This session explores how YouTube channels can help self-advocates represent themselves in their own way and can positively influence public perceptions of people with disabilities . The presentation will feature short videos from Justice Armfield Living My Life YouTube channel. Justice, a man with Down syndrome, will share how he creates his videos, why he creates his videos, and the messages he hopes to convey with his videos. Justice will also talk about other self-advocates he follows on Youtube. Co-Presenter, John Schaffer, who often helps Justice with his videos, will help facilitate the conversation at the session.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to explain how YouTube and other digital platforms support self‑advocates in representing themselves, sharing their experiences, and shaping public perceptions of people with disabilities.
- Participants will be able to identify key elements of Justice Armfield’s content creation process—including his motivations, methods, and messaging—and describe how these elements contribute to authentic disability representation.
- Participants will be able to name at least two strategies for supporting self‑advocates in creating digital content, drawing on examples from Justice Armfield’s channel and other disability‑focused creators he follows.
Speaker(s)
Armfield, Schaffer