Deconstructing Disability-Affirming Content will help editors feel more confident editing content related to disability by looking beyond simple terminology and style choices. In this webinar, we will begin with a consideration of disability as a concept, the theoretical models and frameworks of disability, historical processes, grassroots activism, and political and cultural contexts. With this knowledge, we will examine and discuss practical examples by considering the historical roots of tropes, stereotypes, and slurs and how ableism has evolved through political and cultural contexts in the arts and in media. We will finish the session by discussing resources, style guides, and ways to apply this knowledge in the editing sphere and in our everyday lives.
Natalia Iwanek (she/they) is a disabled and chronically ill freelance copy editor, proofreader, and translator with a specialization in plain language, inclusive language, and accessibility. Natalia holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and political science, has completed both the editing and plain language certificate programs at Simon Fraser University, and is currently working toward a master’s degree in Spanish translation. From 2024 to 2025, Natalia was the co-editor-in-chief of Editors Toronto’s BoldFace, previously served as assistant to the editor-in-chief, and was a member of the Editors Canada student relations committee, the marketing and communications committee, and the equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) task force. In 2022 and 2021, Natalia was a recipient of the Editors Canada President’s Award for Volunteer Service.