Crip News. v.178
New works, other news, calls, events, and tributes to David Linton, Jonathan Sterne, and Lilac Maldonado.
NEWS
New Works
In “Field Lessons,” disabled filmmaker Christine Oliver Dhikusooka follows disabled farmer Steven Bukaya as he navigates “the dual pressures of disability and climate change” in Uganda, part of a series from Disability Justice Project.
The Transgender Law Center has released “Reporting on Marginalized Disabled Communities,” a resource for journalists.
Ryan Haddad’s new solo show, Hold Me In the Water, opens this week at The Judy Theater (NYC) and runs through May 4. Exploring the “passion and intimacy of first love,” Haddad continues his funny, disability-inflected study of romance and access that earned him high praise for Dark Disabled Stories and Hi, Are You Single? In an essay about the making of the show, Access Dramaturg Alison Kopit explains how the creative team’s previous work has led to new integrated open access features, including captioning, audio description, and relaxed performance at every show.
The Little Prince: A Physical Theatre Adaptation by Landon Krentz runs through April 19 at Theatre Passe Muraille (Toronto). The classic tale is reimagined through “the dynamic fusion of physical theatre, Visual Vernacular (VV), American Sign Language (ASL), breathtaking vertical dance, and immersive projection design.”
Able Zine and Ben Lee recently spoke with Steven Verdile, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the disability satire magazine and TV show The Squeaky Wheel.
In Other News…
Following news coverage and organizing efforts, the NIH restored funding to Long COVID research grants in the RECOVER program.
Inclusive Arts Vermont will close its doors in June after nearly 40 years. The nonprofit’s board cited “federal funding shifts, increased competition and changing priorities across the philanthropic landscape, rising costs of operation, and a lack of endowment or investments” among the financial challenges the disability arts organization had been facing for years.
CALLS
The Leonardo CripTech Incubator has issued an open call for participants in the 2025 AI Lab, “a virtual creative incubator that utilizes community-driven digital and new media art projects to engage, critique and reimagine the relationship between disability and artificial intelligence.” Apply by May 1.
Applications are open for the Administrative Coordinator of ADAptNYC 2030, “a collaborative initiative aiming to advance cultural accessibility in New York City in alignment with the 40th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).”
The Disability Collective is seeking submissions from disabled drag and burlesque performers for CRIPtonite, taking place on Wednesday, June 25 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (Toronto). Apply by April 11.
The Australian government is seeking Expressions of Interest from d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers from diverse backgrounds with experience in the arts, screen, digital games or cultural sectors to help implement activities under Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan.
The Chicago Cultural Access Collaborative is seeking applications to join the Steering Committee. Submissions will be reviewed by June 1.
EVENTS
Yale’s 4th Annual Symposium for Disability and Accessibility
TODAY, April 7 - Saturday, April 12, hybrid and on Zoom
Over the past four years, the Symposium for Disability and Accessibility at Yale has explored topics that intersect with disability. Cross-cultural collaboration, education, race, the law, health disparities, accessible spaces, and lived experiences have all been key points of inquiry that we have engaged within the Yale community and beyond. This year, in light of the 35th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, we seek to expand these conversations. By collaborating with interlocutors from other institutions and organizations, we hope to gauge the progress made over the last 35 years while also considering how we might work together to promote Disability Justice, Culture, and Empowerment for members of our communities.
Sustaining Us: Plain English Workshop
Friday, April 11, 12 - 1:30pm PT, on Zoom
Whether you are an academic, activist, small business owner, creative, or just someone seeking to be understood – Noemí Martínez Turrull is here to help. Join Noemí for a collaborative workshop on applying principles of plain language. They will start with a brief presentation and demonstration before facilitating a working session so you can practice your skills and ask questions in real time. Bring a piece of writing you’ve been working on or use one of our examples. Folks are welcome to join at any level of participation that feels good.
Fine, We’ll Just 3D Print Our Own Wheelchairs (And Other Mobility Devices) by Emily Sara
Monday, April 14, 6pm ET, on Zoom
A step-by-step class about "right-to-repair," learning open source tools to fix our own mobility devices and teaching skills to circumnavigate the system. This one night class is entirely free. It is also not necessary to be a designer or own a 3D printer. You also don’t need to be engaging in any way for this class—it’s a no stress event and simply for anyone who is curious on how to get started. I’ll be reviewing a plethora of resources including step-by-step instructions and free software you can download.
Building a Neurodivergent Future
Friday, April 11, 10am - 3:30pm PT, online, & Saturday, April 12, 9:30am - 1:30pm PT online and in-person at UC Berkeley’s Alumni House
We plan to have speakers, workshops, and performances covering topics such as the history of the neurodiversity movement, disability identity, and what building a neurodivergent future can look like. Students, staff, faculty, and community members, allies, and friends are all welcome.
Activism from Strength: What You Need to Know to Be a Disability and Gender-Inclusive Funder
Tuesday, April 8, 10am ET, on Zoom
In a diverse range of countries from the Middle East, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, organizations led by women and gender-diverse people—with and without disabilities–and individual advocates are transforming traditional patterns of activism for disability rights. By utilizing the human rights model of disability, honoring many of the Disability Justice Principles, and valuing and promoting cross-movement collaboration, they actively seek to advance rights at the intersection of gender and disability through different means and strategies we will highlight in this interactive report. Despite the transformative nature of their work, organizations and activists working at the intersection of gender and disability remain underfunded and largely neglected by philanthropy. Join us to workshop some questions, which this interactive report encourages us to ask ourselves as funders and movement advocates in order to be disability and gender-inclusive practitioners.
Rest in Power
David Linton
At a tribute during the ReelAbilities Film Festival last week, members of the NYC disability arts community gathered to remember Dr. David Linton. David was a cultural media scholar, teacher, and fixture of several Manhattan arts scenes and the rink at Rockefeller Center. I will remember my friend for his fun-loving and joyful presence during the years when his wife Simi Linton and I ran Disability/Arts/NYC in the late 2010s.
Jonathan Sterne
Dr. Jonathan Sterne was a cultural historian of media, technology, and disability. His last book, Diminished Faculties: A Political Phenomenology of Impairment, maps game-changing theoretical turns that are characteristic of his academic career. Jonathan’s writing helped me understand how to understand and his kindness and service to the profession helped me and a large number of other scholars find our way.
Lilac Vylette Maldonado
Lilac Maldonado was an organizer, mentor, friend, and sister. She was a founding member of the Los Angeles Spoonie Collective (LASC). “She embodied boundless generosity, kindness, unconditional love, and unwavering support,” LASC write in a tribute, “always showing up with gentle strength and courageous vulnerability.” LASC also assembled a Grief Resource document for those who need support reckoning with her loss.