V101.
VIRTUAL: Autistic Writers On The Inaccessibility Of Professional Writing Spaces
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
9:00 am to 10:00 am
Five Autistic writers consider what it means to be excluded from professional writing spaces. Many Autistic people struggle with sensory overwhelm; this issue is exacerbated by large gatherings of people. Writing is the easy part for Autistic minds. Networking, public events, relationships—these present major hurdles for people whose minds work differently. The panelists will share their experiences navigating the inaccessible world of literary spaces. How can these spaces become more accessible?
This virtual event was prerecorded. It will be available to watch on-demand online starting on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 through Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Participants
Said Shaiye is an Autistic & ADHD Somali writer and photographer. His debut book, Are You Borg Now?, was a 2022 Minnesota Book Award Finalist in Memoir. He has published work in Indiana Review, Texas Review, Obsidian, and elsewhere. He holds an MFA and teaches college writing in the the twin cities.
Chris Martin is a tilted listening animal languaging. He teaches and learns at Unrestricted Interest and curates Multiverse, a series of neurodivergent writing from Milkweed Editions. He is the author of May Tomorrow Be Awake: On Poetry, Autism, and Our Neurodiverse Future (HarperOne, 2022).
Julia Lee Barclay-Morton, PhD, is an award-winning writer/director with writing produced and published internationally. Her debut collection was The Mortality Shot (Liquid Cat Books); her work has been recently published in Prairie Schooner, PANK, and Nomadic Press. Barclay-Morton lives in New York City, writing a memoir about her autism diagnosis at 57. More: TheUnadaptedOnes.com
