Mlle Defarge ♿
@hearing-girl
She/they, Palestinian-American, disabled and proud, queer and femme AF. Ex-linguist turned public health pro, but all opinions = mine. Knitting at the guillotine.
(and I use CHES data a lot in my various projects, so please expect me to be insufferable about getting people to take it 😅) (btw, did you know it's available in 11 written languages, with an ASL version coming later this summer?) mass.gov/HealthSurvey
Coming to you live from the launch webinar for literally my favorite survey ever: the Massachusetts Community Health Equity Survey (CHES). MA residents, take it now and spread the word to give DPH and their community partners crucial information about your experience! mass.gov/HealthSurvey
A fellow disabled public-health professional (who turned off quotes for super legit reasons) noted that it's bad public health practice not to clearly communicate who is at additional risk of harm in an outbreak or emergency, while also noting that at this point people are rightly wary of... (1/12)
My poodle from the @romancingthevote.com auction is here and she's perfect!! Thank you to the knitter who donated her and the technically billions of people who didn't outbid me! ❤️
sigh. so apparently, we have a new-ish local yarn shop! which is great! it hosts a weekly-ish drop-in craft night! also great! there is a ramp up to the door! definitely also great! the ramp itself? the ramp... is not great. so now I get to decide whether it's worth it to Do A Polite Advocacy. 🙃
Am I raiding my "things so pretty I couldn't resist knitting them even if they're not my style to wear" box and submitting the best of them to @romancingthevote.com ? maaaaybe....
Still need to take some photos in natural light before I hit submit, but if you've ever wanted to snag a piece of my knitting, keep an eye on the @romancingthevote.com auction.... 🧶
These are technically graduation pictures from Friday, but mostly they are knitwear pictures! 🧶
I mean, it will definitely get worse, but it's not good or safe weather to be doing strenuous outdoor activity.
That's a wrap on @bostondykemarch.com 2026. See y'all next year on Solidarity Circle!
An additional risk factor that isn't mentioned in the "vulnerable populations" list: if you take certain medications, you are less likely to be safe at the same levels of heat that you might otherwise be used to! (This includes doxycycline and doxy-PEP!)
Want to know the heat-related risk level in your city or town? Check out the unhealthy heat forecast at www.mass.gov/info-details... (and remember that your level of risk depends on a combination of the temperature *and* factors like your age, disability, occupation, etc.)
Now that we've had our first heat wave of the year here in Massachusetts, it's a good time to review the heat safety tips and preparedness resources at www.mass.gov/extreme-heat
Free clothing swap at @bostondykemarch.com (Boston Common, June 5, 6 pm)!
Cramming for a good grade in rugby (normal to want, possible to achieve etc etc) ahead of @bostonbanshees.us vs Onyx!
Gotta say, when the paratransit authority said they would drop me off at the "closest safe drop-off point that is within 3/4 miles of fixed route transit," I was not expecting their definition of "safe" to involve 2 miles of unprotected wheeling through this.
One time a friend of mine got me to interpret a bookstore reading for her where the author was (former IL gov and corrupt weirdo) Rod Blagojevich, and then she INSISTED I pose for a picture with him. May your pictures with the mayor be at *least* this awkward (for him).
Also, it's worth noting that RFK is not unique in his belief. His data analysis skills suck, but the foundation of his opinion is the same as (e.g.) statements made by the CDC Director under the previous administration. Devaluing disabled lives is a systemic problem, not his weird quirk.
there will come a day when I will not have to argue with nondisabled nonexperts about whether improving disability data collection means there will be "too many" disabled people in our datasets...
POV: you wake up, stumble blearily to the bathroom, and feel... a Presence.