Jillian Curwin, Director of Communications for the Mascots Matter Campaign, is an advocate, storyteller, and content creator reshaping the conversation around disability, access, and representation. In this episode of Everything You Know About Disability Is Wrong, she joins hosts Lily Newton and Erin Hawley for an insightful discussion.

Jillian shares her experience as a little person navigating an often inaccessible world, particularly in the fashion industry. She reflects on what sparked her advocacy, how misperceptions about disability motivated her, and why authentic representation matters. Jillian also talks about embracing a disabled identity, the value of lived experience, and the role of community in fostering self-acceptance and empowerment.

Her story offers fresh perspectives on adaptive fashion, confidence, and finding one’s voice, both in the disability community and beyond. Listeners will gain valuable insights that challenge perceptions of disability and redefine what it means to be seen and heard.

Key Moments

06:01 Awakening to Advocacy

07:11 Diverse Representation in Fashion

19:02 My Disability Advocacy Journey

23:44 Redefining Disability Through Experience

34:37 Issues in Disability Fashion Inclusion

45:00 Empowering Disability Representation

Connect with Jillian Curwin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-curwin-04827056

Website: https://mascotsmatter.net/about-page/