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Disability Inclusion Author Talk Series: A conversation with Mary Li - Principal Repétitéur and Ballet Mistress with the Queensland Ballet and author of Mary’s Last Dance.
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Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability invites you to attend our Author Talk event with esteemed guest Mary Li (author of Mary’s Last Dance), hosted by Dr Maretta Mann.
Mary Li (née McKendry) principal repétitéur at the Queensland Ballet, faced a unique challenge when her daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at 17 months. Mary, a former principal dancer with the London Festival Ballet (English National Ballet), shifted her focus to support Sophie’s journey, juggling speech therapy and adapting her busy ballet schedule.
Sophie, determined to navigate the hearing world, learned to lip-read, received a cochlear implant, and embraced mainstream education. As a young woman, she discovered Auslan, enhancing her language skills and boosting confidence. Reflecting on Sophie’s journey after completing her memoir, “Mary’s Last Dance”, the entire family embraced Auslan, deepening their bond.
Born in Rockhampton, Queensland, Mary Li’s illustrious ballet career includes stints with the Royal Ballet and Houston Ballet. Returning to Australia, she spent a decade with the Australian Ballet before joining theQueensland Ballet as Principal Repétitéur. Alongside her husband Li Cunxin AO (https://licunxin.com), the artistic director, they elevated the company’s global standing.
Mary’s resilience, a hallmark of her ballet career, proved crucial in navigating and ultimately embracing her child’s disability. Her story, a fusion of ballet and family strength, exemplifies courage, determination, and unwavering will.
Find out more about Mary Li and her book “Mary’s Last Dance” at https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/mary-li
Visit Sophie Li’s website https://www.sophieli.com.au.
Event Details
Wednesday, 3 April 2024, 11.30 am–1.30 pm
Queensland Conservatorium (QCGU) Foyer, S01
Southbank Campus, Griffith University
Access a venue map on this link or visit https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/361670/South-Bank-campus-map.pdfRSVP
Please confirm your attendance before:
Thursday, 21 March 2024
Click here to register your attendance or visit: https://forms.office.com/r/gLhhR3iV7mAlternatively register via the QR Code below.
Contact us
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au -
Book Club: Sexual Health, Wellbeing and Disability
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INCLUSIVE FUTURES BOOK CLUB
A conversation with authors Dr. Marita Heck (author of Secret Forces) and conversation partners Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten.
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University hosted our latest #BookClub event on #SexualHealth, #wellbeing and #disability, with author Marita Heck and conversation partners Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten online, on Wednesday, 23 August on Microsoft Teams.
It is a human right to experience positive #SexualHealth and wellbeing, yet it is a topic that is often neglected and ignored. Please join us (via our online recording) for an open, honest discussion about challenges experienced by #PeopleWithDisability and how we can increase awareness, education and support.
Dr Marita Heck (PhD, Master of Midwifery, Bachelor of Nursing Science) is an Adjunct Research Fellow with The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Dr Heck is further a member of the Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures task force. In this space, Dr Heck is leading a consumer-led multidisciplinary research project in collaboration with five Australian universities promoting holistic sexual health support for people living with a spinal cord injury.
In addition, Dr Heck conducts research into supporting women living with an SCI in pre-pregnancy, antenatal, birth and postnatal support. Dr Heck is further a very experienced #clinician working with people living with a disability in the sexuality and fertility, and antenatal, birth and postnatal period in the Australian community. Besides her work in the research and the clinical setting, Dr Heck is a vivid romance novel author and published her first suspense romance novel Secret Forces in 2020.
Lisa Cox is an Internationally awarded thought leader, TEDx speaker, #authorand consultant who is working with business, government, Griffith University and others to help create solutions and change social attitudes towards disability. Her work has been recognised around the globe and featured in media like FOX, NBC News, Huffington Post, Smart Company, Vogue and AdNews Australia.
Chantelle Otten is a Melbourne based Psycho-Sexologist who is passionate about empowering people to feel great about their sexual health, self-esteem, communication and education. With a background in scientific research, sexual medicine, and counselling, she believes that sexuality and self-esteem are an integral part of life, which everyone is entitled to. Good sexual health should always be enjoyable, pain free and without prejudice.
For those who missed the event, you can access the recording here https://youtu.be/11DP3nz_Tn4 - A full and accessible transcript can be provided upon request.For more information about the author Dr. Marita Heck:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Secret-Forces-Marita-Heck-ebook/dp/B08KTSLM2Ghttps://www.sexpositivecommunity.com/
For more information about Lisa Cox:
https://www.instagram.com/lisacox.co/
For more information about Chantelle Otten:
https://chantelleotten.com/https://www.instagram.com/chantelle_otten_sexologist/
If you would like to stay up to date with upcoming events and join the Inclusive Futures book club community, you can join up here: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/inclusive-futures-book-club?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab
If you have any questions or would like a copy of the transcript, please do not hesitate to contact the team at inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au.