Disability rights activist Emily Ladau to deliver Carleton convocation on becoming an ally to the disability community

Activist, writer, speaker, podcaster, and cultural access consultant Emily Ladau will deliver Carleton’s convocation address — titled, “How to become an ally to the disability community” — on Friday, April 25, from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. Due to systemic issues around the treatment of individuals with disabilities during travel, particularly with ensuring safe transportation of wheelchairs, Ladau’s convocation address will be livestreamed. There will still be a Q&A following the address, as well as free treats and drinks in the Chapel beforehand. 

Ladau is the author of Demystifying Disability (2021), which covers a broad variety of pertinent topics including disability history and identity, ensuring accessibility, recognizing ableism, and speaking respectfully. Her address will coincide with her book’s content, demonstrating her knack for candid instruction combined with her belief that storytelling is crucial to making the disability experience accessible to the world as well as creating a world that is accessible to the disability community.

Beginning her career at the age of 10, Ladau first became a spokesperson for disability rights through her role starring in multiple episodes of Sesame Street, providing education on living with a physical disability. Since then, she has been awarded the prestigious Henry Viscardi Achievement Award, which recognizes international leaders with disabilities (2022); the Frieda Zames Advocacy Award from the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (2022); Disability Advocate of the Year from the Jewish Federations of North America and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (2022); and the Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities (2018). In 2023, she was also selected to receive the Progressive Women’s Voices IMPACT Award from the Women’s Media Center.

Beyond her book, Ladau is also the editor of Able News, a monthly publication of The Viscardi Center that amplifies the perspective of New York’s diverse, vibrant disability community and serves as a statewide resource. She also serves as the digital content manager for the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, an organization dedicated to the expansion of philanthropic commitment to disability inclusion. Her writing has been published in outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Vice, and HuffPost, while she has served as a source for media outlets including MSNBC, PBS NewsHour, NPR, and The Washington Post. Her speaking career has addressed audiences from the United Nations to the U.S. Department of Education to Microsoft and Comcast/NBCUniversal. Her speaking reaches further audiences through The Accessible Stall podcast, which she co-hosts. Central to all of Ladau’s work is harnessing the power of storytelling as a tool to engage people in learning about disability.

Ladau previously served as the editor of The Century Foundation’s Economic Justice project and was the founding editor-in-chief of the Rooted in Rights blog.

A Long Island local, Ladau earned her BA in English from Adelphi University in 2013, where she now is a member of the Board of Trustees. She was named one of Adelphi’s 10 Under 10 Young Alumni in 2017.

In addition to the main viewing in the chapel, this convocation will be presented virtually — please register in advance to receive information on how to attend via Zoom. Carleton convocations are free and open to the public. Find upcoming events and archived recordings (including in podcast form) on the convocations website. For more information, including disability accommodations, call 507-222-5461 or email nponder@carleton.edu.