Ohio DD Talks
Ohio DD Talks
Podcast Description
The mission of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) is to create change that improves independence, productivity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. The DD Council consists of members, most who are people with disabilities, appointed by the governor. Our videos highlight our Council members and the work of DD Council and its grantees. We also strive to bring attention to both the challenges and successes experienced by people with disabilities. Be sure to visit our website at http://www.ddc.ohio.gov.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a variety of topics including supported decision-making, community advocacy for accessible facilities, inclusive sports, and healthcare innovations for individuals with disabilities. For example, episodes feature discussions on universal changing tables that enhance restroom access, storytelling workshops promoting individual narratives, and telehealth solutions for medical care tailored to the IDD community.
The mission of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) is to create change that improves independence, productivity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. The DD Council consists of members, most who are people with disabilities, appointed by the governor. Our videos highlight our Council members and the work of DD Council and its grantees. We also strive to bring attention to both the challenges and successes experienced by people with disabilities. Be sure to visit our website at http://www.ddc.ohio.gov.
In this episode of Ohio DD Talks, host Shari Cooper sits down with two fellow authors and disability advocates, Renee Wood and Allison Boot, for a conversation about writing books as a form of advocacy. All three have published their own work, and together they talk about what inspired them to write, what the process actually took, and what they hope readers walk away with. Shari also shares the story behind her own book, I'm Okay With Myself.
Host: Shari Cooper Guests: Renee Wood, Allison Boot
Key Topics
Meet the Authors: Renee Wood, from Toledo, has been involved in advocacy organizations for more than 20 years and has written two books — a compilation of her blogs called No Choice: Services for People with Disabilities, and an autobiography called The First Cut Is the Sweetest. Allison Boot, of Beavercreek, is Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2023 and has self-published four young adult and children's fantasy books featuring characters with disabilities, including the Tales of Dance series and a children's book about a unicorn who uses a wheelchair.
Why They Write: Allison has been writing since she was about nine, partly because writing lets her express things she can't always say out loud, and partly because she never saw characters like herself in the books she grew up with. Renee spent years being told she should write a book, but waited until she felt her story had enough of an arc. Shari wrote hers because she wanted to show what it took to become okay with herself.
Representation and Living a Full Life: Allison wants readers to know they can live a full life with a disability without being cured or fixed. Renee's message is that you can live a typical life — love, romance, jobs, friends — if you're willing to fight for it. Shari includes what she calls ”Shari tips,” practical independent living advice drawn from her own experience.
The Hardest Parts: Renee wrote 64 pages between 2018 and 2024, typing three or four words a minute until she found voice dictation software that got her up to twelve or thirteen. She then used AI to catch grammar and spelling errors while insisting it not change her words. Allison's challenge is knowing when a book is finished and it's time to let it go. For Shari, the hardest part was formatting and publishing — margins, pictures, and specifications.
Publishing Platforms: The panel compares Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital, and discusses when it makes sense to hire freelance help for formatting.
Audiobooks vs. Text-to-Speech: Allison explains the difference and shares how authors can split royalties with narrators and producers instead of paying production costs upfront — a route that makes audiobooks more accessible for self-published authors.
Seeing It in Print: Renee ordered 20 copies and opened one immediately to check that there were really words inside. Allison describes the moment as surreal and being proud that something she worked so hard on existed in a form she could share.
Hopes and Dreams: Renee hopes her books reach someone who is struggling. Allison hopes to catch Disney's attention and see a princess or superhero with a disability on screen. Shari hopes Oprah reads her book, and floats Keke Palmer to play her in a movie version.
Advice for Anyone Thinking About Writing: Renee points out that not many people with developmental disabilities write books, and that's exactly why more should. Everyone has a story, and the only way people will know it is if you tell it.
Why It Matters
Books shape how people understand disability, and for a long time those books were written by other people. This episode is three advocates talking honestly about what it takes to tell your own story and get it into the world.
Resources and Links
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.