Spill the Disabili-Tea NYC

Talking about disability is all too familiar for some and completely foreign for others. Allies often express a sense of feeling intimidated and ill-equipped, while disabled folks feel frustrated by inaccessible environments and the stigma around discussing disability. As they say, “practice makes perfect” and this workshop is a fabulous opportunity for you to dive into the magic of disability justice with Bay Area activist Alex Locust, aka the Glamputee. Alex will facilitate an interactive discussion of disability justice, centering disabled voices and providing a space to explore how to elevate access efforts in various community spaces. Using lived experience, education, and advocacy know-how, he’ll lead a candid conversation exploring the following questions (and more): Who is “disabled” and what creates that experience? What is “disability justice?” How do I do better about those tricky “microaggressions?” What’s the difference between “access” and “inclusion?” Is disability a cultural experience and how can that intersect with other cultural identities? How can we center disabled voices in community practices? Whether you identify as a person with a disability or as an ally, come join for an afternoon of real talk, experiential exercises, group work, and lots of laughs as we all Spill the Disabili-Tea.

Alex Locust is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and proud, biracial “Glamputee” spreading the word about disability justice, one workshop at a time. Whether on the runway or in a counseling session, Alex aspires to fiercely advocate for equity in all community spaces. He graduated from San Francisco State University with an M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and earned the Peggy H. Smith Distinguished Graduate Student award as well as Graduate Student of the Year from the National Council on Rehabilitation Education. Alex is currently working full-time as a Substance Use Counselor in San Francisco. In addition, he facilitates a variety of workshops across the Bay Area. Armed with bombastic charm, whimsical humor, and a sharp wit, Alex synthesizes professional insight with lived experience to create engaging workshops grounded in cultural humility, intersectionality, and fostering empathetic, holistic views of marginalized communities. Alex specializes in work supporting people with disabilities and is passionately committed to raising awareness of the disability justice movement. He hopes to continue facilitating candid dialogues in a broad spectrum of environments in order to promote more cross movement solidarity.  

Photo courtesy of Lynora Valdez of 1390 PHOTO.

ACCESSIBILITY

Gibney 280 Broadway is accessible via elevator from the main entrance at 53A Chambers Street.

Wheelchair-accessible and gender-neutral bathrooms are available onsite. For the safety of those with chemical sensitivities, please do not wear scented products.

For access requests or inquiries, please contact Elyse Desmond, Director of Operations and Facilities, by completing our Access Requests and Inquiries Form, or at 646.837.6809 (Voice only).