Disabilities as Ways of Knowing—A Series of Creative Writing Conversations: Part II

The Disability Experience and Poetic Verse
Reading by Poets Jim Ferris, Laurie Clements Lambeth, and Stephen Kuusisto
March 28
Reading 7-8 p.m. at Watson Theater
Reception and book signing from 8-9 p.m. at Light Work

Jim Ferris, Laurie Clements Lambeth and Stephen Kuusisto will be reading a selection of their poetry, followed by a reception and book signing, for all members of the SU community. While this event is geared specifically to raise and support awareness among undergraduates, everyone is welcomed to participate in this exciting set of opportunities.

This event will feature works from “Beauty is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability” (Cinco Puntos Press) and launch “Letters to Borges” (Copper Canyon Press), where “best-selling memoirist Stephen Kuusisto uses the themes of travel, place, religion, music, art and loneliness to explore the relationship between seeing, blindness, and being. In poems addressed to Jorge Luis Borges—another poet who lived with blindness—Kuusisto leverages seeing as negative capability, creating intimacy with deep imagination and uncommon perceptions” (from www.stephenkuusisto.com).

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided during both the reading and the reception/book signing. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided during the reading.

If you require accommodations or need information on parking for this event, please contact Radell Roberts at 443-4424 or rrober02@syr.edu.

This event is made possible through the Co-Curricular Departmental Initiatives program within the Division of Student Affairs, and cosponsorship by the Disability Cultural Center, the Renée Crown University Honors Program, the Center on Human Policy, Disability Studies, the Burton Blatt Institute, the Dept. of Women’s and Gender Studies, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Slutzker Center for International Services, the Creative Writing Program, the Disability Law and Policy Program, the Disability Student Union, the Beyond Compliance Coordinating Committee, and the Disability Law Society.

As aspects of variance and diversity, disability cultures and identities enrich the tapestry of life on and off the SU campus.

Website: sudcc.syr.edu/events

Contact Person: Diane Wiener
Director, Disability Cultural Center
443-4486
dwiener@syr.edu