In NACHOS S3E3 – Tolkien, Disability, and the Time We’re Given, Dr. Dutch explores the timeless wisdom of J.R.R. Tolkien alongside the urgent realities of disability and neurodivergence in higher education. Beginning with Frodo and Gandalf’s reminder that “all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us,” this episode connects Tolkien’s vision of resilience to Jay Timothy Dolmage’s Academic Ableism and its metaphors of “steep steps” and “retrofits.”

Together, we unpack how exclusion is built into the design of universities and society, and why scraps of access are never enough. Instead, we imagine what it means to create truly inclusive spaces where every brain has a seat at the table. From classrooms to conferences, we explore how access must move beyond accommodation toward justice and universal design.

This episode also highlights the upcoming Michigan Disability Empowerment Conference (MDEC) on October 24, a gathering of advocates, students, and community leaders committed to building a future where disabled voices are centered from the start.

Whether you are a student, educator, advocate, or Tolkien fan seeking hope in challenging times, this conversation offers affirmation, reflection, and a call to action.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Tolkien’s wisdom connects to neurodivergent and disabled experiences today

• Why Dolmage’s metaphors of steep steps and retrofits reveal systemic ableism in higher education

• The difference between token accommodations and genuine inclusion

• How the Michigan Disability Empowerment Conference is creating space for empowerment, advocacy, and innovation

• Why neuro-affirming communities like NACHOS matter for belonging and resilience

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#Tolkien #DisabilityJustice #Neurodivergent #AcademicAbleism #UniversalDesign #NACHOSPodcast #MichiganDisabilityEmpowermentConference