Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally

Guest Speaker: Emily Ladua

Complimentary Lunch & Learn

Wednesday, September 21st 12-1 pm - Zoom

Celebrated disability rights advocate, speaker, and writer Emily Ladua will answer all your questions regarding disabilities. Learn how to be an
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 inclusive place.

Do you have a question for Emily? Please submit your questions to Jacqui by September 18th.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, Booklist • “A candid, accessible cheat sheet for anyone who wants to thoughtfully join the conversation . . . Emily makes the intimidating approachable and the complicated clear.”—Rebekah Taussig, author of Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary, Resilient, Disabled Body

REGISTER HERE

Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally

by Emily Ladau

People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority, an estimated 15 percent of the global population. But many of us—disabled and nondisabled alike—don’t know how to act, what to say, or how to be an ally to the disability community. Demystifying Disability is a friendly handbook on the important disability issues you need to know about, including:

-How to appropriately think, talk, and ask about disability
-Recognizing and avoiding ableism (discrimination toward disabled people)
-Practicing good disability etiquette
-Ensuring accessibility becomes your standard practice, from everyday communication to planning special events
-Appreciating disability history and identity
-Identifying and speaking up about disability stereotypes in media

This practical, intersectional guide offers all readers a welcoming place to understand disability as part of the human experience.

Optional Purchase of Emily's book here

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council has made steady progress on the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study in our region. The study is designed to document participation at arts and cultural events nationwide by surveying event attendees.

The results of the AEP6 will help us understand how arts and culture programs impact neighborhood pride and cultural identity, and how arts and culture boosts local economies through job creation, tourism, and support for small business. At the conclusion of the study, national and regional data will be shared with local arts and culture nonprofit organizations, who can use the data to tell the story of their community impact and make the case for funding via event sponsorships, grants, government programs, and individual donors.

To make this study a success, we’re working with organizations that represent a broad cross-section of the Lehigh Valley’s unique and diverse arts and culture community. To date, LVAC has partnered with local nonprofits to reach over 200 participants at a range of events including the 14th Annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival, Inclusion Fest, RENT at Northampton Community College Summer Theatre, Musikfest, the Roasting Ears of Corn Festival, LV Pride Fest, and the Dominican Festival.

But we still have more work to do, and we need your help!

If you’re involved with leadership of a local nonprofit organization focused on arts and culture, we’d love to partner with you to conduct the AEP6 survey at an upcoming event. Please reach out to Meg Mikovits, our research coordinator, to discuss possibilities.

If you’re an arts and culture supporter interested in volunteering at an upcoming event, please reach out to Meg Mikovits with your interest and availability. Listed below are upcoming events planned for the next several weeks. More events are on the horizon, so stay tuned for further opportunities!

Upcoming LVAC Volunteer Opportunities

Hispanic Heritage Cultural Celebration

When: Thursday, September 15, 11 am – 3 pm
Where: Barrio Stage at Touchstone Theatre, 321 E 4th Street, Bethlehem

Art in the Park

When: Saturday, September 17, 10 am – 5 pm
Where: West Park, 16th and W Turner Streets, Allentown

India Heritage Day

When: Sunday, September 25, 11:30 am – 4 pm
Where: Arts Park between 5th and 6th Streets, Downtown Allentown

CLUE

When: Sunday, October 2, 1:15 pm – 4 pm
Where: Cedar Crest College Samuels Theatre, Allentown