Disability Lead Networking Event on Disability in Art and Media

Over a virtual bring your-own lunch, join Disability Lead to learn from three powerful leaders with disabilities changing disability representation in arts and media. Reveca uses painting, illustration, photography, film, movement, and other media as forms of expression and tools for advocacy and social justice. As a playwright, Tsehaye’s writings and performances center race, gender, disability, and the economics and geography of making art. And Emily’s activism is driven by her belief that it is by sharing our stories and making the disability experience accessible to the world that we will reach a world that is accessible to the disability community.

Their work, stories, and art is positively disrupting how disability is represented. After a short group discussion, you will have time in small breakout groups with each of our guests, so come ready with questions!

Once you register, you will have the option to add this event to your calendar. You will receive the Zoom Meeting link from staff the day before the event. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided. Additional accommodation requests can be submitted via RSVP.

Tsehaye Geralyn Hébert

Tsehaye GeralynHébert is a nationally acclaimed citizen playwright and cultural architectwhose work nuances and centers the African American experience (3ARTS, Body ofWork Fellow; Alliance Kendeda National Graduate Playwright Award winner; VoicesRising Fellow, Vermont Studio Center; The Guild Literary Complex, 30 Writers toWatch; Midwest Black Playwrights Project; Native Voices and Visions; RhinoFest;and Cultural DC/SourceFest, Frank McCourt Memoir, Sundance Theatre Labfinalists.)Hébert’scivic engagement catalyzes the move towards and beyond ADA compliance, fromidea to full inclusion and accessibility. As Community Lead, she worked withIllinois Institute of Technology (IT) students to develop innovations inaccessible and inclusive theatre.Currently,her work with Artists Design the Future (ADtF) explores affordable accessible,and inclusive Work Live spaces owned and designed by artists, creatives, andentrepreneurs.WithDisability Lead (ADA 25 Advancing Leadership), she sat on its ProgramCommittee, and serves as an ambassador; as well as a current ambassador andrecent member of The Cultural Collaborative (Chicago Cultural AccessibilityCoalition) steering committee.Aformer president of the African American Arts Alliance, she sits on thehonorary board of Piven Theatre Workshop, and volunteers with local andnational arts organizations.ANorthwestern University graduate, she earned her MFAW from School of the ArtInstitute, Chicago.

Emily Ladau

Emily Ladau is a passionate disability rights activist, writer, storyteller, and digital communications consultant whose 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. Her writing has been published in outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Vice, and HuffPost and her first book, Demystifying Disability, was published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in September 2021. Emily has spoken before numerous audiences, from the U.S. Department of Education to the United Nations. Central to all of Emily’s work is harnessing the power of storytelling to engage people in learning about disability.

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Reveca Torres

Reveca Torres is an artist and nonprofit director. In 2009, she founded BACKBONES, a nonprofit organization that connects people with spinal cord injury and disabilities to their communities. Torres is also the co-director of ReelAbilities Film Festival Chicago and has curated touring photography and art exhibitions that showcase the work of people with disabilities and bring awareness to disability rights. Torres uses painting, illustration, photography, film, movement, and other media as a form of expression as a tool for advocacy and social justice.

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