Local Activist Champions Disability Rights
Introducing our #WorthyWednesday series.
Meet Hannah.
Hannah Soyer is one of the most bad-ass activists in Iowa City. You might know her from the 2017 Women’s March in Des Moines, where she was one of several powerful keynote speakers. At the march, Hannah spoke about advocating for disability rights and improving our healthcare system. On her Facebook page, she writes:
A little over a year ago, I spoke at the Women’s March in Des Moines about disability rights and the fight for quality, adequate healthcare. Afterwards, when I was inside the State Capital building trying to warm up, a girl around my age came up to me, thanked me for speaking, and asked me how people could become more involved with supporting the needs and rights of those with disabilities. The thing is, I didn’t really know how to answer this. I think she was looking for concrete actions she could take, which at that time, I didn’t have. Instead, I told her that the most important thing was listening to people with disabilities and letting us speak for ourselves (which will always be true), and that at a state level, the biggest fight in my opinion was ending privatized Medicaid.
A year later, Hannah is using ActWorthy to share and advocate for concrete actions people can take to support those with disabilities. One of her actions is focused on writing a letter to the Iowa legislature to encourage Republican Senators to support SF 2058, a bill which would end privatized Medicaid in the state of Iowa.
When I asked her about why she’s excited to use ActWorthy, Hannah said “ActWorthy will give me another platform to share actions I believe are important. It will also inform me of important things I can do to create change related to causes that I’m not as informed about.”
In addition to speaking in front of 20,000 people at the 2017 Women’s March, Hannah was actively involved in some of the planning meetings leading up to the big day. Being able to play a role in such a historic day was one of the most meaningful opportunities she’s had in her life, Hannah told me. Speaking in front of such a large crowd also gave her a platform to advocate on behalf of all disabled persons in Iowa and across the United States.
The Life of an Activist
Even though she’s a long-time activist, Hannah remembers how it felt to be new in the game. Her advice? Listen to others:
“Take the time to consider all sides of an issue, because it’s only by trying to understand other perspectives that we can figure out how to move forward. This might mean learning how to best speak to those who don’t agree with you about an issue you’re passionate about. This could mean acknowledging that there are more factors to consider in regards to your cause than you had initially thought.”
Even if it feels like nothing you’re doing is working, she says, keep at it. “Change takes time,” she told me, “and in many instances it’s difficult to see or measure.” If you’re ever feeling burnt out, Hannah recommends watching funny cat videos, meditating, reading, and listening to podcasts (her favorite is On Being with Krista Tippett).
Are Students “Too Busy” to Take Action?
As a recent college graduate, Hannah understands how difficult it can be to manage a demanding school schedule while still advocating for the causes you believe in. Take the time to reevaluate your schedule; you probably have more time than you think. At the end of the day, however, the reality is that school is a lot of work. Some students work multiple jobs, have research positions or internships, or have personal obligations that eat up the time spent outside of class. If this describes you, fear not! You can still make a difference. As Hannah puts it, “activism can be something as simple as talking with a coworker” about an issue that matters to you. “Ultimately,” she says, “activism and change happen through communication, and we all have unending opportunities to communicate with others about things we care about on any given day.”
At ActWorthy, we understand your life is busy. Actworthy.org is here for you when your schedule permits. When you arrive, your feed will be full of actions both large and small for you to choose from. We make it easy to figure out what to do; taking action is up to you.
Hannah is also a member of the Hawkeye Accessibility Ambassador program in Iowa City and volunteered on the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016. For more information on how you can become an advocate for disability rights and healthcare reform, follow Hannah on ActWorthy!
Are you an activist doing amazing work in Iowa? We want to show it off! Email me at alexandria@actworthy.org if you’d like to be profiled on ActWorthy’s social media. #WorthyWednesday
