Scout Bell

LIS professional | Researcher | Board Director

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Category: Reflection

A photo of black noise cancelling headphones, a hidden disabilities sunflower lanyard, and a roger focus assistive listening device.

Are you responding to my disability, or are you responding to me?

Posted on June 4, 2026June 22, 2026 by Scout Bell

Nikki Andersen recently wrote a post about being a disabled boss. I found myself nodding along to Nikki’s reflections on deciding how much of one’s experience to share professionally, without undermining perceived capability or being viewed only through the lens of disability. I also related to Nikki’s reflection on being open and honest about disability…

Bury the lede and follow my lead: What we miss about access in leadership

Posted on March 29, 2026April 3, 2026 by Scout Bell

“Access is a beginning, not an end point … accountability toward disability access means committing to cycles of success, failure, and (re)iteration. Put another way, access is a long-term commitment to do better” (Hamraie, 2016, p. 267). Two of the most common misconceptions I hear in leadership about disability and neurodivergence are that access and…

Three things I’m reading (part 2 and the PhD version)

Posted on February 18, 2026February 18, 2026 by Scout Bell

I’ve been across several books and articles lately (and don’t seem to be able to finish anything in one go!). It’s probably reflective of being across so many spaces; though, I enjoy wearing several hats at once and find that it brings new perspectives to my work and research. I’d also been missing my old…

Close-up photograph of an orange and yellow Banksia flower blooming with bright coral-red curved spikes. The plant has silvery-green leaves at its base and is photographed in natural outdoor setting with fallen leaves and dappled sunlight in the background.

Thoughts on ‘joy’ for 2026

Posted on January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by Scout Bell

A colleague shared a study about Autistic joy with me last week. I thanked them, feeling seen. They continued: “…and i immediately thought of you when i read ‘joy’ as well.” And with that, I had a word for 2026: Joy. I’ve never set a focus word for the year. I usually resist this, as…

A story about accommodations for a neurodivergent and disabled PhD candidate (and the process that made them work)

Posted on November 27, 2025April 19, 2026 by Scout Bell

This blog post is shared with the permission of my PhD supervisor, who was part of these conversations. I had disability accommodations for a PhD milestone this year. It’s not something I’ve opted for often (or for a while), and it ended up being a positive experience. A colleague who was encouraging me from the…

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  • Are you responding to my disability, or are you responding to me?
  • From inside the room: on efficiency, trust, and design as governance
  • Processes as stories: On struggle, meaning, and collective access
  • Bury the lede and follow my lead: What we miss about access in leadership

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