Creator Call Out

Readers love the Creator Call Outs at the end of each chapter of Disability Is Human, and this is Stephanie’s digital version!

Creator Call Outs spotlight people in the disabled community who are working hard to raise awareness and to break down barriers within their own spheres and spaces. It’s a way of showcasing invaluable insights from remarkable individuals — and Stephanie encourages exploring their contributions to the overall dialog about disability, ableism, and accessibility.

Check here regularly for new Creator Call Outs, ones from the book, and even a peek of what’s on Stephanie’s overflowing bookshelf.

Creator Call Out: From the Book

Advocate Emily Ladau wrote the groundbreaking book Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally. She is the recipient of many awards and honors in recognition of her disability advocacy work across the US and internationally. Emily is a passionate disability rights activist, writer, storyteller, and digital communications consultant. She has been in the public eye since she was a young child, appearing in several episodes of Sesame Street where she educated children about growing up with a physical disability. Emily is a widely published author and speaker with a long list of credits and appearances at the national and international level.

New Creator Call Out: A Mental Health Perspective

Gymnast Simone Biles has become a high profile activist for mental health disabilities after sharing her experiences with anxiety and her notorious case of the “twisties” at the 2021 Olympics. Her mental health journey was the topic of the documentary Rising, in which she starred and helped produce. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone consulted regularly with her therapist and went on to win three gold medals and one silver.

New Creator Call Out: A Well-Deserved “Genius” Grant

Disability justice activist and author Alice Wong was selected to receive a “genius grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation when it announced the 22 people selected for the 2024 class of MacArthur Fellows. She was honored for using storytelling to increase the visibility of disabled people and expose ableist policies and practices. The $800,000 grant is intended to enable fellows to pursue their most innovative ideas. Alice, who was born with a progressive neuromuscular disability, is the founding director of the Disability Visibility Project.