A vibrant gathering for writers with disabilities is set to take place this Sunday at the independent bookstore Alienated Majesty in Austin. From 2 to 4 p.m., the venue will come alive with poetry, music, and visual art, all contributed by local artists and authors who navigate the challenges of disability.
The Disability Pride Showcase, which features eight talented creatives sharing their personal experiences through their work, is organized by Art Spark Texas, a nonprofit based in Austin, in collaboration with the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. The coalition actively engages with the Texas Legislature to advocate for accessibility policies. Laura Perna, the coalition’s communications director, emphasized the importance of arts programming as a means of advocacy for the community. “Our mission is to create a Texas where people with disabilities of all ages can work, live, learn, play, and participate fully in the communities of their choice,” she stated. “Creating and supporting art spaces for artists with disabilities aligns perfectly with that goal.”
First-time participant Cornelia Amiri, an author known for her fantasy and sci-fi works, will read from her memoir, A Boomer Chick’s Bingo Card, and share an excerpt from her young adult fantasy novel, Moonless Night, which features a protagonist who is a survivor of childhood abuse. Amiri aims to emphasize the healing journey that follows trauma during her reading.
Molly Kamper, who received an autism diagnosis last year, will also take the stage to share her poetry. Kamper expressed that the showcase has provided her with a sense of belonging, stating, “I needed a community and I needed people. I came out to this group, and I made connections with people, and it’s just been this wild year of coming to terms with that.” Her husband encouraged her to participate in the readings, and the event marked her introduction to understanding her disability more deeply.
The showcase will conclude with an open mic segment, inviting audience members to share their own artistic expressions. Perna encourages everyone to step forward and showcase their work. “Having a space that really draws disabled performers to say, ‘Oh, I want to do that; this is a space for me’ is really exciting and cool,” she remarked. “It signals to me that we need even more spaces like this.”
