Representation Matters: Emily Perl Kingsley

All Things Disability

In this week's episode Emmy-award winning writer Emily Perl Kingsley shares insights from her decades-long career as a writer on Sesame Street. After Emily's son, Jason, was born with Down syndrome in 1974, she pushed to make the show more inclusive, producing a variety of episodes focusing on a range of disabilities.

Emily has written more than 20 children's books. And in 1987, Emily wrote the widely read essay, Welcome to Holland, which compares the experience of finding out their child has a disability to having a trip to Italy rerouted to Holland. That essay has been reprinted tens of thousands of times throughout the world, translated into multiple languages, and has inspired millions of families with hope that they would have the same kinds of opportunities and experiences.

About Northeast Arc

Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps.

Learn more at ne-arc.org.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc

About Northeast Arc

Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps.

Learn more at ne-arc.org.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc