Covering Disability: My Tompkins Co. beat for Spring 2025

Disability is a broad and complex topic. It presents differently in every individual, making it difficult for reporters to capture accurately. Economic and political policies that impact disabled people's lives are often overlooked in journalism because these experiences are so individualized. Similarly, since specific barriers are not experienced by the majority of the public, these issues remain underreported across the board.

That's why I chose disability as my beat for my multimedia journalism class in the spring of 2025. I'll focus on Tompkins County, starting with employment and the impact of DEI rollbacks, followed by stories on transportation and (hopefully) education.

This topic is personal to me — my mother is disabled, and I've witnessed firsthand how societal barriers, rather than her disability itself, limit her independence. This connection fuels my passion for this beat and my commitment to shedding light on lesser-known challenges disabled people face. I've also extensively researched the intersection of journalism and disability, which I explored in one of my capstone courses last semester.

Throughout a semester reporting this beat, I aim to highlight the challenges, policies, and systemic issues affecting disabled individuals in Tompkins County and explore and advocate for potential solutions. I believe we can only inspire positive change and a more inclusive society by bringing these issues into the public eye.

All my stories will be posted to my website, and updates will be shared on my LinkedIn and social media channels for our student digital news outlet, IthacaWeek. Follow along with me there!

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My Mom, Tara, and I, at a fundraiser for her shortly after she became a quadriplegic.