About Us

“Eagles commonly fly alone. They are crows, daws, and starlings that flock together.” – John Webster

Recent posts:

Birds of a feather flock together: Pictured here is the view of a bookshelf at an angle. In front of the rows of books there are 6 miniature black and gray crocheted crow plushies. They are perched between two green vases containing flowers made from pages of books.
Screenshot from the DAC Zoom room. Left to right: Jaylee Cox, Brenda Brueggemann, Emery Roberts, Hannah Dang, Elisa Shaholli, Psyche Ready

Call of the Crow

Written by Ashten Vassar-Cain with support from the DAC team.

You will see that in the creation of this blog, we have made a conscious decision to steer away from images that readers may be accustomed to, such as the blue wheelchair sign, the highly protested puzzle piece, and standard images depicting d/Deafness and blindness that focus solely on “impairment.” Within these symbols, much of the nuance that surrounds living with a disability is lost. Through such losses, we find ourselves constricted by these categories and the narrow perceptions they present. As a collective, we began talking about what symbol we would choose to represent ourselves instead. We have made the choice to subvert the norm by playfully and meaningfully adopting the mascot of the crow. The more we thought about it, the more we were hooked. 

So you may be wondering: Why the crow? 

Crows, while often spotted alone, are extremely social beings. Akin to how disability and access needs are all around us even though we are often led to believe that it is an “individual” struggle. Additionally, crows are clever and crafty by nature. The adaptive tendencies of crows are reminiscent of the ways that Disabled people “hack access” for ourselves and each other, as well as the creative routes that need to be taken to exist within and alongside ableist structures and systems. We find ourselves looking back on the unique ways that we have learned to navigate the world as Disabled people. What is sometimes a cause for frustration is at other times a sense of pride. 

The superstitious reputation of crows also holds significance. Crows often get a bad rap, and are viewed as “bad omens” or premonitions of death. Many artists have also used them to represent struggles with mental illness or despair. (such as Vincent van Gogh’s “Wheatfield with Crows”)

We learn what we can from the Crow, both the “good” and “bad.” Our mission with this blog is to reflect the reflections, ramblings, creativity, and lived experience of those who exist under (or adjacent to) the umbrella of disability. We hope that as our murder of crows continues to grow, we can foster a sense of community and place for expansive thinking. The shrill caw of a crow is a rallying cry for community and care. By claiming this sort of symbol we are reminded of the strength that comes from our vibrant communities in the face of the unknown, and our potential to enact lasting change. 

A Poem About Crows

Written by Hannah Dang with support from the DAC team.

People fear murders
And not only the kind who kill

Long ago,
We were worshiped
Inside temples of gold,
Besides gods and legends

Now,
We are whispered
To be liars and thieves
As omens of plagues and death
Mistaken
For black birds and ravens

Locking their windows,
Spy and see,
A mob, spits and stones thrown
At the crows nesting in their tree

Blocking the cries for our deceased
Another fell to this disease

Beady eyes remember their faces
Thought and memory remember their hatred

Think parrots speak the most?
Wrong, crows do
Pick our brains
What are our thoughts
Every bird
Needs a branch to perch

We have fought, not with swords
But with our words
It is not our claws
That are sharp
But the caws
From our tongues

You can beat us down til our wings are broken
Pluck out our feathers, one by one, til we’re naked
Our murder is in the billions

You think we bring death?
You think we bring bad luck?
Make us disappear like whiteout
Sorry to tell you, we’re causing blackouts

For as long as we must,
We will caw for justice
And for acceptance

Note~ The DAC blog is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license unless otherwise indicated.