JALS Event: Invisible Identities: A Conversation on Diabetes and Disability (6.22.19)

Just a Little Suga’ presents Invisible Identities: A Conversation on Diabetes and Disability.

This event will take place on Saturday, June 22nd from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at The BGX (Black Gotham Experience) Studio, located at 192 Front Street in NYC.

Description:

Panelists will unpack what it means to identify as living with a disability–the concerns, stigma, and protections that are associated with that label, and what people with diabetes should know about their disability rights within the different spaces (school, work, public) they occupy.

This is an inclusive event, all are invited, regardless of diabetes type.

Panel will be followed by a brief, accommodations-friendly Pilates session led by Amina Gyau. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat or towel to participate.

Special thanks to GlucoseZone for serving as an event sponsor.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.

Host and Moderator:

Ariel Lawrence has lived with type 1 diabetes for 13 years. She is the founder of Just a Little Suga’, and creator of the Diabetics on the Margin series–platforms shedding light on the experiences of individuals of color and marginalized communities affected by diabetes. Her work has also been featured on The Mighty, Beyond Type 1, Insulin Nation, KevinMD and HealthLine. Ariel received her M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University and A.B. from Princeton University.

Panelists:

Elise Cossart-Daly is an attorney and founding lawyer of Cossart-Daly Law. She fights discrimination and advocates for civil rights in housing, education, and employment. Ms. Cossart-Daly has worked at several firms, including Metz & Harrison, LLP, where she represented individuals with disabilities in civil rights cases. In addition to 30 years living with type 1 diabetes, Ms. Cossart-Daly also manages Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Celiac Disease, and an autoimmune arthritis.

Amina Gyau is a certified Pilates trainer and owner of Balance in Motion Pilates studio. During pregnancy, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and later became type one. Amina practices Pilates as her source of mind-body balance and enjoys the stabilizing effect it has on her blood sugars. She is developing a Pilates series with GlucoseZone to target those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who are 60+, as well as those who are using or transitioning to walkers.

Esther Clovis is an attorney and member of Holland and Knight’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. In law school she worked as a legal extern at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters and also served as the executive director of Penn Law Advocates for the Homeless where she represented clients in their civil legal matters. Prior to law school, Ms. Clovis was a Teach for America middle school special education teacher.

Tonya Hegamin is an acclaimed author, editor and assistant professor living with type 1 diabetes. Her research and publications are focused on historic cultural perspectives, equity and inclusion, (dis)ability, LGBTQIA+ and intersectional womanist perspectives. Tonya creates content about invisible chronic illness and how it intersects with gender, race and creativity. She also speaks openly about life with her service dog Bobo and educates those with type 1 diabetes about the benefits of working with a Diabetic Alert Dog.

Dr. Cynthia Munoz is a bilingual licensed psychologist who has specialized in diabetes mental health for over 16 years. She holds an appointment as Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the USC Keck School of Medicine. She is a pediatric psychologist at CHLA Behavioral Health Center and at the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDM), where she serves a diverse diabetes patient population. Munoz also co-developed a psychosocial program for teens with insulin-dependent diabetes, siblings and caregivers called Teen Power.

Thank you to our community partner, The Mighty for helping us spread the word!

Purchase tickets here.