Shay Erlich (They/Them)
@shay-erlich.bsky.social
Artist. Creative Producer/Director. Dancer. Disability Consultant and activist. Living in unceded Treaty 13 territory (T:karonto). Queer, non-binary, multiply disabled.
Linktree: linktr.ee/ShayErlich
Linktree: linktr.ee/ShayErlich
Pinned
Intro Thread:
I am Shay(they/them). I’m a multiply-disabled and hard of hearing (ASL fluent), non-binary person living in Treaty 13 territory (Toronto).
I often describe myself as a wearer of many hats due to the ways it is impossible to simply describe the many things I do.
I am Shay(they/them). I’m a multiply-disabled and hard of hearing (ASL fluent), non-binary person living in Treaty 13 territory (Toronto).
I often describe myself as a wearer of many hats due to the ways it is impossible to simply describe the many things I do.
Disability-led space is magical. Rehearsals for this project have been some of the most grounded and healing dance spaces I’ve ever been in. Almost every rehearsal someone has the experience of being in dance space in a new disabled way. And we get to share it with you all next week! Please join us!
September 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Disability-led space is magical. Rehearsals for this project have been some of the most grounded and healing dance spaces I’ve ever been in. Almost every rehearsal someone has the experience of being in dance space in a new disabled way. And we get to share it with you all next week! Please join us!
For some reason the last few days The Pyjama Game soundtrack just will not dislodge itself from my brain. Something about 7 1/2 cents and pro-union messaging seems appropriate at this moment…
September 9, 2025 at 10:22 PM
For some reason the last few days The Pyjama Game soundtrack just will not dislodge itself from my brain. Something about 7 1/2 cents and pro-union messaging seems appropriate at this moment…
That uniquely wheelchair user experience of being desperate for a hike, think you’ve found an accessible trail after an hour of searching trail maps and then realize that it was the one that laid the boardwalk perpendicular and your wheels kept falling through the gaps in the boards last time.
August 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
That uniquely wheelchair user experience of being desperate for a hike, think you’ve found an accessible trail after an hour of searching trail maps and then realize that it was the one that laid the boardwalk perpendicular and your wheels kept falling through the gaps in the boards last time.
Fascinating thread on some major breakthroughs towards an enduring HIV vaccine in our lifetimes.
August 1, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Fascinating thread on some major breakthroughs towards an enduring HIV vaccine in our lifetimes.
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
I resigned from the board of directors for the @cmadocs.bsky.social in December 2023. I tried to push the institution to take a stand against Israeli attacks on Palestinian healthcare in Gaza. Instead, I learned they are racists, genocide supporters, and genocide deniers.
August 1, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I resigned from the board of directors for the @cmadocs.bsky.social in December 2023. I tried to push the institution to take a stand against Israeli attacks on Palestinian healthcare in Gaza. Instead, I learned they are racists, genocide supporters, and genocide deniers.
I am so grateful for the ways that my biologic meds are changing my life for the better in amazing big and small ways.
However, a 12 week dosing schedule is just enough time to forget how knocked out I get for a few days after each dose. A kick to the immune system indeed!
However, a 12 week dosing schedule is just enough time to forget how knocked out I get for a few days after each dose. A kick to the immune system indeed!
July 31, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I am so grateful for the ways that my biologic meds are changing my life for the better in amazing big and small ways.
However, a 12 week dosing schedule is just enough time to forget how knocked out I get for a few days after each dose. A kick to the immune system indeed!
However, a 12 week dosing schedule is just enough time to forget how knocked out I get for a few days after each dose. A kick to the immune system indeed!
The one benefit to being on a super niche life sustaining medication is being able to recognize a clinical trial aimed at expanding the use potentials of your med from 1000 paces.
The evils of pharmaceutical greed aside, it would be really nice to have larger med runs produced annually.
The evils of pharmaceutical greed aside, it would be really nice to have larger med runs produced annually.
July 24, 2025 at 7:34 AM
The one benefit to being on a super niche life sustaining medication is being able to recognize a clinical trial aimed at expanding the use potentials of your med from 1000 paces.
The evils of pharmaceutical greed aside, it would be really nice to have larger med runs produced annually.
The evils of pharmaceutical greed aside, it would be really nice to have larger med runs produced annually.
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
Exactly. Nothing without us means NOTHING without us!
I think all too often people don’t understand the importance of including disabled people into planning decisions that seemingly don’t impact them.
When we say nothing about us without us, that truly means everything. An example for you:
When we say nothing about us without us, that truly means everything. An example for you:
July 22, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Exactly. Nothing without us means NOTHING without us!
I think all too often people don’t understand the importance of including disabled people into planning decisions that seemingly don’t impact them.
When we say nothing about us without us, that truly means everything. An example for you:
When we say nothing about us without us, that truly means everything. An example for you:
July 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I think all too often people don’t understand the importance of including disabled people into planning decisions that seemingly don’t impact them.
When we say nothing about us without us, that truly means everything. An example for you:
When we say nothing about us without us, that truly means everything. An example for you:
Grabbed the Citizen Sleeper bundle this weekend and I’m about 5 hours in. Really enjoying myself so far. I’m noticing that more often than not fellow traveller being involved with a title is a pretty strong signal that it’s going to jive with my gameplay values and desires.
July 22, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Grabbed the Citizen Sleeper bundle this weekend and I’m about 5 hours in. Really enjoying myself so far. I’m noticing that more often than not fellow traveller being involved with a title is a pretty strong signal that it’s going to jive with my gameplay values and desires.
Thought of the Day: What about Crip-Platonic Partnerships? Both as something distinct and intertwined with Queer-Platonic Partnerships (Queer-Crip Platonic Partnerships?).
July 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Thought of the Day: What about Crip-Platonic Partnerships? Both as something distinct and intertwined with Queer-Platonic Partnerships (Queer-Crip Platonic Partnerships?).
As someone who mostly does not love whatever movie/show etc is capturing public attention at the moment it’s so wild to be so enthusiastic about K-pop Demon Hunters. Every reel is playing the same songs we have on repeat in our house. Can we have more values-aligned mass media please?
July 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
As someone who mostly does not love whatever movie/show etc is capturing public attention at the moment it’s so wild to be so enthusiastic about K-pop Demon Hunters. Every reel is playing the same songs we have on repeat in our house. Can we have more values-aligned mass media please?
Tales from set - We’ve now had 4 separate blown tire incidents across the past 10 days. I’ve gone years on end with no tubes blown and it’s like as soon as you turn a camera on a chair the tube is like “nice knowing you!”
In clearly unrelated news - I’m also getting better at changing them myself.
In clearly unrelated news - I’m also getting better at changing them myself.
July 10, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Tales from set - We’ve now had 4 separate blown tire incidents across the past 10 days. I’ve gone years on end with no tubes blown and it’s like as soon as you turn a camera on a chair the tube is like “nice knowing you!”
In clearly unrelated news - I’m also getting better at changing them myself.
In clearly unrelated news - I’m also getting better at changing them myself.
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
At this point I owe a few people money that they've covered for me (for food and meds) that I currently don't have. #HelpSky #HelpFolksLive2025 #MutualAidRequest #MutualAid #TransCrowdfund #DisabilityCrowdfund
JULY MUTUAL AID TIME! This is now MONTH FOUR IN A ROW of my monthly survival MAs being unmet! It's VERY frustrating! I rely on this because I'm severely disabled, can't work, and can't get disability. Please help!
Cashapp: $FallonBinns
Venmo: Fallon-Binns
ko-fi.com/crippledcomm...
Cashapp: $FallonBinns
Venmo: Fallon-Binns
ko-fi.com/crippledcomm...
Buy CrippledCommie a Coffee
Become a supporter of CrippledCommie today!
ko-fi.com
July 7, 2025 at 9:51 PM
At this point I owe a few people money that they've covered for me (for food and meds) that I currently don't have. #HelpSky #HelpFolksLive2025 #MutualAidRequest #MutualAid #TransCrowdfund #DisabilityCrowdfund
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
Today, our focus is on Regulated Professions--if you're a disabled teacher, nurse, doctor, or other worker regulated by a College or other body, drop us a line and share your story. More to come, friends! Visit djno.ca/disabled-wor... for details.
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July 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Today, our focus is on Regulated Professions--if you're a disabled teacher, nurse, doctor, or other worker regulated by a College or other body, drop us a line and share your story. More to come, friends! Visit djno.ca/disabled-wor... for details.
2/2
2/2
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
Friends, we need to defend disabled workers *now*. We have a comprehensive campaign and tools coming to focus on the fight for Justice for Disabled Workers. We're always looking to partner with non-unionized and unionized workers to demand disability justice in the workplace!
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1/2
July 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Friends, we need to defend disabled workers *now*. We have a comprehensive campaign and tools coming to focus on the fight for Justice for Disabled Workers. We're always looking to partner with non-unionized and unionized workers to demand disability justice in the workplace!
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
Urgent!
Please help our friend @maedayj.bsky.social stay housed!
It was so hard for Mae to access safe housing, please help keep her in her apartment!
She's so close to the goal, we can do this!
Mae does so much for others, please be here for her now!
If you can't help, please share!
💖
Please help our friend @maedayj.bsky.social stay housed!
It was so hard for Mae to access safe housing, please help keep her in her apartment!
She's so close to the goal, we can do this!
Mae does so much for others, please be here for her now!
If you can't help, please share!
💖
Update: $1800/$2295 raised! Only $495 still needed for July’s r3nt!
We’re so close Thank You everyone! Please continue b00sting and “chere-ing” this urgent need 🙏🏽
$maelee21
V: @ Maelee-Johnson
PayPal.me/maeleeJ
ko-fi.com/maedaej
#HelpFolksLive2025 #HelpSky
We’re so close Thank You everyone! Please continue b00sting and “chere-ing” this urgent need 🙏🏽
$maelee21
V: @ Maelee-Johnson
PayPal.me/maeleeJ
ko-fi.com/maedaej
#HelpFolksLive2025 #HelpSky
July 6, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Urgent!
Please help our friend @maedayj.bsky.social stay housed!
It was so hard for Mae to access safe housing, please help keep her in her apartment!
She's so close to the goal, we can do this!
Mae does so much for others, please be here for her now!
If you can't help, please share!
💖
Please help our friend @maedayj.bsky.social stay housed!
It was so hard for Mae to access safe housing, please help keep her in her apartment!
She's so close to the goal, we can do this!
Mae does so much for others, please be here for her now!
If you can't help, please share!
💖
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
Lukewarm is generous. Run it for even a quick shower and it exceeds body temp. Thankfully we had a pitcher of water in the fridge for me to cool off with, but this is a brutal combination to be dealing with, particularly with no 24/7 cooling centers.
Another day living under the auspices of Dream - The shower that maintenance broke a week ago (ostensibly to solve a water temperature problem) is now functional again. We still have the temp problem, but now we can take a lukewarm shower in the absence of working AC. All Landlords are evil.
June 25, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Lukewarm is generous. Run it for even a quick shower and it exceeds body temp. Thankfully we had a pitcher of water in the fridge for me to cool off with, but this is a brutal combination to be dealing with, particularly with no 24/7 cooling centers.
Another day living under the auspices of Dream - The shower that maintenance broke a week ago (ostensibly to solve a water temperature problem) is now functional again. We still have the temp problem, but now we can take a lukewarm shower in the absence of working AC. All Landlords are evil.
June 25, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Another day living under the auspices of Dream - The shower that maintenance broke a week ago (ostensibly to solve a water temperature problem) is now functional again. We still have the temp problem, but now we can take a lukewarm shower in the absence of working AC. All Landlords are evil.
It really sucks being the canary in the coal mine. Our unit gets a greenhouse effect meaning we need a different AC schedule than expected to keep our unit habitable and safe. So, I’ve been asking management for a safe temperatures plan for months while they figure out long term solutions.
June 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
It really sucks being the canary in the coal mine. Our unit gets a greenhouse effect meaning we need a different AC schedule than expected to keep our unit habitable and safe. So, I’ve been asking management for a safe temperatures plan for months while they figure out long term solutions.
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
It's apparently Autistic Pride Day. Give an autistic person in poverty some money for meds?
NEW MONTH, NEW MUTUAL AID!
It's now been THREE straight months of my monthly survival MAs not being fulfilled. I rely on MA to survive due to severe disability preventing me from working a "real job."
Cashapp: $FallonBinns
Venmo: Fallon-Binns
ko-fi.com/crippledcomm...
#TransCrowdfund #MAV
It's now been THREE straight months of my monthly survival MAs not being fulfilled. I rely on MA to survive due to severe disability preventing me from working a "real job."
Cashapp: $FallonBinns
Venmo: Fallon-Binns
ko-fi.com/crippledcomm...
#TransCrowdfund #MAV
Buy CrippledCommie a Coffee
Become a supporter of CrippledCommie today!
ko-fi.com
June 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
It's apparently Autistic Pride Day. Give an autistic person in poverty some money for meds?
Just need to give @helenscloset.bsky.social a shout out for being so ahead of the game around how to modify their sewing patterns to your tastes and body. So stoked that the Avery leggings pattern has an easy to find separate tutorial for adding in pockets. They are a must for me!
June 15, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Just need to give @helenscloset.bsky.social a shout out for being so ahead of the game around how to modify their sewing patterns to your tastes and body. So stoked that the Avery leggings pattern has an easy to find separate tutorial for adding in pockets. They are a must for me!
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
Roger Foley has been speaking out about coercion within Canada's MAiD (medical assistance in dying) program for years.
He's been pushed to access it, despite repeatedly telling hospital staff he doesn't want to die.
He's had his accommodation for special lighting removed. Food & water restricted:
He's been pushed to access it, despite repeatedly telling hospital staff he doesn't want to die.
He's had his accommodation for special lighting removed. Food & water restricted:
Brother Of Disabled Man To Canadian Hospital: He Is ‘Dying In Front Of You’
The brother of a disabled Canadian man is pleading with his hospital – which pushed euthanasia and cut off food and water.
dallasexpress.com
June 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Roger Foley has been speaking out about coercion within Canada's MAiD (medical assistance in dying) program for years.
He's been pushed to access it, despite repeatedly telling hospital staff he doesn't want to die.
He's had his accommodation for special lighting removed. Food & water restricted:
He's been pushed to access it, despite repeatedly telling hospital staff he doesn't want to die.
He's had his accommodation for special lighting removed. Food & water restricted:
Sharing for the Sunday crowd! Also shout out to so many of the Toronto and Canadian orgs who make this work possible through their low barrier funding mechanisms!
My latest writing on how to get started creating disability led programming in your own communities is live at the @rootedinrights.bsky.social blog!
Building Your Own Community Program
EDITOR’S NOTE: The resources hyperlinked in this essay are specific to colonized Canada, but are included for readers as examples of the kinds of organizations and resources available, regard…
rootedinrights.org
June 8, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Sharing for the Sunday crowd! Also shout out to so many of the Toronto and Canadian orgs who make this work possible through their low barrier funding mechanisms!
Reposted by Shay Erlich (They/Them)
My latest writing on how to get started creating disability led programming in your own communities is live at the @rootedinrights.bsky.social blog!
Building Your Own Community Program
EDITOR’S NOTE: The resources hyperlinked in this essay are specific to colonized Canada, but are included for readers as examples of the kinds of organizations and resources available, regard…
rootedinrights.org
June 7, 2025 at 2:13 PM
My latest writing on how to get started creating disability led programming in your own communities is live at the @rootedinrights.bsky.social blog!