Nico Meyering Launches “Our Disabled Future”
Background is the disability pride flag with an image of Nico Meyering on the top right and the text “Launch of Webseries Our Disabled Future” in the middle. Bottom text reads “Nico Meyering, DLC Member”.
By Arielle Dance, Writer at Diversability
Disability advocate Nico Meyering has launched an exciting video series highlighting the lived experiences of disabled people across the nation. After interviewing more than 100 people, it was time for Nico to be interviewed.
Arielle: Nico, we’re so excited about your new project. Before we dive in, tell me about yourself.
Nico: I've lived my whole life with a rare condition called Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS), but thanks to my parents building connections with other CCHS families in the '80s—and founding the CCHS Family Network in 1989—I grew up with community, something I now realize is rare for many Disabled people.
I joined the CCHS Network board in 2015 and expanded my disability advocacy in 2021, joining the Disability Leadership Council (DLC) and being appointed to the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities, which I now chair. I run peer support groups, speak publicly about disability and history, and was named a NoTABLE Disability Fellow in 2024. As board president of Young Involved Philadelphia (YIP), I help foster civic engagement in the city’s young professionals. Since 2023, my teams and I have created a disability map using Census and GIS data, installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals, trained every city employee on neurodiversity, supported over 100 new nonprofit board members, improved accessibility in schools and public events, and raised funds for marginalized communities.
Arielle: It’s evident that this work is special to you. Is that what inspired you to start the Our Disabled Future video series?
Nico: I majored in history, and during my undergrad work I got fascinated by social history: the history of everyday people during extraordinary times. I read John Hershey's Hiroshima, Ronald Takaki's A Different Mirror, and even non-history texts like Evicted (about housing insecure folks in Milwaukee), Gang Leader For a Day (a sociology grad student shadows a Chicago gang during his dissertation) and even StoryCorps works like Listening is an Act of Love, which is also a statement I believe!
I also wanted to highlight and celebrate Disabled people. Disabled people are strong, smart, clever, insightful, and worth listening to, but we don't get our time in the sun. I've also had more than several CCHS folks die unexpectedly, which has urged me on to capture as many voices as possible.
Arielle: Tell me more about the Our Disabled Future video series.
Nico: I produced this series now because the future looks very shaky for Disabled people, especially in the US. Every week it seems like there's a new crisis needing our attention right away. In times like these, I think we still need to plan for the future. We still need to envision a better future for disabled people. That in itself is a revolutionary act. Our Disabled Future invites all Disabled people to describe their own ideal disability-friendly futures AND practical ways to get there. The series is on YouTube and I still need to make an audio only Spotify playlist for the interviews also.
Arielle: So, I have to ask, since you’ve asked everyone else. What does a disabled-friendly future look like to you?
Nico: For a disability-friendly future, I believe we need 3 large changes to our current Disabled society Disabled people need to rally as a voting bloc at the local, state, and federal levels. Every issue is a Disability issue. Instead of a Disabled person asking for specific accommodations, all students and workers should be able to self-select from a wide selection of accommodation services and tools. Government agencies, NGOs, and corporations must create, expand, and improve initiatives geared toward granting economic power to Disabled people. Does your company have several Disabled employees? Great, include them in your training and upskill initiatives. If you can hire Disabled people you sure as hell can promote Disabled people.
Arielle: Who are some of the people featured in this series? How many features are there?
Nico: Our Disabled Future is my biggest project ever with over 100 one-on-one interviews. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on conversations with three powerful Disabled leaders. Tas Kronby , an accessibility consultant and artist, hasn’t left their home in over eight months due to agoraphobia—but still works tirelessly to build community, even as they admit they may not see a truly disability-friendly future in their lifetime. Dr. Chris Rosa , President and CEO of the Viscardi Center, shared his optimism as the Center prepares to open a disability museum this October, telling me, “I still have great faith in democracy.” And Adero Knott , a polished and thoughtful entrepreneur with a congenital amputation, founded SAFAIR to improve air travel for Disabled people, bringing both innovation and intention to every part of her advocacy.
Arielle: What did you learn from other peoples stories during this process?
Nico: Across my interviews, common themes kept surfacing: a strong desire for deeper community connection—both locally and across the broader Disability community—and a growing call for a united, pan-Disability movement, signaling a shift from the more siloed advocacy of the past. Economic insecurity also came up repeatedly; every Disabled respondent felt the financial strain. Ronni in Indiana vlogs but also works as a virtual assistant for stability. Bianca, a psychologist with cerebral palsy, struggles to find clients due to the presence of her care attendant and has turned to writing to supplement her income. Vinyana, a social media influencer in India, was one of the first to volunteer to share her story. The message was clear: if it’s not affordable, it’s not accessible.
Arielle: Wow, so impactful. Will the series continue?
Nico: Yeah! People can still get in touch and we can set up a time to record. I'm speaking to someone tomorrow in fact!
Diversability thanks Diversity Leadership Collective member, Nico Meyering for sharing his series with us and advocating for our community. Our Disabled Future can be found on Nico’s YouTube channel.
Note: Some responses were edited and condensed using AI.