Author/activist Emily Ladau hopes that after her Disability Pride Month talk on July 9, attendees will be ready to “question the assumptions [they] are making about people with disabilities” — especially about what they can and cannot do — and be willing to continue having open dialogue on the issue year-round.
At the event, which will take place at the Newton Free Library, Ladau will discuss her book, Demystifying Disability – What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally, with attendees and offer insights into her own experiences as someone with disabilities. The discussion, which will also include a Q&A portion, is sponsored by the Library, Newton’s Commission on Disability (COD), and Understanding Our Differences.
The talk is being held for Disability Pride Month, which “is a time to recognize the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of people with disabilities. It affirms that disability is a natural and valuable part of human diversity — not a deficit or condition to be fixed,” according to The Arc. “More than 1 in 4 adults in the United States — over 70 million people — have a disability.”
Ima Jonsdottir, who co-chairs the COD with Jack Lovett, listened to interviews with Ladau and felt she would be a good fit as speaker for the event.
“I heard the clarity in her message [which is] so comforting,” she said.
“Most of us have said or done something that is ableist, and most of the time it is unintentional. As a non-disabled person myself, I am for sure guilty of this,” said Jonsdottir, who is also a member of the Newton Public Schools’ Anti-Ableism Curriculum Working Group.
According to the Center for Disability Rights, “Ableism is a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities … [and is] intertwined in our culture.”
“There is room for each and every one of us to recognize our unintentionally hurtful words or actions, even inactions, learn and really listen to those with lived experiences, and forgive ourselves for not having known better,” said Jonsdottir, who advocates for her son and other disabled people throughout the city. “Emily does an incredible job of bringing allies and people with disabilities together in respectful conversation, allowing space to reflect and think about how we can do better to support our disability community.”
Continuing to talk, learn
Ladau, who was born with Larsen syndrome, a genetic physical disability, said she “first ventured into disability advocacy at age 10 when I appeared on ‘Sesame Street.’”
She feels that “if the disability community wants a world that’s accessible to us, then we must make ideas and experiences of disability accessible to the world.”
However, she emphasized that her book is not a one-size-fits-all representation of every disability.
“It’s important to remember that if you’ve met one disabled person, you’ve met one disabled person. And if you have a disability, then the only disability experience you’re an expert on is your own,” she said.
When asked what inspired her to create the book, Ladau said her goal “was not to write the bible or encyclopedia on disability … it was to offer my insights and perspective to engage people on a topic they may find intimidating or scary.”
The book is a tool/resource for people to learn more about how to talk about and think about disability.
“The reality is that we live in a world that is so steeped in ableism that we don’t even stop to think about it,” said Ladau.
“There’s some discomfort in talking about disabilities,” said Jonsdottir, who said because many people don’t know how to discuss the issue, they avoid doing so, which can exclude those with disabilities from important conversations.
“Be OK with feeling a little uncomfortable … and try to learn,” she said. “Understand that we need to do better.”
Ultimately, Ladau said she hopes after her talk that “people feel a little more comfortable engaging about disability.”
More information
The Newton Commission on Disability, Understanding Our Differences, and the Newton Free Library present: “Demystifying Disability: A Community Conversation with Author Emily Ladau”
A fireside chat moderated by COD co-chair Jack Lovett on living with, talking about, and advocating around disability, in celebration of Disability Pride Month and the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The talk will be followed by a Q&A.
The event will take place at the Newton Free Library’s Druker Auditorium (330 Homer Street) on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 7PM to 8PM. Doors will open at 6:30PM.
The location is wheelchair accessible, and the program will include ASL interpretation and CART transcription. Assistive listening devices are available and can be requested from staff at the event.
This will be a hybrid program, so people can attend in person or virtually via Zoom. No registration is needed to attend in person.
For more information, visit https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/14335069
