The Access Radio Hour blends music by disabled artists and conversations about disability at Emerson. Hosted by Access: Student Disability Union's Vice President for Community, Greyson Acquaviva, this accessible radio show brings disability to WECB every Friday from 2-3pm EST.
The audio of this interview can be found here.
Greyson:
We're on to the interview segment of our show. Please welcome Tiana Oliveras. Pleasure to meet you.
Tiana:
Yeah. Nice to meet you, too.
Greyson:
Yeah, I'm really excited to hear what you have to say about some stuff and definitely interesting to talk about you, especially, since you have sort of a unique position with your disability and with Emerson.
Tiana:
Yeah, of course.
Greyson:
So, first things first, as we always ask here, tell me a little bit about yourself? You know, who are you? Like, yeah.
Tiana:
So um, my name is Tiana, as you know, through the introduction. I am a VMA junior at Emerson, where I study film production. I'm really into gaffing, or doing lighting for films and shows. I'm a member of Delta Kappa Alpha, professional cinematic society, fraternity. I'm also very open about like spirituality and positivity and embracing disability and mental health issues. I share a lot about those in my Instagram stories, whether that be through me, reposts, or me going on little tangents about affirmations or self-love. And I just love bringing a little light in people's day. So, I make sure to do that on my platform or in my relationship with others.
Greyson:
That's really important. I always like to have like something brighten my day in the morning.
Tiana:
Yeah.
Greyson:
Yeah, so uh, that's pretty interesting. So, you were talking about— you like gaffing?
Tiana:
Yes. So that's, you know, lightning. Um, I got into it my freshman year of college. Well, I started out as a best boy electric and then worked my way up to key grip. And now I'm gaffing this semester.
Greyson:
Nice. So, do you think like, what do you think after college about what you're probably gonna do? You think you'll stick with lighting? Do you like lighting? Or do you think you'll stick with something more? Something different? What like— I just want to ask that real quick?
Tiana:
Well, yeah, of course. I love lighting. I definitely think that's something that I'll stick with. Um, I definitely saw myself you know, potentially doing cam, then I'm like, “eh, like, I'm 4’10.”” Like, I think I would need a lot of apple boxes to like, stand on to make it work. Yeah. I love lighting so much. And it's a big part of cinematography as well. I definitely think I'm going to stick with it.
Greyson:
Yeah. So, this brings us on to our next question, which is, could you tell me a little about a little bit about your disability, which is, we call we call it limb difference? And basically, how does it affect your daily life, but also in part of your major? How does your disability affects studying for your VMA major? But if you could talk about lower first how it affects your life, and then how it affects, you know, your VMA major, that's cool.
Tiana:
Yeah. So, I'll just start out just talking a little bit about the disability first. So, I was born with amniotic band syndrome. There's a whole scientific theory about how it happens. But long story short, I was born with a limb deformity. I'm missing all of my fingers on my left hand, and my palm is much smaller than normal. I've been told that it looks like a cat's paw, so that's pretty interesting. Yeah, limb difference is different for everyone, hence the name. I'm gonna be missing most of my hand, but others may have fingers, or maybe missing arms, legs or feet. It really varies. But as for how it affects my daily life, I feel like I've learned to adapt to a lot of things since birth. I've always been without a left hand, so I've had to learn to navigate the world differently from others. I can tie my shoes, put up my hair, drive, work, etc. But all things that I've learned have taken some trial and error. I honestly had my parents have issues until I was 15. And I just figured out how to put in earrings on my own and I'm 20 years old. Um, yeah, living with a disability is definitely a learning curve, and about getting past any fears of failure. But failure is just part of a progress. And all that matters is that I get back up and try again. So yeah, just never let my disability stop me. It's a big part of me. And I love having it. But for limb difference, like, in regards to like my VMA major. So it can be interesting to study it and navigate it, um, when I'm doing film production. When it comes to lighting, sometimes I need to need some help setting up equipment like twisting knobs to lock or unlock C stands to change the height. That that's also just like a height problem as well. But I find my way to do it on my own. And it's also really helpful having a fully developed right hand, so get a better grip on things. And I'm also just so glad to have worked with so many great people and many great sets where everyone's willing to help me out. Whether they be on my lighting team or their producers, directors or production assistants, everyone I've worked with has been so accommodating, whether asked or unasked. And I feel like the same goes for professors as well. Um, and I'm just so thankful.
Greyson:
Yeah, that's a really good positive take on it. Um, I definitely with my Tourette's, I definitely try and have a more positive spin on it as well. When it regards, like if I might have a Tourette's where I might actually do something weird, I might laugh it off and like,
Tiana:
Yeah.
Greyson:
Say, “oh, that's my Tourette's, you know?”
Tiana:
Yeah.
Greyson:
Yeah, definitely, it's important to have a positive outlook on it. So, I guess my next question would be, would you change it if you could or what would you do?
Tiana:
That's an awesome question actually. If you asked me that question, 10 years ago, definitely. I would have definitely taken any opportunity to change my disability. And I feel like the reason I felt that way, I was just so insecure about it. And I like that's just because, like, I let people's words get to me, you know, and because, like bullying and stuff like that, and I'm fortunate enough to not have many instances with that. But I know like many other people were bullying was constant. And just having like, a few occasions, like really messed with me as a child and growing up into like, teenagehood and stuff. But, um, so I definitely would have said yes, back then, like, sometimes I would wake up and just like, hope that my hand grew in, you know? But, and, but, and that just sounds so crazy to say now, because my disability is something that I love so much. And I'm so thankful to have this experience to share with other people and to help people learn. But at the same time, it's like not always like my obligation to like teach able bodied people, but I do enjoy it personally. But honestly, I feel like my need to like change my disability, like stopped when I went to amputee camp and met all these amazing amputees, whether, you know, they had no legs or no arms. Everyone is just so inspiring to me. And of course, there's like that issue with inspire— inspiration porn and with disability, but like, to me as a disabled person to seeing other disabled people succeed, whether they're like, in the Paralympics at like, a teenage level, you know, like, that's amazing to me, or just, you know, being confident in themselves. I just didn't understand confidence and disability for a very long time. And it finally came with that amputee camp experience for three years. I am so thankful. And I would never change my disability. Like I'm so sad to think like, I ever had that mindset. But I'm so proud to be disabled today. And that's what matters.
Greyson:
Yeah. I think you speak to a lot of experiences, including mine. I definitely think that, that, that it can be said for a lot of people maybe 10 years ago, or 20 years ago for some people, that they would have maybe wanted to change the difference. And you know, we all both, we all both have ups and downs and all that different days where we are disability sometimes gets in the way of stuff. But most of the time, I definitely feel more confident in it than I did 5, 10 years ago.
Greyson:
Yeah. And I'm glad that you feel that way as well.
Tiana:
Yeah. So, I know you can't talk about much because the RA stuff is sort of different. But you are a resident assistant at Emerson College, and I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about your experience or what you can tell about your experience being an RA as a student with a disability.
Tiana:
Yeah. So, um, being an RA has been a great experience so far. I love working with my team in my building. They're all like, such amazing people. And as for my experience with disability as an RA, it's been very insightful. I think having a disability has already taught me a lot about patience and compassion, so I feel like I can easily translate those skills into my position as an RA. And I also find that being open about my physical disability makes me a little more approachable. If anyone like has questions about Access, or SAS, or just maybe physical disabilities like my own, I think they'd feel comfortable talking to me about it. And if I don't have a particular answer, I always know who to refer them to, or who to ask questions about certain situations. Like, I've definitely reached out to Harper. I'm like, “hey, do you have like a suggestion about this?” And I'm so thankful to have that support system with Access.
Greyson:
Yeah, of course. So that I guess that brings me to my next question, little bit, which talks about SAS. So you don't really use SAS? And so, what has it been like being a disabled student? Who doesn't use SAS? What is your experience? Do you think you could go on a little bit about that?
Tiana:
Yeah, um, I think it's been going well. I don't think that my disability necessarily requires a lot of accommodations, because, you know, I've grown up with it so I found ways to navigate it on my own and I'm very fortunate to be have to have the ability to do that. I had a 504 in high school to ensure I didn't get in any trouble for like not climbing the rope in gym class. But I'm not having a— not having to use SAS is definitely a privilege. It's frustrating to see how the system has failed to accommodate many disabled people. And I'm glad that there's departments like SAS, to provide students accommodations on campus and groups like Access to advocate with disabled students and provide them that extra support.
Greyson:
Yeah, well, we here at Access love to help out, I guess. And that's funny, this radio show with only created because the radio station reached out to us and they were like, “Hey, these orcs have their own radio station, so do you want to make one?” And me and Harper sort of co—collaborated on it and so we created this as also a means to get out our, you know, not agenda but, our named out, our brand out, our org out. It's a great way to like, tell people more about the disabilities and challenges people have at Emerson. And it also just does a great job of— with these interviews— of giving like a real-life, hands on experience, which is really important. I think it definitely changes a lot of minds. And I at least I hope it does.
Tiana:
Yeah, I hope so too.
Greyson:
Yeah, yeah.
Tiana:
I was so excited when you guys announced, like that we're doing this radio show and a website where we can like post work as well. Like, I just think that's just so amazing to like, incorporate, like our creativity, since we do go to a pretty, you know, liberal arts type college. I think it's so awesome just to, like, get into media and share our experiences, whether that be through writing, or talk shows and stuff like that. It's just so fun, and really brings to light issues that we go through, and how to learn to be more accommodating and stuff like that.
Greyson:
Yeah. So, you're a junior, you've had more of the college experience, I guess you could say whatever that entails than most people. And you've probably had your ups and downs, things you wish you did that you weren't able to do as well as maybe knowledge you wish you knew going forwards in time that that may have been proved helpful in certain situations. So, I guess my last question for you would be, if you go back in time and give your younger self advice on anything regarding the, quote, “college experience,” what would it be and why?
Tiana:
Ooh. I feel like this one is going to tie into mental health as well as disability. So, um, if I could go back in time and talk to my younger self about college, or just like, you know, even high school, I’d tell her that self-care is a must and self-love is what matters most as well. And so, as I've discussed, I think in this interview, I have social anxiety. A lot of it stemming from childhood and negative experiences I've faced with my disability, like ignorant comments, stairs, bullying, you name it. I definitely— or it definitely put a damper on my self-confidence growing up. So, I started rebuilding that confidence in high school, but depression anxiety hit hard, as it does. My freshman year of college, I was struggling with the adjustment of moving away from home and making friends while having social anxiety and a shaky self-confidence. So that's why I stress self-care and self-love. Whether you're disabled or able bodied. Ultimately, the biggest person in your life is yourself so you may as well learn to love and respect yourself as you are. I feel like in college, we get caught up in comparisons like, “Oh, I'm not as talented. Oh, I'm not as confident Oh, I'm not as able.” But as soon as you learn to stop judging yourself, it's so free. And it sounds easier said than done. But I'm definitely a different person at 20 than I was at 17, or 13. So, remember yourself care, college students. Grab your favorite meals, go for a walk, listen to music, read, watch some movies, get your rest. Live in the moment and work on that self-love. I find that saying positive affirmations, journaling, reading, getting therapy, meditation and building strong healthy friendships helps with gaining that self-love. And in college flies by quickly. So, don't spend it wrapped up in bad relationships or the fear of trying new things. Like joining Delta Kappa Alpha terrified me. I really didn't think I could do it with my social anxiety. But my friends were so supportive. I found out that everyone in the fraternity was amazing. I got in, and here I am, Sunshine Chair of DKA this semester. So just long story short about college experience; you just have to have faith in yourself and remember to practice self-care, because, again, you're the biggest person in your life, so you might as well enjoy life while you're having it and just treat yourself with respect.
Greyson:
Yeah, that's a very poignant ending to that. Yeah. I mean, you said also that you did have sort of a— almost a social media account that you post sort of mental health helpful stuff like self-love and all that. Would you mind maybe sharing that, that info?
Tiana:
Yeah, like that Instagram handle?
Greyson:
Yeah!
Tiana:
Yeah. So, um, it's hard to like— ‘cause it's not spelled the way it is. So, it’s @Takeitezt. So, it's T-A-K-E-I-T-E-Z-T. It's a private account, but if you go to Emerson, I’ll most likely accept it. So, um, yeah, I usually just post those positive things on my stories. So, if you'd like to see it, feel free to follow me.
Gresyon:
Well, I definitely after this. You sounds like a very good person that I can definitely use in the morning.
Tiana:
Yeah, for sure.
Greyson:
Well, thank you so much for coming, Tiana.
Tiana:
Yeah. Thank you for having me. I'm so glad to have got this interview with you.
Gresyson:
No problem. I'm always happy to have guests on our show. So that will conclude our interview segment. I hope you all loved the segment. I sure as heck I did! So yeah, keep it real, y'all. And see you next time when we interview a new person, hopefully. So, we'll be closing this interview segment now.