Dr. Leah Kelley (she/her)
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leahkelley.bsky.social
Dr. Leah Kelley (she/her)
@leahkelley.bsky.social
300 followers 450 following 56 posts
Leah Kelley, Ed.D.
Consultant, Educator, Activist, Scholar, Author of "The Person Who Arrives: Connecting Disability Studies to Educational Practice," Writer at 30 Days of Autism https://30daysofautism.blog/2018/02/27/toward-the-river-a-poem-of-hope/
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leahkelley.bsky.social
Okay, shortbread… it’s on!!
Photo of a 1940’s Sunbeam Mixmaster, full of butter and sugar ready to be mixed, and a measuring cup full of flour, that will be slowly added, and a cup of tepid coffee, resting on an old-timey pullout cutting board. Behind can be seen an open bag of flour, a cobalt blue glass canister, and the edge of the stove with blue enamelled kettles. Above the stove is a wee shelf with gloriously dusty knickknacks, and a red tomato timer that saves me daily.
December 24, 2024 at 11:46 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
Ridley the Wildling embodying the chill vibe that is perhaps my slightly unrealistic goal!
Photo of an apricot labradoodle on a dark blue armchair. Her head is resting on the arm, and she appears very relaxed. In the background there is a blurred Christmas tree.
December 20, 2024 at 1:26 AM
leahkelley.bsky.social
My visual notes from #TASH2024conference
December 8, 2024 at 7:07 AM
leahkelley.bsky.social
At TASH 2024 Conference and so excited about this session!

“How to: Anti-Ableist, Respectful, and Student Centered Evaluation“

#InclusionForAll
#RootsOfInclusion
December 6, 2024 at 8:23 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
Headed to the TASH Conference in New Orleans!! Squeeeee!
Logo of TASH 2024 Conference in New Orleans December 5-7
December 4, 2024 at 2:30 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
Squeee! I couldn’t be more excited to share Jess Wilson’s (Diary of a Mom) SPECTACULAR review of my book #ThePersonWhoArrives.
Thank you, Jess 💜

The Person Who Arrives is available at Amazon & other book retailers.
#BeingMyOwnLiteraryAgent with support from beautiful community! I’m so grateful!
Image: “With a far too rare combination of honesty, humility, and an understanding that nothing matters more than lived experience, Leah Kelley invites us to learn along with her. By masterfully illustrating her research with real-life narrative bursting with insight, she makes her work not just accessible, but deeply compelling. “ ~ Jess Wilson, Diary of a Mom Black text on a magenta rectangle, framed with light blue, purple to magenta coloured waves. On the lower right side is a pencil sketched sailboat, drawn in the style of Sendak, depicting a frizzy haired person in a wolf suit with hands on their hips. On the side of the boat is the query, "Whose Story is this anyway..." and the name "LEAH” White text at top of image: "The Person Who Arrives: Connecting Disability Studies and Educational Practice for Teachers, Parents, and Others" White text at bottom: "Leah M. Kelley, Ed.D."
November 26, 2024 at 10:13 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
My daughter, Annika, crocheted me this amazing wee frog for my birthday last month.
Fair warning: prepare for shenanigans!!
Image: small dark green frog with long bendable legs, black bead eyes, and a white belly on a wooden shelf. It is poking through a wooden letter “O” in the word “JOY”. Background is an old triangular crib board and woven baskets.
November 24, 2024 at 4:26 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
Coffee, watching the sun come over the mountains, the quiet of my sleepy dog… okay day… let’s do this.
Image: photo of a big picture window showing snowy mountains and grey clouds and patches of clear sky. In front of the window is an armchair with a fluffy labradoodle sleeping, her head resting on one of the arms. In the foreground is an silhouetted cup on a coffee table.
November 23, 2024 at 3:35 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
This is happening today!
Deep breath...
UBC LLINK- Literacy & Libraries: Investigating New Knowledges Connecting Disability Studies to Educational Practice Thursday, November 21 | 5PM - 6PM PST Virtual via Zoom Join us for this special LLINK: Literacy & Libraries: Investigating New Knowledges event featuring Dr. Leah Kelley, author of The Person Who Arrives: Connecting Disability Studies and Educational Practice for Teachers, Parents, and Others (2023). This talk is for educators interested in exploring another way of conceptualizing and understanding disability, the importance of centering lived experience, and the role of storytelling in guiding practice in our classrooms, libraries, and communities. Image of The Person Who Arrives ( book cover) Image: B&W head shot of Leah Kelley Dr. Leah Kelley holds a Doctorate in Education from Simon Fraser University, where her extensive career in public-school education spans almost three decades. With roles including primary teacher, inclusion resource teacher (K-12), and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Helping Teacher, she brings a wealth of experience to her current position guiding pre-service teachers at the university level, including as an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kelley's work focuses on connecting disability studies in education (DSE) to educational practice, strength-based perspectives for supporting neurodiversity, addressing ableism, inclusive practices and pedagogy, and cultivating advocacy. RSVP : QR code UBC is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam people
November 22, 2024 at 12:32 AM
leahkelley.bsky.social
This is important - endlessly important! I don't understand why it seems difficult for people to wrap their heads around this idea: we need to understand and support people.

"Just because a Disabled person is able to perform the way you think they should one time or a few times..." Kimberly Faith
Image Description.: Text reads "Just because a Disabled person is able to perform the way you think they should one time or a few times, doesn't give you the right to hold that over their head. It doesn't mean that act is sustainable. It does not dictate ability, capability, or potential. If the Disabled person is unable to replicate that again it does not mean they choose not to do it, are being defiant, or are otherwise trying to piss you off This is disability 101. Kimberly Faith" watermarked: www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance Background is a slightly texture burgundy color
November 19, 2024 at 8:47 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
Oooooh... a new talk for LLINK -Literacy & Libraries: Investigating New Knowledges for UBC (University of British Columbia) on Thursday.

Delighted to be invited to talk with teachers about "Connecting Disability Studies to Educational Practice" and #Storytelling and #ThePersonWhoArrives

#BCedchat
ID: Cartoon image of frizzy-haired, glasses-wearing, me, wearing a black sweater over a t-shirt with a small bit of "Black Lives Matter" text visible. I am popping out of a laptop computer and holding an open book with a red cover in my hands.
November 19, 2024 at 8:04 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
I am excited and honoured to share this wonderful review of my book #ThePersonWhoArrives from Emma Van der Klift and Norman Kunc! #BeingMyOwnLiteraryAgent

(Alt text on image below)
Image of Book Review by Emma Van der Klift and Norman Kunc: “Leah Kelley has successfully woven together a playful and insightful blend of story, art, poetry, personal reflection and theory in this book. Her experience as an educator, scholar, parent, someone with lived experience of disability - and the fact that she is a gifted writer - make this a delightful and thought-provoking read. Leah uses a metaphor of sailing, and her work reminds us of something that all sailors know, namely that navigation must begin with understanding where we are long before we try to figure out how to reach our destination. We would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in creating more inclusive schools and communities, and anyone who is interested in deepening their understanding of disability and neurodivergence!” - Emma Van der Klift and Norman Kunc, Talk to Me, Being Realistic isn’t Realistic Black text on a white rectangle overlaid on a series of teal to blue coloured wave imagery. On the lower right side is a pencil sketched sailboat, drawn in the style of Sendak, depicting a frizzy haired person in a wolf suit with hands on their hips. On the side of the boat is the query, "Whose Story is this anyway..." and inscribed with a name "LEAH." Black text at top of page: "The Person Who Arrives: Connecting Disability Studies and Educational Practice for Teachers, Parents, and Others" Black text at bottom: "Leah M. Kelley, Ed.D."
November 18, 2024 at 7:42 PM
leahkelley.bsky.social
Breakfast with the last rose…
Seems somehow fitting as I contemplate what’s next…

Hello Bluesky 💜
ID: photo of the final bouquet of flowers from my November garden (hydrangeas, dahlias, and a single rose) in a clear glass vase on the kitchen table, which is covered with a red, gold and olive flowered table cloth. The rose has lost all of its petals and they are on the table below the stem. Also visible: a white coffee cup, a covered butter dish, and the blurred edge of a blue dish of apples.
November 14, 2024 at 5:10 PM