If you want to understand what it is to be a poet, spend time with people who consider themselves unpoetic—people who feel defeated or confused by poetry. You will keep bumping up against that thing that separates you. It feels like a low cement wall. The essential separation borders a world where every question has … More Poet’s Mind
In November, I participated in the Brown Bag Series hosted by UNF’s Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society). I had the opportunity to read my work and discuss the challenges and joys of writing as a blind poet. Here’s what it’s about: As a blind poet, Emily K. Michael understands the politics of disclosure. Publishing … More Watch my presentation: “Creative Activism: The Poetry of Disability and Disclosure”
About a month ago, I gave a talk as part of TEDxFSCJ: Engage. The process involved a lot of work—rehearsals, revisions, workshops—but it was an incredible experience. I was blessed with the TEDxFSCJ crew to guide me, including a test audience and awesome speech coach! Here’s how the video is described on YouTube: Today one … More Watch my TEDx Talk, “The confluence of disability and imagination”
Jacob Lusk is a Jacksonville, Florida native, a high school English teacher, and an amateur film critic, who writes about movies on his blog, The Panned Review. You can follow him on Twitter. Check out his tips and suggestions for composing a film review. Some Suggestions for Writing a Good Film Review Watch the film … More Guest Post: On Writing a Film Review
A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Nancy and Peter Torpey from the Eyes On Success podcast. Eyes on Success interviews blind people from all over the world about their careers, passions, hobbies, and challenges. I had a blast doing my interview! I was excited to discuss teaching, writing, and publishing! My interview was … More My interview with the Eyes On Success podcast!
On Saturday, November 5, my colleague Michele Boyette and I will present the workshop “Insensible Paradise, Invisible Nightmare: Complicating Embodiment in the 21st Century Classroom” at the 88th SAMLA conference! We’re looking forward to an exciting 90 minutes of analyzing disabled character tropes, evaluating accessibility statements, and brainstorming effective communication strategies. Want to see what … More Presentation Notes for SAMLA 88!
Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen, age 53, is an associate professor in the Department of English at Bowling Green State University (in Bowling Green, Ohio). She teaches technical linguistics courses for people who wish to teach English to speakers of other languages. She says it’s a marvelous job: “I sort of love it.” She has a scattering … More October Interview: Spark, Startle, Enlighten!
I’ve got some exciting things to share! First up are two short promo videos I did for TEDxFSCJ: each one offers a sneak peek at my upcoming talk, “The Confluence of Disability and Imagination.” Here’s the first promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUOFSaRq-3Q And the second one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcU094ffn0Q If you’re interested in coming to my performance of the talk, … More A sneak peek at my TEDx Talk and a radio spot for Blindness Awareness!
My Dear Readers: I was accepted to speak at TEDxFSCJ here in Jacksonville on October 8. However, Hurricane Matthew came to town (I guess he heard about our impressive lineup of speakers), so our event had to be postponed! TEDxFSCJ has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 5, but I will be speaking at SAMLA 88 … More I’ll Be at TEDxFSCJ in an Unconventional Way!
April Ogden, age 45, is a full-time manager with the Florida Department of Education in Northeast Florida. She enjoys reading and traveling. You can learn more about her on her LinkedIn page. How would you describe your vision or blindness? Is it congenital or has it developed recently? I was diagnosed with Glaucoma during December … More October Interview: Faith in a Life After Loss
Jennifer Pearlstein, age 26, is a graduate student in Clinical Psychology at University of California -Berkeley. Outside her professional life, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her dog. She has recently started a blog on issues related to vulnerability and identity. How would you describe your vision or blindness? Is it congenital or … More October Interview: Understanding Begins in Presence
Eric Harvey, age 34, is a Ph.D. candidate at Brandeis University in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. He studies the texts, religions, and cultures of ancient Israel, Syria, and Mesopotamia (what is now Iraq). He is writing his dissertation on a group of biblical Psalms which reused pieces of older texts. He lives with his … More October Interview: Scholar, Teacher, and Guide
Alan Brint, age 19, is a swimmer at Beloit College in Beloit, WI. He loves to read and watch sports. He describes his vision as light perception from Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). He travels with a white cane. You can find him on Facebook as Alan Brint. What is the most consistent challenge or frustration … More October Interview: Magic, Swimming, and Social Acceptance
Melissa, age 56, is a retired network engineer, educator, and computer programmer from Central Florida. Her passions include photography, dogs, and reading. Today she shares her reverence for the God’s Word and for our words. Do you believe in a God, gods, or other spiritual forces? If so, what name(s) does your spiritual force have? … More Sacred Space Interview: Power in the Word
Mark your calendars for November 12, 2016! I’ll be reading poetry at the JaxbyJax Literary Festival! JaxbyJax is a unique event that stages local writers all over Riverside. Whether you want to visit a pub, hair salon, coffeeshop, or tattoo parlor, you’re likely to find a pair or trio of Jacksonville writers reading their work. … More Appearing at JaxbyJax 2016!
On the Blink 