Cultivating the Art of Awkward Conversations About Disability with Emily Ladau - EP 2

Care Work with Alida Miranda-Wolff

Celebrated disability rights advocate, speaker, and author of Demystifying Disability Emily Ladau joins the podcast to delve into the relationship between educating others and engaging in care work. Throughout our conversation, Emily offers tools, processes, and practices for having awkward conversations, supporting the disability community, and tending to our own needs.
Topics Discussed:

• How Emily describes herself as a care worker (1:15)
• How Sesame Street influenced Emily to become an educator (4:55)
• Turning awkward interactions into teachable moments (8:49)
• Why Emily is still learning how to care for herself (13:49)
• How to find a supportive disabled community (17:09)
• Advice and tips to help you provide care to others (22:46)
• Emily's experience for what you are and are not allowed to ask about someone's disabilities (26:02)
• One takeaway you can adopt right now (28:12)

Resources Mentioned:

• Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness by Melissa Dahl
• Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau

Where to Find Emily Ladau:

• Website: emilyladau.com
• Website: theaccessiblestall.com
• Twitter: @emily_ladau
• Instagram: @emilyladau
• Facebook: @WordsIWheelBy
• LinkedIn: @emilyladau

Chapters

1. How Emily describes herself as a care worker (00:01:15)

2. How Sesame Street influenced Emily to become an educator (00:04:55)

3. Turning awkward interactions into teachable moments (00:08:49)

4. Why Emily is still learning how to care for herself (00:13:49)

5. How to find a supportive disabled community (00:17:09)

6. Advice and tips to help you provide care to others (00:22:46)

7. Emily's experience for what you are and are not allowed to ask about someone's disabilities (00:26:02)

8. One takeaway you can adopt right now (00:28:12)