http://www.victoriakillian.com/

Victoria Killian, Los Angeles, CA (2025)

07/31/2025

As Disability Pride Month comes to a close, our visibility shouldn't.
We are disabled 365 days a year.

💪This month may end, but we are still here, still proud, and still fighting for access, equity, and justice.
✨ To every disabled person who showed up in survival mode, in strength, or in survival mode you are seen.

Accessible Image Descriptions (Alt Text):

Slide 1: Text reads: “Disability Pride Month is ending, but we are still here!” Below are three illustrated figures: one with a prosthetic arm waving, one using crutches with an arm raised in celebration, and one in a wheelchair holding a heart in the colors of the Disability Pride flag.

Slide 2: “We are disabled 365 days a year. Disability Pride isn’t just a trendy month. It is our identity and part of our power.” Below the text is a calendar icon showing the number 365.

Slide 3: Text reads: “We are still fighting ableism in” with two Disability Pride flags on either side. The categories listed are: Healthcare (with a medical cross icon), Employment (briefcase and hand icon), Education (apple and book icon), and Daily Life (calendar labeled "Everyday").

Slide 4: Text reads: “We deserve access and inclusion. Pride doesn’t go away in August, but often the attention does.” Illustration below shows a woman holding hands with a man in a wheelchair, both smiling.

Slide 5: “After this Disability Pride Month, you can still:” followed by a bulleted list:
Hire disabled professionals, Share disabled voices, Learn about access, Advocate for systemic change
An illustration below shows three professionals: one in a wheelchair presenting a chart, one clapping, and one sitting and listening.

Slide 6: “To every disabled person who showed up this month in joy, in exhaustion, in survival mode, I see you. That alone is advocacy.” A heart in the Disability Pride flag colors is centered in the bottom half.

Slide 7: “Thank you for this year’s Disability Pride Month!” Below the text is a horizontal Disability Pride flag with diagonal red, gold, white, green, and blue stripes on a black field.

07/23/2025

Allyship is about accountability.

The more we talk about disability allyship, the more we have to dig deeper. It’s not enough to call yourself an ally, you have to show up with your words, your actions, and your influence.

Whether you’re advocating for policy change or just learning to respect your disabled friend’s boundaries, this post gives you four more ways to grow into a better ally.

Save this post to revisit and let me know what you’re working on.

Accessibility Description (Alt Text)
Slide 1: “Even 4 More Ways to Practice Disability Allyship.” Subtext: “Stop assuming we want to be ‘fixed.’” Right-facing arrow on the lower right.

Slide 2: “1. Respect pacing, fatigue, and boundaries.” Smaller text: “Flaking isn’t always a choice. Don’t take it personally.”

Slide 3: “2. Advocate for systemic change. Kindness is great but policy, access, and equity matter more.”

Slide 4: “3. Teach other abled people. Use your voice to disrupt ableism in your own circles.”

Slide 5: “4.Disability allyship is not a label. It’s a verb.”

Slide 6: Dark navy blue background with an Instagram-style white text box. Text inside says: “Was this helpful? How can you become a better disability ally? Comment below.” Bottom of slide reads: “www.victoriakillian.com”

Design uses clear hierarchy, high contrast, and easy-to-read fonts for visual accessibility

07/16/2025

Allyship doesn't stop at intentions. It shows up in actions.

Allyship means believing disabled people, not speaking for us, and checking your language and privilege regularly. It’s not performative, it’s a practice.

Let me know which of these you already practice and which you're working on next.

Accessibility Description (Alt Text)
Slide 1: “5 More Ways to Practice Disability Allyship.” Subtext says: “Don’t gatekeep disability.” Right side includes a navy blue arrow icon.

Slide 2: “1.Don’t gatekeep disability. Not all disabilities are visible. Believe people when they say they’re disabled.”

Slide 3: “2. Make accessibility the default, not the request. Design for everyone from the start.”

Slide 4: “3. Don’t speak for us, instead uplift our voices. Share our content. Center lived experience over inspiration.”

Slide 5: “4. Say ‘disabled person,’ ‘person with a disability,’ or ‘person with [condition]’. Do not say ‘suffers from.’”

Slide 6: “5. Disability allyship isn’t about being perfect.” Smaller text: “It’s about showing up consistently, listening deeply, and checking your own biases honestly. Allyship is not a label. It’s a verb.”

Slide 7: Beige background with white Instagram-style UI box. Inside: “Was this helpful? Tag someone who is an ally.” Website at bottom: www.victoriakillian.com

The design uses high contrast, large legible text, and a minimalist style with clear visual hierarchy for accessibility

07/09/2025

Disability allyship isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being consistent.

Allyship means speaking up even when it’s uncomfortable.
It means including accommodations even when you don’t need them.
And it means respecting disabled people’s lived experience as real expertise.

Let’s normalize accessibility, accountability, and amplifying disabled voices.

Tag your allies and save this to revisit.

Accessibility Description (Alt Text)
Slide 1: “5 Ways to Practice Disability Allyship.” Subtext: “Want to be a better ally to disabled people? Start here.” Blue arrow icon on right.

Slide 2: “1. Learn the difference between help and support.” Smaller text underneath: “Ask before acting.”

Slide 3: “2. Speak up when you see ableism (especially when we’re not in the room).”

Slide 4: “3. Normalize accommodations, even if you don’t need them yourself.”

Slide 5: “4. Listen to lived experience like it's expertise, because it is.”

Slide 6: “5.Disability allyship isn’t about being perfect.” Below that: “It’s about showing up consistently, listening deeply, and checking your own biases honestly. Because allyship is not a label. It’s a verb.”

Slide 7: Dark blue box on pale pink background, designed to look like an Instagram interface. Text: “Was this helpful? Tag your allies below!” Below: “www.victoriakillian.com”

All slides use minimalist, accessible typography with high contrast and generous spacing.

07/03/2025

🚨 H.R.1 has passed — and while it may be known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," the consequences are anything but.

As a patient and a board-certified patient advocate, I’m heartbroken. This legislation will not just affect people on Medicaid. It will destabilize our entire healthcare system and we won’t even feel it until it’s too late.

📉 Increased wait times
📈 Higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs
🏥 Hospital closures
👩‍⚕️ Healthcare worker burnout
👶 Disabled people and children losing care

We all deserve affordable, accessible, and equitable healthcare. I will not stop fighting for that... and I know I’m not alone. 💪

Accessibility Descriptions:
Slide 1: "As a patient advocate and patient, I’m extremely disappointed in the passing of H.R.1 (formally known as 'One Big Beautiful Bill') This will harm healthcare access FOR ALL OF US"

Slide 2: "We will not feel or see all the harms of this bill until next year or the year after This will not just affect those utilizing Medicaid"

Slide 3:
"This will stretch our already thin healthcare system It will force hospitals to close forever Disabled people and children will lose access to healthcare and related services"

Slide 4: "People with ACA or employer insurance plans will see longer waits at the ER and to see primary care physicians, specialists, or have testing
Less available services = longer waits and more deaths"

Slide 5: "ACA and employer insurance plans will increase premiums and out-of-pocket costs"

Slide 6: "Healthcare professionals will become overburdened and underpaid
More than they already are Some may quit leaving an even larger deficit in our medical professionals"

Slide 7: "Again, remember we will not feel or see this until it is too late"

Slide 8: "You have the right to accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare no matter how much money you make I remain dedicated in that fight"

Slide 9: "This is disheartening, to say the least, but I know I have a large community that I work with who will continue the fight"

07/02/2025

Think your provider isn’t ableist? You might want to think again.

Ableism in healthcare isn’t always loud.
It doesn’t always come with slurs or slamming doors.
But it does show up in subtle, system-wide ways that harm disabled and chronically ill people every day.

From being told it’s “just anxiety” to being denied equipment unless we “look” disabled, these are more than bad habits. They’re patterns. And they’re dangerous.

Education is the first step to advocacy.

Accessibility Description (Alt Text)
Slide 1: Blue-grey background with serif text reading “6 Ways Ableism Shows Up in Healthcare.Think your provider isn’t ableist? Read this before your next appointment.”

Slide 2: “1. Dismissing symptoms as ‘just anxiety.’”

Slide 3: “2. Assuming you're noncompliant instead of asking why.”

Slide 4: “3. Making care decisions without your input.”

Slide 5: “4. Refusing necessary equipment unless you ‘look’ disabled.”

Slide 6: “5. Failing to accommodate fatigue, pain, or mobility needs during visits.”

Slide 7: "6. Too many disabled and chronically ill patients walk into exam rooms knowing they won’t be believed. Ableism in healthcare is not always obvious. But it is always harmful. It’s time we name it, so we can change it.”

Slide 8: Instagram-style prompt saying: “Was this helpful? Share with someone who gets it or someone who needs to.” Below: www.victoriakillian.com

All slides use a consistent slate blue background with dark blue serif font, minimal line art, and a clean, accessible design style.

07/01/2025

Happy Disability Pride Month!

Disability Pride Month honors the strength, diversity, and brilliance of the disability community. It commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and uplifts disabled voices, stories, and culture.

Let’s celebrate loudly, push for equity, and take up space this July.

👉 Share this post to educate others.
💬 Tell me how you’re honoring Disability Pride Month in the comments.

Accessibility Descriptions (Alt Text):
Slide 1: “Happy Disability Pride Month.” Below the text is a heart with diagonal stripes in red, yellow, white, blue, green, and a dark charcoal background — the Disability Pride Flag in heart shape.

Slide 2: “What is Disability Pride Month? Started to commemorate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it celebrates people with disabilities, their identities, culture, and their contributions to society.” Below the text is an illustration of three disabled people: one with a white cane, one in a wheelchair, and one using crutches. All are raising their fists in celebration.

Slide 3: “This is the Disability Pride Flag” with a rectangular image of the flag. The flag includes diagonal stripes: red, yellow, white, blue, and green on a dark charcoal background.

Slide 4: “What does the Disability Pride Flag represent? Designed in 2019 by Ann Magill, who lives with cerebral palsy, the colors represent:
• Black – mourns victims of violence & abuse
• Red – physical disabilities
• Gold – neurodivergence
• White – invisible & undiagnosed disabilities
• Blue – psychiatric disabilities
• Green – sensory disabilities"
Small flag icons appear on either side of the header.

Slide 5:
Text: “What are you doing to honor and celebrate this month?”
Below is the Disability Pride heart image again, centered.

03/01/2025

Covering health related news stories I found interesting the week of February 24, 2025. All sources can be found at victoriakillian.com

Victoria Killian

07/31/2025

07/23/2025

07/16/2025

07/09/2025

07/03/2025

07/02/2025

07/01/2025

03/01/2025

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