Author Emily Ladau speaks about her new book:
Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally

Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
A virtual event ⁠— attend on Zoom
Co-sponsored by Temple Libraries

Emily Ladau, a white woman wearing glasses and a dress embroidered with flowers, holds and points to a copy of Demystifying Disability while sitting in her motorized wheelchair
Author Emily Ladau displays her book, Demystifying Disability

Panel Discussion

Join Emily as she engages with a panel of students talking about her new book, Demystifying Disability. At the end of the panel discussion there will be time for the audience to participate. ASL Interpretation and Zoom Live Transcriptions will be provided.

Emily's book is an approachable guide to being a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and what not to do) and how you can help make the world a more accessible, inclusive place.

Student Panelists

  • Jaggar DeMarco (He/Him/His). Anticipated Degree: PhD in Media and Communication. Klein College. Expected graduation date: Spring 2025.

  • Elliott Farquhar (They/Them). Anticipated Degree: MFA in Film & Media Arts, concentrating in writing. The School of Theater, Film, and Media Arts. Expected graduation date: Spring 2024.

  • Yesh Khanna (He/Him/His). Anticipated Degree: BA in Global Studies, College of Liberal Arts. Expected graduation date: Spring 2023.

  • Kaylen Phillips (They/Them). Anticipated Degree: M.S. in City and Regional Planning, Tyler School of Art and Architecture. Expected graduation date: Spring 2023.

About Emily Ladau

Emily Ladau is a passionate disability rights activist, writer, storyteller, and digital communications consultant. She is the author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Emily's career began at the age of 10, when she appeared on several episodes of Sesame Street to educate children about her life with a physical disability. A native of Long Island, New York, Emily graduated with a B.A. in English from Adelphi University in 2013 and now serves on their Board of Trustees. In 2017, she was named as one of Adelphi's 10 Under 10 Young Alumni. In 2018, she was awarded the Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities.

Emily provides communications and social media strategy consulting as well as editorial services for multiple disability-related organizations and initiatives. She is the Digital Content and Community Manager for the Disability & Philanthropy Forum. Previously, she served as the founding Editor in Chief of the Rooted in Rights Blog, a platform dedicated to amplifying authentic narratives on the disability experience through an intersectional lens.

Emily's writing has been published in outlets including The New York Times, SELF, Salon, Vice, and HuffPost and she has served as a source for outlets including PBS NewsHour, NPR, Vox, and Washington Post. She has spoken before numerous audiences, from the U.S. Department of Education to the United Nations. And, she co-hosts The Accessible Stall podcast, a show that dives into disability issues. Central to all of Emily's work is harnessing the power of storytelling as a tool for people to become engaged in disability and social justice issues.

Follow Emily Ladau

Follow Emily on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. More about her work and this book can be found on her website, EmilyLadau.com.

The Book's Cover Art

For more information, please contact

iod@temple.edu
215-204-1356