Disabled poets use the poetic form to tell readers who they are and claim their identity.

In this seminar, we explore the way disabled poets subvert expectations, using craft and content, within the form of an “identity poem.” By taking stereotypes and preconceived ideas about disability, poets can flip tropes upside down and expose ableist thinking. We close-read several poems and discuss them. The seminar ends with writing prompts and sharing of our work.

Initially I taught this seminar at Lesley University, but I have since brought it to other locations and modalities.