Hi! I'm Vilissa Thompson & I am the Founder & CEO of Ramp Your Voice! RYV! is the space I created to discuss disability from an intersectional lens. RYV! has existed for 5 years, and the website houses 200+ articles written since 2013.

Why should you support my Patreon? I have given powerful, insightful, and at times controversial, content for 5 years. I have written about topics ranging from dating, sex, politics, education, racial disparities, and so forth that filled in the gaps of conversation within the disabled community. I started writing because I did not see the perspectives of Black disabled women/femmes like myself in 2013. I wanted to change the landscape of which disabled voices were heard, and that is what I've done since.

At this time in my career as a social worker and activist, I seek to produce more personal, poignant content that steers in the direction of the interests I have, but still remains true to why I do this work - tell my truths and the truths of those that look like me.

For my Patreon, I will be:

Writing content on subjects that matter to me - dating, traveling, health disparities, tackling the racism within the disabled community, and the spiritual journey I am on.
Sharing a list of what I have read and/or listened to during the month that resonated and why.
Hosting a 20-30 minutes podcast highlighting current discussions happening in our society as well as topic ideas provided by you that I can dive into for the podcast.

Patreon is my way of engaging with current and new supporters about what I experience in my world, and share the worlds of other Black women/femmes.

With your support, I plan to expand the tiers (aiming by the end of 2019, going into 2020) to include video content AND doing more written pieces a month. However, none of my aspirations will come into fruition without you believing in the vision I have for this platform. As I always say, my work is and will forever be bigger than myself.

Writing and podcasting are how I plan to make the "good trouble" in this world, and I appreciate you being along for the journey.