Eliza Hull and Joanne Limburg on parenting and disability

Eliza Hull is a musician, living in Australia, here on a visit. She is the editor of We’ve Got This: essays by disabled parents, the first major anthology by parents with disabilities. Initially published in Australia, the new edition of this book has contributions from disabled parents from Britain and the USA.

‘Being a disabled parent is a rebellious act. Disabled people should have the same right to parent as anyone else, but often when we decide to start a family we are met with judgement and discrimination. We are questioned rather than supported. We have to push up against the medical system. And we have to confront society’s model of parenting. Yet, despite all this, we still choose to parent. And we are damn good at it too!’ When Eliza Hull was pregnant with her first child, like most like most parents-to-be she felt a mix of nerves and excitement. But as a disabled person, she faced added complexities. She wondered: Will the pregnancy be too hard? Will people judge me? Will I cope with the demands of parenting? In We’ve Got This, thirty parents who identify as Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, or chronically ill discuss the highs and lows of their parenting journeys and show that the greatest obstacles lie in other people’s attitudes.

Eliza is also the co-author of the children’s book, Come Over To My House a picture book that explores the home lives of children and parents who are Deaf or disabled.

Joanne Limburg is a contributor to We’ve Got This. She has spoken on Five Leaves platforms several times over the years, on obsessive-compulsive disorder, as a poet, and as an autistic writer. Her latest book is Letters to My Weird Sisters: on autism, feminism and motherhood.

This talk is chaired by Rachel Phillips, a parent and wheelchair user

This event is open to anyone interested in the subject, parent or not, disabled or not.

Access: Five Leaves Bookshop has level access and is wheelchair accessible, including the toilet. Our layout is flexible, but it would be helpful if you could let us know on [email protected] if you are a wheelchair user coming to this event. Please also contact us if you have other access needs.

Booking arrangements to follow shortly

Tickets: £4.00 including refreshments or £10 including a copy of We’ve Got This: essays by disabled parents