body to Medicaid.  It is the social program that is will be under attack if the Senate accumulates enough votes for the American Health Care Act (AHCA).  The AHCA is the replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as Obamacare.  There are provisions within the AHCA that will impact those of us with pre-existing conditions…
Flexin’ My Melanin & Talking About #DisabilityTooWhite at the NABSW Conference
Flexin’ My Melanin & Talking About #DisabilityTooWhite at the NABSW Conference
I took a hiatus this month from blogging to prepare and attend the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) conference in National Harbor, Maryland.  It was the first time I attended the conference, as well as presented about #DisabilityTooWhite to my social work colleagues.  I was ecstatic to attend a conference where I would be surrounded by melanin, and it was the spiritual and…
#BlackDisabledGirlMagic Series: Keah Brown, Entertainment Journalist Using Her Words to Empower
#BlackDisabledGirlMagic Series: Keah Brown, Entertainment Journalist Using Her Words to Empower
 Photo of Keah Brown, a brown skinned young Black woman. Keah is looking directly into the camera and smiling. She has her hair straighten and parted to the side, and wearing a white, red, and denim colored sweater.
One of the reasons I wanted to do this series was to capture the diverse lives of Black disabled women. Very few spaces have given us the opportunity to discuss what it is like to be…
