Stephanie Ko
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sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Stephanie Ko
@sinistralscribe.bsky.social
220 followers 460 following 63 posts
Disabled & chronically ill admin, advocate, pixel pusher, plant enjoyer, costumier. She/her/hers.
💙 #MECFS et al. | 🎭 GM at @operamariposa.bsky.social
📍MST Territories (Greater Vancouver, BC)

https://stephanieko.carrd.co
Posts Replies Media Videos
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Signal-boosting from Masks 4 East Van on Insta:

FREE bulk N95 masks to YVR community members & groups
- RecoverAidMD has 5 pallets of 3M 1860 (standard size) to donate
- Expiry Sept 2025 & some other later expiries
- Time sensitive! Will go to landfill if not claimed by Fri Jan 23
- Not for resale
Lime green graphic promoting free N95 masks to community members and groups, with a photo of a pallet of boxes as well as a product photo of a real blue 3M 1860 respirator in front of a small box of respirators. Text echoes the wording in the Bluesky post
January 13, 2026 at 3:27 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Vancouver Coastal Health (@vchhealthcare.bsky.social) is establishing an accessibility committee, and the application deadline is tomorrow (Dec 19). It involves 4 virtual meetings a year for 2 years; honoraria are available under some circumstances. Learn more & apply: engage.vch.ca/do-you-want-...
Do you want to help make VCH more accessible?
Overhead shot of six disabled people of color at a rooftop deck party. An Indigenous Two-Spirit person with a prosthetic leg smiles directly at the camera and gives a thumbs up while everyone else is ...
engage.vch.ca
December 19, 2025 at 3:09 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Did you know? At @donatemask.bsky.social:
- $20 ships enough masks to protect a household
- $100 ships thousands of masks for a mask bloc (mutual aid group) to distribute locally
- with donation-matching til Dec 14, just $10 or $50 is enough to make it happen!

donatemask.ca/fundraiser
December 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
[CW: Loss]

My grandfather (“Gung Gung”), Gum Chu Cheong, passed away on Nov 28 at the age of 95. Many of you knew him through his tireless volunteer work w/ @operamariposa.bsky.social (& his church, his strata council, the Chinese Cultural Centre, Chinese Garden Society, Dragon Boat Association…)
Headshot of Chu Cheong against a cloudy-looking portrait background. He is a Chinese-Canadian elder with dark grey hair streaked with white at the temples, wearing a dark suit jacket and a striped blue tie with a little gold pin in his lapel. He looks directly at the viewer, smiling.
December 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Ko
operamariposa.bsky.social
Happy International #DisabilityDay! Today we're celebrating the wonderful disabled creatives we've been blessed to work with at Opera Mariposa - and encourage you to check out our roundup of resources about accessibility in the performing arts at operamariposa.com/resources/! #IDPD
Resources
Discover some of our top resources for accessibility in opera and the performing arts - plus the new archival home of 'Opera and Disability'.
operamariposa.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Heads up, Vancouverites - the City’s proposed 2026 budget includes major cuts to arts, community services, sustainability & more.

👉 Send email re: climate - stand.earth/vanbudgetcuts

👉 Email template re: arts - bit.ly/GVPTAcitybud...

👉 Send comment to City Council - vancouver.ca/your-governm...
November 11, 2025 at 5:43 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Help needed for "e", a local organizer I know. After developing #LongCovid, e also lost housing & possessions when an oil refinery covered them w/ toxic fumes. They've finally secured new housing, but need help w/ rent & medical costs while long-term supports are pending. chuffed.org/project/supp...
graphic of clouds and sky, with a pink box containing the text, Support disabled QTPOC rebuilding after medical & housing crisis. chuffed.org/project/supportfore
September 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Excited to be lending a hand with the #CleanAirFestival again this year 🩵🪁 First up: a FREE webinar and Q&A on Sept 7, featuring certified air filter specialist Bryan Louis & sustainability-focussed architect Ian Robertson. Register & get access deets: www.tickettailor.com/events/clean...
Graphic for a webinar on a light purple, pink, and yellow background. Fluffy blue clouds features Clean Air Festival title design in white, pink, and blue. There is a cloud behind the text and the letter R is wearing a mask. Main text reads “Ask a Clean Air Nerd: a Webinar and Q&A” taking place at Sunday, September 7 from 4 to 5:30 pm Pacific / 7 to 8:30 pm Eastern on Zoom. Closed captioning provided. Featuring Bryan Louis (Dr.sc., CAFS) and Ian Robertson (M.Arch). Free to attend. There is a banner at the bottom that reads: Learn more and register today at cleanairfestival.ca
August 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Thank you so much to every single person & org who took part - by supporting, sharing, contributing your artistic talents, and putting in all the hard work to make this happen! 💖
operamariposa.bsky.social Opera Mariposa @operamariposa.bsky.social · Aug 11
Ten thousand thanks to everyone who supported our 2025 Benefit + Awareness Month! With your help, we raised $10,626.98 for @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social and people with #MECFS, #LongCovid & #fibromyalgia - which brings our charity fundraising total to over $150,000 since Opera Mariposa started!

1/3
In front of an artistic photo of blue, teal and purple cupcakes, an aqua circle contains the text, Thank you. With your help, we've raised $10,626.98 for ME/CFS, Long Covid, and Fibromyalgia. At the bottom of the circle are the butterfly logos for Opera Mariposa and the ME | FM Society of BC. At the top is a translucent watercolour image of a purple butterfly.
August 12, 2025 at 6:07 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Heads up that BC’s free COVID rapid test program is being cut off. More info: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/....

Many pharmacies still have stock, so if you need tests (esp if you don’t have means to purchase them), nab some ASAP!

List of participating pharmacies: www.bcpharmacy.ca/pharmacy-ser...
COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits in Pharmacies | BC Pharmacy Association
www.bcpharmacy.ca
July 15, 2025 at 10:10 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Last week to take the first national survey about disabled experiences in Canadian film & TV! If you’re disabled (or have worked with disabled talent) in the industry, OR if you want to work in the sector but can’t due to barriers, this 10 min survey is for you:

www.dso-orphe.ca/survey/
June 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Did you know? BC gov is now accepting written ideas from the public on what to include in the 2026 #BCBudget. Whether your priorities include health, housing, climate justice, arts funding, disability supports or more, you can have your say til June 20 at 2pm: consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca
Graphic with BC landscape images in blue, green and teal. White sans serif text reads: BC Budget 2026 Consultation. Share Your Views by June 20, 2025. Participate now and more information at: bcleg.ca/consultations Parliamentary Committees Office 250 356 2933 or toll-free 1 877 428 8337. In the corner is a teal logo for BC’s Select Standing Committee on Finance & Government Services.
June 12, 2025 at 3:04 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Thank you so much to @skycameron.bsky.social for sharing your story as a singer with #LongCovid - just in time for National AccessAbility Week as well! #NAAW2025
May 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
So excited to finally be able to announce this project, and to have the opportunity to work alongside some incredible artists, researchers, and subject matter experts across Canada!
operamariposa.bsky.social Opera Mariposa @operamariposa.bsky.social · May 22
Big news 📢 @essentialopera.bsky.social, @operamariposa.bsky.social, and a group of Canadian artists and researchers have formed a coalition for an exciting new project.

We’re developing a resource on immuno-inclusivity in opera spaces (and beyond!), supported by the Canada Council for the Arts!
A soft rainbow gradient features a pinkish cream torn paper strip across the middle, with italic text reading, Big News! Smaller sans serif text reads, Essential Opera, Opera Mariposa, and a group of Canadian artists and researchers have formed a coalition for an exciting new project... Coming soon. At the top are black and red logos for Essential Opera and Opera Mariposa, and at the bottom is a black logo for Canada Council for the Arts / Conseil des arts du Canada.
May 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Today's the #BlueSunday2025, the “tea party for ME”! The idea behind this annual community tradition is simple:

☕ Sip some tea
🤳 Snap some photos for socials
💙 Support an #MECFS charity if you can by donating what you’d have paid at a café!

I'm joining in to celebrate, alongside #pwME worldwide.
Closeup of nine buttercream-frosted chocolate cupcakes by Maya's Cupcake Bouquets. They're decorated to look like elaborate flowers, including a variety of blue roses and dainty clusters of purple blossoms. The cupcakes sit on a porcelain rose-pattern plate, on a blue tablecloth with a faint butterfly pattern. In the background can be glimpsed croissants, another cupcake plate and a teacup, all out of focus. A closeup of Stephanie, seen past a screen of out-of-focus blue-purple hyacinth flowers. She is a disabled Chinese-Canadian woman with long dark hair, blue-rimmed glasses and a sea blue top, holding a porcelain teacup with a pink and silver rose pattern, glancing off to the side with a smile on her face. The background behind her is out of focus, with gleams of of light and green foliage glinting through a window.
May 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Today’s #MECFS Awareness Day, and I have lots of thoughts but not enough energy to express all of them.

Instead, here are pics from just some of the Awareness initiatives I’m taking part in - plus eight reasons why, year after year, I raise awareness for ME & other complex chronic illnesses...
Stephanie, a disabled Chinese-Canadian woman, lies in bed in a room lit up blue for ME/CFS Awareness. Her black hair is spread around her face in waves and she has glasses, a blue top, and a serious expression. She is holding a sign with hand-written text reading, “ME/CFS is: something anyone can get” for Open Medicine Foundation’s #MECFSis campaign. Stephanie is shown from the waist up seated in front of a white wall and window blinds. She is wearing blue-framed glasses, a black N95-style mask, and a red tank top with a white slogan that reads, "Still Sick, Still Fighting" from ME Action’s #MillionsMissing campaign. Her hair is a bit wild like she just got out of bed, and she stares directly at the viewer, lit up with red-tinted light. Stephanie is seated in front of a white wall lit up with turquoise light, a tracery of green plant foliage visible out of focus behind her. She’s wearing blue-rimmed glasses and an ocean blue top with three quarter length sleeves, and is holding up a Go Blue for ME/CFS sign in one hand that reads, “I’m going blue for International ME/CFS Awareness Day because… we need more research, evidence-based care, and adequate supports NOW!” At the bottom of the sign is an illustrated blue ribbon surrounded by forget-me-not flowers, and the hashtags #GoBlueForMECFS and #GoBlueForACure. Within a Polaroid-style photo frame is a snapshot of Stephanie, lying in bed in a room lit up blue for ME Awareness. Her black hair is spread around her face, and she wears glasses, a blue top, and a serious expression. At the bottom of the photo frame is the hashtag #MEBCCommunityStrength, alongside the blue, purple, and teal butterfly logo for the ME | FM Society of BC.
May 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Just a few moments that stuck out to me from today's #MillionsMissing rally in Vancouver:

Dr. Susan Kuo from @protectbc.bsky.social, describing how the burden of disease & disability for #LongCovid has surpassed cancer & heart disease, without any commensurate investment in research or care.

1/8
The livestream of Millions Missing Vancouver 2025 plays on a large monitor, with a dim red-lit room behind it. On the screen, a speaker with long rainbow hair, a black respirator, red top, crochet sweater and blue jeans is holding a microphone and reads a speech. Around the speaker is a red millions missing banner, a sun shade, another speaker waiting, a sign saying We Are #MillionsMissing, and in the background, an awning with long garlands of red posters.
May 11, 2025 at 1:45 AM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Update: I’m going to speaking at this event by proxy! One of the #MillionsMissing BC organizers will be reading my speech.

Catch the event via livestream tomorrow (like I plan to), or mask up & head to Vancouver’s Jack Poole plaza, to show up in person for those of us who can’t.

#MECFS #pwME
Stephanie, a disabled Chinese-Canadian woman with wavy dark hair, is shown from the waist up seated in front of a white wall and window blinds. She is wearing blue-framed glasses, a black N95-equivalent mask (respirator), and a red tank top with a white slogan that reads. “Still Sick, Still Fighting". She stares directly at the viewer, lit up with red-tinted light.
May 9, 2025 at 9:59 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Heads up, health justice allies! On May 10, #MillionsMissing BC is calling for improved #MECFS healthcare in BC. Don a mask & join in-person at Jack Poole Plaza at 1 pm, or submit a message online.

Details/access info: www.facebook.com/share/1AkW1E...
RSVP/send message: forms.gle/uWWfUx34VNNX...
Strung along a row of trees are many red Millions Missing posters, highlighting stories of people with ME/CFS who could not show up in person
May 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
Psst - I’m in @broadwayworld.com! Check it out: www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/art... #pwME #MECFS #ChronicIllness
May 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
If you haven’t heard from me for awhile, this is one reason why! I’ve been working on @operamariposa.bsky.social’s #BAMonth2025 for several months, & it’s finally live.

I hope you’ll join us to support vital advocacy, education, research & community resources for #MECFS, #LongCovid & #fibro.
operamariposa.bsky.social Opera Mariposa @operamariposa.bsky.social · May 1
Our annual Benefit + Awareness Month is LIVE! May is the international awareness month for #MECFS & #fibro, & until June 1, you can join us at Benefit.OperaMariposa.com in support of the #ChronicIllness community & @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social 🦋

There are many ways to take part in #BAMonth2025...
An artistic portrait in blue and purple hues shows a woman in side profile from the chest up. Her figure is partly hidden by thick, cloud-like haze, and her silhouette includes images of tall wild grass and evergreen trees. Overlaid text reads: “Opera Mariposa’s Benefit + Awareness Month for the ME | FM Society of BC. May 1–June 1, 2025. Enter to win $3,000 in prizes for charity for ME/CFS | Long COVID | Fibromyalgia. benefit.operamariposa.com. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Learn more: prizedraw.operamariposa.com.” The image also includes two butterfly logos: a red one for Opera Mariposa, and a blue, purple, and teal one for the ME | FM Society of BC. Additional details note that the event is online, closed-captioned in English, self-paced, by donation and free to attend, with support up to $3,000 being triple matched.
May 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Stephanie Ko
harshawalia.bsky.social
Much love for Filipinx comrades and community impacted by horrific violence during Lapu-Lapu Day celebrations.

For ppl seeking support such as meal train or counseling, you can access resources thru Filipinx-led mutual aid network coming together.

Share widely:

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Filipino Emergency Response - Request Form
If you need support, please enter your contact information below. Please note, that this is not an immediate service and one of our members will try our best to reach out to you as soon as we can. I...
docs.google.com
April 27, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Reposted by Stephanie Ko
operamariposa.bsky.social
The Disability Screen Office (DSO) has launched the first national survey to capture experiences of the disability community in film & TV. Open through June 2025. Input helps develop a Best Practices Guide to Disability Engagement in the Canadian Film & Television Industry! www.dso-orphe.ca/survey/
Survey – Disability Screen Office – DSO
www.dso-orphe.ca
April 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
sinistralscribe.bsky.social
My friend Katie has an upcoming surgery (on her birthday, of all days!), and needs community support during her recovery. It would mean the world to me if you’d check out her surgery+birthday wish list or consider sharing: bit.ly/Katie-surger... 💜

#fibro #EDS #endo #MCAS #IIH #HighRiskCovid19
Peach and purple graphic with a photo of Katie, a white woman with curly brown hair, glasses, and a purple top. Header text reads, help Katie recover from surgery. Verified by sinistralscribe.bsky.social. Body text reads, Katie is a longtime arts volunteer, community advocate, caregiver, and cat parent who has become increasingly disabled & immunocompromised with fibromyalgia, EDS, endometriosis, MCAS, and intracranial hypertension. She’s getting a long-awaited surgery this March (on her birthday!), and needs community support during her recovery. Check out Katie’s surgery + birthday wish list today, and please share! bit.ly/Katie-surgery-birthday-list
February 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM