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“Chronically Radical – Disabled, Mad, Deaf and Political” almost ready!

We are pleased to announce that our film about disability and political activism will be released at the end of June 2026. We explore disabled resistance, and how spaces, groups and movements can be more accessible.

Let us know if you want to organise a screening. We’re very happy if you watch with your groups etc.

If you are interested just send us an email!

What is it about?

A voyage through different spaces of disability resistance and activism. How can we as disabled people struggle for a good life for everyone?

The film accompanies politically engaged chronically ill, d/Deaf, neurodivergent, disabled… people, and invites us to join the struggle. Our protagonists fight for many different causes, from the perspective of diverse intersections. They resist exclusion in broader society as well as in political movements. In their struggles they use methods old and new, whether through party politics, online organising, demonstrations, or direct action.

Our travel takes us to protest sites, climbing actions, street protests, and also to conferences and gatherings. We learn about ideas and praxis to build inclusive and accessible movements, and to oppose ableism.

A big board attached to a fence, with political stickers. Written in marker pen is a quote "It's not about self-care, it's about collective care" from Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha.

Accessibility and Languages

The film is in several languages, mainly in German, with continuous subtitles (so far in English and German). There is a German audio description. We plan to also make an English audio description as well as translation into German Sign Language and maybe also International Sign Language.

About us

Lian and Delila have been making films about political movements that they are part of for many years now. Their last film, „Radical Resilience“ (2020), was about burnout and regenerative activism. Through Lian’s chronic illness they discovered how inaccessible movements can be, and how ableism feels. These experiences led to the idea for „Chronically Radical“.

Send us a mail if you want to organise a screening! ( radicalresilience@riseup.net )

More information and ideas for organizing a screening and making it accessible: (COMING SOON)

Sana, Eelam Tamil activist with black hair, hi-vis vest and sign: "Disabled refugees, leave no-one behind"
A person with long brown hair and a white skirt holds a sign: "Fix the system not me!"
SchwarzRund and simo tier sit at a table and talk. Behind them are posters and zines on the wall: "Mobility aids for everyone!", "You are trans enough", "Cripple Newspaper" (all translated from German)
A person in an electric wheelchair blocking a road, encircled by many police officers in riot gear.
Tabitha, a colourfully dressed Black artist with a rainbow bag holds a sign: "Ableism looks like calling people 'inspiring' for navigating a system that is designed for exclusion, while doing nothing to hold the system accountable".
A person in a demonstration holds their left fist high in the air. In front of them a loudspeaker van and lots of people with banners and signs. "Justice for Mouhamed" is readable.
Loki, a black and white dog with orange eyebrows, sits on a couch. The couch is on a muddy field with self-built wooden huts and a treehouse in the background.

Ideas for film screenings of “Chronically Radical”

We’ve been working on this film for 6 years now, and we’ve learned a lot from the people we met. With the film we hope to pass on this knowledge, and to encourage change! Thank you for supporting us in that!

A couple of things that we find important:

Accessible film screenings

Its important for us that the film is accessible for as many people as possible. That’s why we created an audio description in German (and soon in English), as well as continuous subtitles in German and English. We also hope to be able to make a translation in German Sign Language and maybe also International sign language. (If people have ideas for how to get funding for that get in touch!)

We also hope to create change in the places and groups where the film is shown, so we ask you to think about how you can make the film screenings accessible for example for deaf, blind, neurodivergent, chronically ill, mobility impaired people. That could include:

  • For people with chronic illness, sofas or other possibilities to lie down, wearing masks, asking people not to come when acutely sick, taking enough breaks, hybrid or online events.
  • For deaf people organise sign language interpretation for the discussion (you probably need to organise funding for this, often cities have funding for this kind of accessibility)
  • Is the venue wheelchair accessible? Is there an accessible toilet, or if not is there one in the area that could be used? How easy is it to get there with public transport?
  • For neurodivergent people, make a quiet resting space available, provide fidget toys
  • For blind people: offer assistance

Try to make the event accessible for as many disabled people possible, if you can for at least two different groups, that would be great. It’s not always possible to make everything accessible for everyone, sometimes access needs conflict, but that’s a good start.

If that seems too much or you don’t have capacity to put it into practise, please show the film anyway. Maybe it can be a start of sth 🙂

It’s very important to transparently provide information on the invitations, on your website etc about how accessible the space and the event is for people with different disabilities. It could be a good idea to share the invitations in spaces where disabled people can be reached. They are excluded so often, it’s time for that to change!

A grey swan baby with black beak swims on a lake, its image reflected in the green water

Please support us

Lian is very ill and at the moment we have to organise and finance medication and also assistance ourselves. That’s not possible without support. We want the film to be available for everyone, regardless of whether they can afford it or not, so if possible we would like there to be no fixed entry price. But we would ask everyone who can to support us. If you are a project, space, NGO etc, who normally pays your workers and contractors, think about if you could maybe give us a bit more. Living with chronic illness is very expensive. We would be very happy, and we need the support to also finish the second part of the film, and to make this first part even more accessible. You can also let us know, if you could support by writing an application to the city or to an association etc for funding.

After the film

We’ve also thought about how you could moderate a discussion or exchange after watching the film. For example you could ask what barriers people in the room experience, and what they would wish for. How does ableism affect you?

Then you could reflect on how your group/movement could be more accessible, and think of the next steps to get there.

We’ll be very happy if you organise a film screening, and we hope that together we can change a lot!

If you like you can also share with us, how the screening went, as lian can’t leave bed we’ re happy to stay connected and get to travel through the film 🙂

Book Review: “Black Disability Politics” by Sami Schalk

I just finished reading „Black Disability Politics“ by Sami Schalk and wanted to share some things I’ve learned. This is a very important book for activist groups and movements and I would encourage everyone to get a copy (it is also available for free)1! Sami Schalk examines how the subject of disability was dealt with in past and present Black activist organising. To put this review into perspective, I am writing this as a white, queer nonbinary, neurodivergent and physically non-disabled person born and living in western Europe.

Continue reading Book Review: “Black Disability Politics” by Sami Schalk

Welcome to Chronically Radical!

Here we will keep you up to date on our upcoming film “Chronically Radical – Disabled and Political”. We will also share interesting articles and resources around the subjects of disability, activism, inclusion and accessibility.