It’s International Day of Disabled People on Wednesday 3 December. So to mark the occasion in true Crip the Lit fashion, a group of hilarious, talented and imaginative writers are getting together to honour and memorialise the disabled ancestors who came before us.

Crip the Lit – a collective of disabled and Deaf writers – was formed in 2016 by Robyn Hunt and Trish Harris with the aim of challenging, advocating, celebrating and creating community.

Since 2016, Crip the Lit has produced yearly events – usually as part of the Verb Readers and Writers Festival. They've also published a book, "Here we are, read us: Women, disability and writing", in which eight writers navigate the complicated relationship between writing and disability.

My first involvement with Crip the Lit was in 2021. I was surprised to be asked to join. In 2017, I'd published a young adult novel centred around mental illness, high school and being a teen with the whole world stretched out in front of you.

It was largely inspired by my own experience but despite the disabling nature of my illnesses, I never knew I could consider myself disabled. And even then, when asked to participate in an event, I felt the need to add more information.

I'm chronically ill physically as well. In a lot of ways – most likely brought on by the stress of severe anorexia. I thought I might have to prove myself but no one asked me to. Crip the Lit saw what I was writing, recognised the core of it and asked me to share more.

Dissecting the ableism of fairytales

In that 2021 event, we dissected the ableism prevalent in fairytales. I felt an almost unbearable imposter syndrome but my retelling of Snow White made people laugh out loud.

Since then, I've participated in several Crip the Lit events. I’ve been on a panel discussing stereotypes and authenticity; performed a sarcastic open letter to a popular YA author; imagined a world in which I wake up in Jeff Bezos' body and redistribute his wealth; discussed disability representation in YA fiction; and written a monologue about the trope of evil people having personality disorders.

In this way, I've birthed a new voice. One that is cheeky, unafraid, sometimes brash and always real. I've stepped outside of my little writing bubble and made my words alive. I have written things unimaginable before the direction Crip the Lit has offered. I've become a more confident writer and person.  

And I am not the only one. I have watched other writers bloom here too.

Popular LitCrawl event

Last year, our Crip the Lit event on disabled villains was the second highest attended LitCrawl event. For a “niche” topic, this was incredible.

The pieces we share are funny, clever, political and heartfelt, and our audiences know it. They are a diverse crowd and often include a wide community of disabled and Deaf folks – encouraged by our attention to COVID safety measures, lighting, seating, NZSL interpretation and more.

They know we will make them laugh, think, reconsider, commiserate - all in community with others.

Our writers are from all different careers stages and backgrounds. Despite our many differences, I come away from every gathering feeling like the world is in much better hands than it seemed before.

I am buoyed by this community. And I'm endlessly grateful for what Trish and Robyn gifted me when they asked me to be part of an event in 2021. My life would be much smaller without it.

Come to two/fiftyseven on Willis St in Wellington on Wednesday at 6pm, and join us in considering who our ancestors are and how we feel about them. For more info to this free event

Erin Donohue is a Wellington writer, poet and editor. Her debut novel, Because Everything Is Right but Everything Is Wrong, was published in 2017 and was a finalist in the 2018 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Visit Erin Donohue’s website.