Ode to Headphones

when the outside pierces the inside

car horns, shouts, bus brakes, undulating background chatter building

till annoyance becomes physical pain

my ears are folded in by my hands

my eyes are swollen in their tear-lined sockets

the vibrations that radiate from the impact of my heel on the ground are measured

with just one sound

from the conversations, the day, the peace - I am severed

my favorite gift was not very expensive

it was not trendy, then at least

it was an object and

a new way of knowing the world

over-the-ear headphones

now scratched, stickered, peeling

loved

something worn on the outside

to bring peace to

the inside

I left class one day

without them

my instructor ran after me

WAIT

what would you do without them?

some nights

they cushion my head as I drift to sleep

some evenings

they narrowly avoid water as I shower

most days

they are as essential as shoes

every day

they are a friend

a protector


About the Author

Tess Carichner (she/her) is the editor of Accessing Disability Culture, a research assistant in the Digital Accessible Futures Lab, and a junior at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Tess' passion is in understanding ableism in healthcare spaces, especially ableism perpetuated against autistic women and gender diverse people. She hopes to pursue further education and research in relation to anti-ableist healthcare practice and curriculum. When not in class or planning her next disability justice event as the founder of Disability Justice @ Michigan, Tess can be found thrifting her outfits, listening to audiobooks, showing people pictures of her dog (Toni), and collaging with recycled books.

In Ode to Headphones (2023), Carichner reflects on a piece of technology that, while casual in presentation, actually creates sensory access in her everyday life as an autistic person. The brief interaction in which an instructor urgently recognizes a piece of "casual" tech as an assistive device is an uncommon, yet necessary example of sensory needs being validated. Lastly, Carichner reflects on the user's regard of assistive devices, as the headphones become a part of the routine, the experience, and even the user herself.

Image description: Tess is a young white person with whitish-blonde wavy hair and freckles. She is smiling at the camera and standing in front of a blurred nature-green background. Tess is wearing a blue dress and a matching blue stone choker necklace.

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