2025 in Review

A look back at some of our favorite portraits and interviews.

Thank you for being a subscriber to the Portraits of Persons with Disabilities substack! There are more portraits and interviews heading your way 2026. Here is a look back at some interview highlights and links to stories you may have missed. Happy New Year!

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Kaje

Dissociative Identity Disorder, Autism, Polyamory and Trans Identity

Kaje sits on a park table outdoors. They are wearing black pants and a multi-colored plaid shirt. They have short blonde curly hair and tattoos on their hands.

“I never thought I was going to be a parent. My partner is actually the first mother, and when I met her, Mac was three. The first thing he said to me was, ‘You’re a boy-girl, just like me!’ And I was like, ‘Oh! I love you. I’m going to protect you forever.”

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Tarah Holloman

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, ADHD and embracing being weird

Tarah stands in front of a teal and orange background. She is wearing a bright yellow blazer with a black top. She has her hair up, large hoop earrings and a tattoo on her chest.

“Even now, at almost 40, I’m just learning how to be proud of being a Black woman. You know what I mean? I spent so much time trying to fit in with everyone else that it was hard to step into myself. And so, I want people with disabilities to know it’s okay to be different, to not fit into what everyone else thinks is “normal.” And I want other people to realize they likely have a disability too, and just fucking own it. That’s how I feel. Look in the mirror, accept who you are, so you can accept the people around you. Chances are, you have something. Got pain in your elbow? That’s a disability, honey. I’ve got arthritis. You wear glasses? That’s a disability. Have a little third nipple nobody knows about? Like, come on now, everybody’s weird.”

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Jessica Mae Dixon

Cerebral Palsy and humor

Jessica stands in front of a teal and orange backdrop. She is wearing a black top and rests on forearm crutches. She has short gray hair and silver hoops.

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Gina DeShong

Stroke Survivor, Asthma and being a hometown girl

Gina stands in front of a teal and orange backdrop. She wears a red, black and white floral top. She has short, curly black hair with hoop earrings.

“I want people to see our abilities, not just our disabilities. Don’t see my cane, see me.”

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Beshanaakwad

Spina Bifida and Native Identity

Besh in 2023 at the Disability Network in Flint, MI. (Alt text: Portrait of a light skinned, early 40’s native man. He is sitting in a wheelchair in front of an orange and teal fabric draped backdrop. He is bald with a grey goatee. He is wearing a light blue collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He has a long necklace with a beaded pendant wrapped around his neck. A red and blue tattoo is slightly visible on his left arm.)

“I’ve worked in the Native community for a long time too. When I lived in Minnesota, I worked around systemic issues, policy, and public health. But right now, I’m happy doing what I’m doing. I’ve never worked exclusively in or for the disability community before. I’m even learning new things about disability. Working for the Disability Network, I had to learn all the language and issues around disability.”

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Amy Sundin Unger

hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Amy stands next to a window with a purple cane in hand. She has shoulder length brown hair, tattoos on both arms and wears several ring splints. She is wearing a black shirt with purple pants.

“People don’t realize how varied disability can be. It changes from day to day. Disability can happen to anyone at any time. If you live long enough, chances are you’ll be disabled at some point.”

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