The Power of Storytelling
Hannah Soyer believes deeply in the power of stories, especially the ones we tell about ourselves. As a queer disabled writer rooted in the Midwest, she has built a vibrant career around words that challenge assumptions and invite readers to see identity in bold new ways.
She currently serves as the Content Specialist for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and her work has appeared in The Sun Magazine, Bustle, and Cosmopolitan. Her memoir, Dreams in Which I’m Almost Human, will be published by Red Hen Press in 2026. Hannah also proudly claims the titles of cat enthusiast and chocolate connoisseur, proof that identity is shaped by both the serious and the lighthearted.
Exploring Identity Through Disability and Community
Recently, Hannah facilitated the H.E.R. Disability and Identity Workshop, a space for young women with communication disabilities came together to explore how disability connects with identity, culture, and community. Built on the belief that how you see yourself matters, the workshop encouraged participants to reflect on both the narratives written about them and those they are learning to write for themselves.
When asked how her disability shaped her understanding of identity, Hannah explained:
My disability was not automatically a part of my identity growing up, even though my disability is extremely visible; I’m a full-time wheelchair user and have a body that bends and curves outside of our ideas of ‘typical’ embodiment.
It wasn’t until she connected with other disabled writers and peers that she began to embrace disability as an integral part of who she is—a reminder that identity isn’t fixed, but is something we grow into overtime.
Writing as Resistance and Discovery
For Hannah, writing is both an act of resistance and self-discovery. She says,
Disabled people have had their stories told for them for ages, so to demand space to tell our own stories on our own terms is revolutionary.
Writing, for her, isn’t just a declaration; it’s a process of discovering truth, trying on language, and shaping a self beyond other people’s assumptions.
This theme runs throughout her forthcoming memoir, Dreams in Which I’m Almost Human, which invites readers to embrace “unstable categories and the vast array of differences that make up human and non-human life.” It’s a call to rethink the boxes we use to define people and experiences—and to find beauty in fluidity and difference.
Centering Disability Justice
Hannah’s approach is grounded in Disability Justice, a framework developed by the performance collective Sins Invalid. It imagines a future centered on disabled people, especially those living at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. Through this lens, Hannah situates her own story within a collective movement for liberation, one that values interconnectedness over individuality.
She also chooses identity-first language: “disabled person” rather than “person with a disability,” reflecting her belief that disability is not a limitation but a point of pride.
A Message of Worthiness
As the workshop concluded, Hannah offered one piece of advice that resonated deeply:
Find your disability community! Make friends with other disabled people! Consume content by disabled creators… And know that absolutely nothing is wrong with you or your disability.
That final sentence captures the heart of her message: nothing is wrong with you. It’s a radical act of self-acceptance and a challenge to societal norms that equate disability with deficit.
Join Our Next Workshop: Mental Wellness — You Got This!
Spaces like the H.E.R. workshop remind us that storytelling is empowerment. Through her writing, teaching, and upcoming memoir, Hannah Soyer invites us all to reclaim our voices, write our narratives and celebrate the complexity of who we are.
Continue the conversation on self-discovery and community by joining our next free virtual H.E.R. Workshop, “Mental Wellness: You Got This! A Toolkit of Strategies for Tough Days,” happening Friday, December 5th at 11:00 AM (PST).
This session, led by disability advocate Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu, will explore practical tools for supporting your mental health and building resilience.
Learn more and register here.
Additional Information
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