Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
LightNews LightNews
banner
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
@rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
1.8K followers 250 following 4.7K posts
Nerdy Intersectional Activist, Queer/Bi (Love Is About The Soul), Artist, Writer, Poet, Disabled AF, anti-fascist, Neurodivergent, anti-Zionist Jew & vegan (she/they) #DisabilityResistance

Creator of What Is Ableism

Linktr.ee/rebelwheelsnyc
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein) @rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social · 19d
NEW ARTICLE: "The following is a call-in (opposed to calling someone one out), a call for solidarity, accountability, and action..."

"A real revolution leaves no marginalized people behind"

READ: rebelwheelssoapbox.tumblr.com/post/7994835...

#ZohranMamdani #NYC #DisabilityJustice #Disability
The background is a photo of a skyline in NYC. White clouds cover most of the sky, but not all of it. On the left is a large pigeon (from the neck up) staring in the distance. There is a super tiny one on top of a building on the right side. main text. black. modern. reads "Now That Zohran Mamdani Won, Let’s Talk About Disability Erasure: From A Disabled New Yorker Who Voted For Him". This is the title of the article. There is an orange wedge shape coming out of a purplish blue horizontal rectangle from the bottom. On the purplish blue strip is a thinner black strip, horizontal with white text that reads "link in post/at sign rebel Wheels soapbox Tumblr.com". going diagonally on the orange wedge are the words "new article", which has two layers, using that signature yellow & orange color scheme that Mamdani uses on his website. Under the words "new article", in a smaller modern white text, reads "a call for solidarity." And then in the lower right-hand bottom corner is a small photo of Zohran Mandani, the soon-to-be mayor of New York City. He is wearing a suit and tie and is smiling
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
In this vlog, I talk about inflatable costumes and accessibility, and the importance of not comparing yourself to people who have more spoons

(Also I make my own DIY protest costume 🥰)

youtu.be/_qJmuwdwEuc?...

#disability #antifascist
vlog #4: desire to fight fascism vs a change in health [#DisabledYouTuber]
YouTube video by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
🥰

youtu.be/GsTmpgc_6wU?...
DIY Black Hole Table (infinity mirror + galaxy resin!)
YouTube video by Evan and Katelyn
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
midatlanticada.adata.org
Now On Demand: Part 3 🎥
Fighting for Civil and Disability Rights: Strategies to Overcome Barriers
Featuring Anita Cameron, Disability Justice Activist

Watch the on-demand recording: https://loom.ly/Qp8A5nc

#ADA #DisabilityRights #CivilRights #Inclusion #MidAtlanticADA #Intersectionality
November 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
imanibarbarin.bsky.social
I don’t care who you are, the one thing that links all of the -isms and bigotries together and sets them on fire is eugenics and ableism.

They’ve been playing you all the entire time. There is no progress in this country for ANYTHING without equity for disabled people.
November 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
pussyfullawasps.bsky.social
Creating Freedom Movements made a beautiful post honoring Alice Wong, whose impact on our lives, communities, spirits, & Disability Justice is as powerful as it is immeasurable

as co-founder of Crips for eSims for Gaza, she asked for support here: chuffed.org/project/crip...

rest in power, alice ✊
Photo collage on teal background of Alice, an Asian American woman with chin length black hair and gold highlights, wearing fuchsia lipstick and a flowy multicolored blouse, with a trach at her neck. She is looking confidently into the camera. Behind her is a graphic that resembles a yellow sun, as well as yellow stars and yellow text that reads, "Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all." Photo is by Allison Busch Photography. Cream background with small floral illustrations, text reads: We are mourning the passing and celebrating the life of Disability Justice Oracle Alice Wong. All of us at Creating Freedom Movements are just a drop in the bucket of the multitudes who have been impacted by Alice's work. We urge everyone to take some time to learn from her and from the many disabled voices she profiled on the Disability Visibility Project website and podcast, through the anthologies she edited, and in her own memoir. (Scroll through for these.) We also urge folks to engage in practices that honor what Alice taught: the importance of still wearing masks as an act of community care (the pandemic is not over!), and acting in solidarity towards the collective liberation of all peoples. Alice was a co-founder of Crips for eSims for Gaza, for example, a project that still needs our support as the U.S.-supported Israeli genocide and mass disabling of the Palestinian people continues. If you are moved to make a donation in her honor, you can do so here: https://chuffed.org/project/crips-for-esims-for-gaza Disability Visibility Project Website: https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/ Disability Visibility Podcast: https:// www.podchaser.com/podcasts/ disability-visibility-568507 Book cover with illustration by artist Micah Bazant featuring a midnight blue sky with little white stars. Below is a log with mushrooms growing out of it in multiple shapes and colors. "Text reads: Resistance & Hope, Essays by Disabled People, Crip Wisdom for the People, Edited by Alice Wong, Disability Visibility Project." The 'o' in 'Hope' looks like a full moon. The book cover is framed in yellow and placed at an angle over a cream background with bright floral elements around the edges. Cream background with floral elements along the sides. Red text at the top reads, in all caps, "ALICE'S FINAL MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD, SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY HER FRIEND SANDY HO:" Below this, black italicized text reads: "Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all."
November 24, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
xgothxmomx.bsky.social
You’re not wrong, but us sellers have been reporting the non handmade stores and promoting the stores on there that deserve the attention.
November 22, 2025 at 10:57 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
Okay so Amazon, Target and even Etsy are on the boycott list.

Where's everyone shopping?

I'm looking for alternative stores with online options that are also reasonably priced.
November 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
Huzzah! So originally I got a whiteboard for the grocery list, but at one point I noticed that the markers are so light that it was actually an accessible way for me to draw by hand again

But my doodles were taking up too much room lol, so this morning I finally got my own whiteboard 🥰

#disabilty
A photo taken in my apartment. A whiteboard in the form of a vertical rectangle is on my lap. The black marker which has a magnet on it is on the board and I have doodled and artsy looking portrait of a person from the shoulders up. Their head is turned a bit to the left and they are smiling and they have large eyes full lips and bountiful cheekbones. The drawing is in a black outline and the white fill because I haven't colored it in. You can see a hint of The pink reddish house coat that I'm wearing and a tiny hint of my black thermal leggings. Also in the background is a hint of the leopard print blanket on my bed on the left and because I'm sitting in my motorized wheelchair and the headlight is on, there's this lovely glow coming out of the top of the whiteboard. Lastly you can see a hint of the bottom of my hospital table and the wooden flooring
November 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
neat :)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ3q...
Quetzalcoatlus: Sky Giraffe or Landlubber?
YouTube video by Animalogic
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
new vlog! #3 of the Desire To Fight Fascism vs A Change Of Health series

In this vlog, I work on a possible Halloween costume while trying to figure out how I can take action while stuck in my apartment, navigating the change in health

#disability

youtu.be/7k21464FBjE
vlog #3: desire to fight fascism vs a change in health [#DisabledYouTuber]
YouTube video by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
Woke up and the random jukebox of the brain was requesting this album

Renaissance by Beyonce

open.qobuz.com/album/t8v2gc...
Open Qobuz
open.qobuz.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
theautisticcoach.bsky.social
People say autistic humans “overreact.”

What they don’t see is the hours, days, years we’ve spent holding ourselves together for their convenience.

A meltdown isn’t an “overreaction.”

It’s the body saying I’m done absorbing what you refuse to notice.

Let that sink in folx.
November 21, 2025 at 10:29 AM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
Time for a new sign

I realized one day that the external side of my elevating footrests on my wheelchair is the part that able-bodied people gawk @ the most. Which is rude (& ableist), but it also makes it a prime spot for a protest sign. If they're going to stare, then stare at this

#disability
photos taken in my apartment. photo of my motorized wheelchair and the new sign which has been taped to the external side of the elevating leg rests of my motorized wheelchair. The old sign is removed and the new sign which was just printed via my printer is looking extra vibrant and clear. I did however goof a little bit on the packing tape so there are some parts look a little bit messy and some minor bits that I tried to remove that unintentionally faded the sign by some of the paper getting stuck on tape. That said the sign is a horizontal rectangle with a medium thickness white border. within that, It is a red rectangle with a pink triangle on its side so that the tip or the point is facing towards the left. Then there is the main text which is this modern bold font and each line has its own horizontal black rectangle behind it. The majority of the text is white but the following words have their own individual color: resist!, fascism, genocide, ice. The colors are yellow, orange, green, blue respectively. And the text is resist! In these times of fascism, genocide and ice. Leave no oppressed groups behind including the disability community. The last line is it a slightly smaller font and to the right of the text are the following three symbols. One is an orange as in the fruit that is in a yellow cross circle with a white fill so there's white behind the orange. Then there is a medium sized illustration of a vertical watermelon slice And lastly it's an illustration of an ice cube, where the cross circle is blue with a black background. a closer look. photo taken in my apartment. photo of my motorized wheelchair and the new sign which has been taped to the external side of the elevating leg rests of my motorized wheelchair. The old sign is removed and the new sign which was just printed via my printer is looking extra vibrant and clear. I did however goof a little bit on the packing tape so there are some parts look a little bit messy and some minor bits that I tried to remove that unintentionally faded the sign by some of the paper getting stuck on tape. That said the sign is a horizontal rectangle with a medium thickness white border. within that, It is a red rectangle with a pink triangle on its side so that the tip or the point is facing towards the left. Then there is the main text which is this modern bold font and each line has its own horizontal black rectangle behind it. The majority of the text is white but the following words have their own individual color: resist!, fascism, genocide, ice. The colors are yellow, orange, green, blue respectively. And the text is resist! In these times of fascism, genocide and ice. Leave no oppressed groups behind including the disability community. The last line is it a slightly smaller font and to the right of the text are the following three symbols. One is an orange as in the fruit that is in a yellow cross circle with a white fill so there's white behind the orange. Then there is a medium sized illustration of a vertical watermelon slice And lastly it's an illustration of an ice cube, where the cross circle is blue with a black background.
November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
TAKE ACTION: Should Elon Musk be allowed to deploy dangerous Robotaxis anywhere he wants without oversight or rules? actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...?
Stop Congress from deregulating AI
Should Elon Musk be allowed to deploy dangerous Robotaxis anywhere he wants without oversight or rules? That's a real possibility—and it gets worse. Tech broligarchs want AI to be completely unregula...
actionnetwork.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
finnanhaddie.bsky.social
“Hashtag blessed” 🤣
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
NEW VLOG!: With my change in health, I was feeling pretty stuck and lost, but these questions help me to find a bit of direction...

vlog #2: desire to fight fascism vs a changing health [#DisabledYouTuber]

youtu.be/SYWmYhelA0E

#disability
vlog #2: desire to fight fascism vs a changing health [#DisabledYouTuber]
YouTube video by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 8:46 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
Today I dumped #Spotify (as they're running ads for ICE & thus fascism) and switched to #quboz

LOVE the higher music quality, but there doesn't seem to be a way to create folders to organize the playlists? I have over 200 lol I need folders. hope they add new features
November 17, 2025 at 8:35 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
When I experience joy as a disabled person

It is not for able bodied consumption nor inspiration
I do not experience joy in spite of being disabled
I experience joy in spite of the ableism (and fascism etc...)

#disability
November 16, 2025 at 6:35 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
#RandomJukeboxOfTheBrain: Lively Up Yourself (1974) - Bob Marley & The Wailers

youtu.be/fi-1Wnp0S84?...
Lively Up Yourself (1974) - Bob Marley & The Wailers
YouTube video by Bob Marley
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
chanda.blacksky.app
A nice obituary for Alice, who was going to be recognized as one of The Post 50.

I hate that we now have to live without this phenomenal woman.

#GiftLink

wapo.st/49WOdx1
Alice Wong, disability rights advocate and wordsmith, dies at 51
Alice Wong, a transformational leader for disability rights and justice, who founded the Disability Visibility project to magnify disabled culture, died Nov. 14.
wapo.st
November 16, 2025 at 12:22 AM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
I do not understand why there is not a Madison Square Garden boycott? By musicians, by the people. MSG made a CHOICE to let the orange fascist hold his rally there before the election, knowing damn well the significance and history of it all. They are complicit in fascism.
November 15, 2025 at 11:19 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
youtu.be/rvNeotbRsJs?...
OTYKEN - ALATAU (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by OTYKEN
youtu.be
November 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
The internet is a funny place. The video that I uploaded got 20 views on 2 days. A short excerpt from that video got over a 1000 views within 3 hours lol

That said creating shorts from my longer videos is an enjoyable distraction on lower spoon days
November 15, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)
disabilitystor1.bsky.social
Alice Wong was one of the most effective people challenging the Whiteness of disability communities and its many flaws, but who believed fiercely in us as a community, in disabled people as oracles.

Alice brought so much to so many of us, it’s hard to measure the kind of gratitude I have for that.
November 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM
rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social
One downside of living in an apt lottery building is that bc you're not paying full rent, the owner is not as keen to spend $ on repairs

The floor's been busted for months & pretty sure the dust exasperates my health. Thankfully my PCA had the clever idea to cut out cardboard tiles & tape them.
A photo of the kitchen floor which has these larger blonde tiles. A lot of the tiles are either split or somehow damaged and because it became loose and there's been a lot of dust my PCA tape them down temporarily but you can still see a bit of the blue underlayer. And she also cut out a tile shape out of some cardboard which semi blends in but not really and we're trying that out. You can also see the clear packing tape over the tiles and time to keep them in place. Lastly you can see a hint of the pillow on my foot rest on my motorized wheelchair and my red sequin slippers and striped socks
November 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM