Children's literature has a history of presenting disabled kids as life lessons, plucky objects of pity, grotesque enemies, or simply absent. Where do we find the disabled adventurers and learners, heroes and family members, written for disabled and non-disabled young people alike? What's it like writing young characters who are disabled like you—or in different ways to yourself?
Crip The Lit artists Mandy Hager (Gracehopper) Erin Donohue (Because Everything Is Right but Everything Is Wrong) and Helen Vivienne Fletcher (Beside The River Styx) talk about their writing process, their favourites, and what they want to see in the future. Chaired by Elizabeth Heritage. This is a mask-friendly event. NZSL interpreters at this event.
This event is programmed by Crip the Lit, who advocate for Deaf and disabled writers of Aotearoa having their unique voices, perspectives and stories included and valued in mainstream writing. Formed in 2016 by Trish Harris and Robyn Hunt, Crip the Lit challenges stereotypes so that disability is represented and celebrated as part of the richness and diversity of humanity in all genres of literature, and in film, television and video. You can read more about Crip the Lit here.
The ‘Ticket + book’ bundles are available until 12:00pm on Thursday 7 November. Unity will be at events across the festival for book sales and signings.
A discounted ‘Ticket + book’ bundle is available for a copy of Gracehopper by Mandy Hager. If purchased, your book can be collected from Unity Books, 57 Willis Street, Wellington in advance of the festival, or at the event from Unity's book table.
Tickets from $15
