Book cover with Haben Girma (African American woman with dark hair, wearing a blue, short sleeve blouse, in profile view) with a red background. Book title displayed at center reads, "Haben The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law." Below that, is text that reads, "A Memoir," followed by the author, Haben Girma's name.
Haben Girma is a disability rights lawyer, an advocate, and a White House Champion for Change, a title designated to her by President Barack Obama. She is generously sharing her wisdom, knowledge and experiences of navigating unchartered territories and self-advocacy with our community. She has been a force for positive change throughout the world from advocating for her own rights, to sharing her authentic experiences in her book (Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law) to traveling around the world and advocating for people with disabilities, she is a trail blazer in this world and has shown us a pathway for being better human beings and doing more from where we stand. In this moderated conversation she will be discussing themes ranging from living with a disability with multiple marginalized identities, to how to advocate for change and strategies for being thoughtful, anti-ableist, inclusive and innovative designers.
This will be a hybrid event gathering virtually or at University Center, 63 5th Avenue, Room L 105 (lower level).
Please register by clicking on the red 'Register' button to attend.
Presented by The Parsons Disabled Fashion Student Program at Parsons' School of Fashion.
The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer, author, and keynote speaker. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change. She received the Helen Keller Achievement Award, and a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. In 2023 she became one of the first leaders appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the new World Health Organization Commission of Social Connection. Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation, and she travels the world teaching organizations the importance of choosing inclusion. Harnessing the power of the written word to spark advocacy, she published the bestseller Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, the book is a testament to her determination to resist isolation and find the keys to connection. You can follow her on social media or learn more on her website, Habengirma.com.
Sugandha Gupta is the Assistant Professor of Fashion Design and Social Justice at Parsons School of Design. Born with Albinism and visually impaired Gupta creates Sensory-Textiles which are a collection of textiles and wearables that encourage audiences to engage through their sense of touch, sound, smell, and sight. Gupta’s research interests lie at intersections of disability, environmental, and social justice. With over 18 years of experience in the textile industry and an established textile art practice, Gupta’s work is exhibited at The Guggenheim Museum, The Met Museum, UN Headquarters, Hunterdon Art Museum, The American Craft Council, and the Smithsonian Craft Show among other museums and shows. She has won prestigious awards such as The Dorothy Waxman Textile Prize, International Design Award, and CFDA Design Graduate.
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