Inhabiting a mind or body that society often refuses to accommodate is a life’s work. Fighting the prejudices that make that difficult is an act of political rebellion, one that is capable of unleashing great joy.

Join Deaf and disabled writers for readings and kōrero that will annihilate the ableist tropes between them and their good times. Emcee Olivia Shivas (editor of The D*List) will lead a panel including writer/librarians Riah Tahana-Dawson (Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Waikato-Tainui) and Bee Trudgeon, and writer/actor/filmmaker Jared Flitcroft (Ngāti Maniapoto).

The Politics of Disabled Joy is curated by the Crip the Lit rōpū, which advocates for placing the unique voices and perspectives of Deaf and disabled writers within a mainstream writing context.

This event will be NZSL interpreted.

This event is part of the 2026 Verb Readers & Writers Festival. Please see verbwellington.nz for more information.

Festival Passes are a great way to save money and enjoy the full festival experience: just $80 for a 4-event pass. They are available until midday Thursday 24 September.

Many thanks to our generous funders, sponsors and members of Verb Community in supporting Verb Readers & Writers Festival 2026.