Annie Heffernan
@annieheff.bsky.social
AP in political theory at University of Michigan working at the intersection of disability studies, feminist theory, and democratic theory. she/hers.
www.annheffernan.net
www.annheffernan.net
Pinned
“They Attend Strictly to Their Own Business”: Disability and the Construction of the Worker-Citizen | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
“They Attend Strictly to Their Own Business”: Disability and the Construction of the Worker-Citizen
www.cambridge.org
My article, “‘They Attend Strictly to Their Own Business’: Disability and the Construction of the Worker-Citizen” is now up on APSR FirstView!
I would love one!!!
January 15, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I would love one!!!
Reposted by Annie Heffernan
Fascinating story about how genome-based theories of disease clouded our understanding of exposome-based explanations of disease and how those errors are now slowly being corrected.
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
“No one knows exactly how much of the world’s drinking water is laced with TCE. The CDC reckons the water supply of 4-18% of Americans is contaminated… In Silicon Valley, where TCE was integral to manufacturing of early transistors, a necklace of underground plumes…”
www.wired.com/story/scient...
www.wired.com/story/scient...
Scientists Thought Parkinson’s Was in Our Genes. It Might Be in the Water
New ideas about chronic illness could revolutionize treatment, if we take the research seriously.
www.wired.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:24 AM
Fascinating story about how genome-based theories of disease clouded our understanding of exposome-based explanations of disease and how those errors are now slowly being corrected.
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
please tell me more about incorporating pet photos into your powerpoints. this sounds wonderful.
January 6, 2026 at 9:22 PM
please tell me more about incorporating pet photos into your powerpoints. this sounds wonderful.
I am back in Ann Arbor, nursing my annual start-of-winter-term cold (all hail Theraflu), but here is the finished syllabus for Disability: A Democratic Dilemma. Not entirely satisfied, but I need to stop fussing and get on with prepping my other class. Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions!
static1.squarespace.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:38 PM
I am back in Ann Arbor, nursing my annual start-of-winter-term cold (all hail Theraflu), but here is the finished syllabus for Disability: A Democratic Dilemma. Not entirely satisfied, but I need to stop fussing and get on with prepping my other class. Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions!
Reposted by Annie Heffernan
Mamdani: For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty
January 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Mamdani: For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty
I thought I knew how aggressive the Super PAC email/messaging campaigns were. I had no clue. In the 5 minutes I was searching for something in my dad's email, he received 20 emails. Relatedly, I would like a word with the persons responsible for the save to OneDrive feature in Microsoft Office.
January 1, 2026 at 6:49 AM
I thought I knew how aggressive the Super PAC email/messaging campaigns were. I had no clue. In the 5 minutes I was searching for something in my dad's email, he received 20 emails. Relatedly, I would like a word with the persons responsible for the save to OneDrive feature in Microsoft Office.
Moonlighting as filial tech support for my parents has made compiling my third-year review materials seem positively joy-filled by comparison.
(I may have brought this upon myself--I went with my mother to purchase the new computer that I am now in charge of setting up. I have regrets)
(I may have brought this upon myself--I went with my mother to purchase the new computer that I am now in charge of setting up. I have regrets)
January 1, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Moonlighting as filial tech support for my parents has made compiling my third-year review materials seem positively joy-filled by comparison.
(I may have brought this upon myself--I went with my mother to purchase the new computer that I am now in charge of setting up. I have regrets)
(I may have brought this upon myself--I went with my mother to purchase the new computer that I am now in charge of setting up. I have regrets)
I have MANY, but among them: "you're gorgeous from the waist up," said to 18yo me by a 60ish year old attendee at a dinner party hosted by my parents.
(I have cerebral palsy and the things people will say to me completely unprompted are truly wild)
(I have cerebral palsy and the things people will say to me completely unprompted are truly wild)
December 31, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I have MANY, but among them: "you're gorgeous from the waist up," said to 18yo me by a 60ish year old attendee at a dinner party hosted by my parents.
(I have cerebral palsy and the things people will say to me completely unprompted are truly wild)
(I have cerebral palsy and the things people will say to me completely unprompted are truly wild)
Aw, thank you! Right now I'm trying to work my way through the citizenship and equality section (which needs the most work).
December 31, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Aw, thank you! Right now I'm trying to work my way through the citizenship and equality section (which needs the most work).
oh this looks fascinating--can't wait to read!
December 29, 2025 at 3:23 AM
oh this looks fascinating--can't wait to read!
Yes! It’s in my to-read pile, and will definitely add the Received Wisdom podcast (I’m giving the students the option of doing either a podcast or a zine for their final project—they did a *phenomenal* job last time, so I’m building it out a bit more in this iteration and including some examples)
December 28, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Yes! It’s in my to-read pile, and will definitely add the Received Wisdom podcast (I’m giving the students the option of doing either a podcast or a zine for their final project—they did a *phenomenal* job last time, so I’m building it out a bit more in this iteration and including some examples)
Thanks! I might not get around to it for a week or two (impending semester), but I'd love to figure out a way to collect the resources that don't make it into the course (as a friend reminded me, now is not the time to be doing a wholesale renovation of a syllabus, much as I might want to).
December 27, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Thanks! I might not get around to it for a week or two (impending semester), but I'd love to figure out a way to collect the resources that don't make it into the course (as a friend reminded me, now is not the time to be doing a wholesale renovation of a syllabus, much as I might want to).
I‘ll be sure to post the syllabus and collect everything else in a shareable (and regularly updated) google doc. I did something similar a few years ago but got out of the habit of updating.
December 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I‘ll be sure to post the syllabus and collect everything else in a shareable (and regularly updated) google doc. I did something similar a few years ago but got out of the habit of updating.
For my class it’s comparatively simple, if time consuming. But so far they’ve just told us that 1) they have an RFP out for a program that will fix everything (it most definitely wont), and 2) ai-generated image descriptions are “great“ (they’re not).
December 27, 2025 at 7:07 PM
For my class it’s comparatively simple, if time consuming. But so far they’ve just told us that 1) they have an RFP out for a program that will fix everything (it most definitely wont), and 2) ai-generated image descriptions are “great“ (they’re not).
I’d love that! I just followed you, so you should be able to, although email might be easier (akheff@umich.edu).
December 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I’d love that! I just followed you, so you should be able to, although email might be easier (akheff@umich.edu).
The result is a lot of outright refusal and perception that the law and its expectations are “ridiculous.” (sorry for going on a complete tangent, but it’s been on my mind as I prep my Canvas sites)
December 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The result is a lot of outright refusal and perception that the law and its expectations are “ridiculous.” (sorry for going on a complete tangent, but it’s been on my mind as I prep my Canvas sites)
In a nutshell, UM has basically told faculty that they have till April to make their course materials accessible, but haven’t provided the time, training, or resources to make that feasible (especially in science, media, or data/graph heavy classes where image description is difficult).
December 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
In a nutshell, UM has basically told faculty that they have till April to make their course materials accessible, but haven’t provided the time, training, or resources to make that feasible (especially in science, media, or data/graph heavy classes where image description is difficult).
The design segment of the course is by far my favorite, but I haven’t included much on tech (and need to)
For my own purposes, I’m also curious how rollout of the new ADA digital accessibility rules has been weaponized against faculty in a way that increases backlash against the ADA
For my own purposes, I’m also curious how rollout of the new ADA digital accessibility rules has been weaponized against faculty in a way that increases backlash against the ADA
December 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The design segment of the course is by far my favorite, but I haven’t included much on tech (and need to)
For my own purposes, I’m also curious how rollout of the new ADA digital accessibility rules has been weaponized against faculty in a way that increases backlash against the ADA
For my own purposes, I’m also curious how rollout of the new ADA digital accessibility rules has been weaponized against faculty in a way that increases backlash against the ADA
excellent! Thank you! I’ll check it out today
December 27, 2025 at 6:40 PM
excellent! Thank you! I’ll check it out today
Oh, this looks fascinating! Thank you!
December 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Oh, this looks fascinating! Thank you!
Oh excellent! I have your book and am using parts of it for chapter 4 of my book (which is currently in shambles)
December 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Oh excellent! I have your book and am using parts of it for chapter 4 of my book (which is currently in shambles)
ooo, this looks fascinating! Might not be ready in time for this class, but will certainly check it out for my own work!
December 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
ooo, this looks fascinating! Might not be ready in time for this class, but will certainly check it out for my own work!
oh, In Case of Emergency looks excellent! Thank you!
December 27, 2025 at 6:51 AM
oh, In Case of Emergency looks excellent! Thank you!