F139.
When Every Word Is A Spoon: Disabled Writers on the Accommodations We Need
Friday, February 9, 2024
10:35 am to 11:50 am
Disabled and chronically ill writers are writing vital work, especially in lieu of the COVID-19 crisis. But the writing world, through its in-person events, MFA programs, and tireless publishing expectations, often does not accommodate our needs—meaning that our voices are all too easily lost. Join us as we discuss how disabled writers can protect themselves from the industry’s ableism, as well as how the larger writing community can better support and uplift disabled writers.
Participants
Jaclyn Rachel received her MFA in poetry from UC Riverside. She has taught creative writing in various outreach programs, participated in community readings in Los Angeles, and has organized readings as a part of the Writers Resist movement in solidarity with PEN America's inaugural event.
Eshani Surya is a writer living in Philadelphia interested in what a body encapsulates and how it can be defined. Her novel, Ravishing, will be published by Roxane Gay Books/Grove Atlantic in 2024. Her short stories and essays can be found in The Rumpus, DIAGRAM, Catapult, and Joyland.
Jess Silfa is an Afro-Latinx, disabled, and queer writer and poet. They earned a BA from Columbia University, an MFA in Creative Writing from Vanderbilt, and are a PhD student at the University of Cincinnati. They are currently working on a novel and a poetry chapbook.
Sylvia Chan is a disabled writer, educator, and activist. She is the author of the poetry collection We Remain Traditional, a National Poetry Series finalist, and a Zoeglossia fellow. She works with crossover and foster youth and leads writing workshops for foster group homes in Arizona.
Cat Ingrid Leeches is a writer, editor, and adjunct. Their chapbook, The Connoisseur, was published by Garden-Door Press. Their work has also appeared in Always Crashing, Denver Quarterly, Passages North, and Mid-American Review. They received their MFA from the University of Alabama.
