Exploring Health Equity: ODU Plans More Than 50 Events to Support NEA Big Read

By Kelsey Kendall

Old Dominion University’s Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read, invites students, faculty, staff and community members to explore “Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body” by Rebekah Taussig. Throughout the year, ODU and its community partners will facilitate broader conversations about health equity, diversity and inclusion. This initiative serves as a powerful reminder that literacy acts as a unifying force.

To kick off the NEA Big Read, the University is hosting a book signing and meet-and-greet with Taussig during ODU’s 47th Annual Literary Festival, presented by Arts@ODU, at 6 p.m., Oct. 8 in the Big Blue Room in Chartway Arena. Taussig will share her journey during the event and encourage participants to rethink their perceptions of disability and embrace diversity. Growing up as a wheelchair user in the ‘90s and 2000s, Taussig sought to connect with media representations of disability but did not see any seemed right to her. She wrote “Sitting Pretty” to share the complexities of disability – the resilience, challenges and ordinary – and explore ableism in everyday life.

“This collaboration with NEA Big Read is an exciting opportunity to welcome the community to meaningfully engage with Old Dominion University while exploring the important topic of health accessibility,” said Millicent Lee, coordinator for diversity and inclusive excellence. “We are ultimately building community through literacy while highlighting the importance of health equity.

“By using literacy as a tool, we aim to foster a sense of belonging and inclusion, encouraging participants to connect with diverse perspectives. Rebekah Taussig’s visit to campus is just the beginning; our partnerships across the region will ensure these vital conversations continue throughout the year.”

ODU has participated in the nationwide Big Read initiative in previous years, but this year, Lee said, the University is planning over 50 programs throughout the academic year, making it the “most comprehensive” Big Read initiative hosted by ODU and the community. 

“A few themes from the book especially near and dear to my heart would be that disability is part of the human experience, full of just as much and little triumph and tragedy as any other human; access is a conversation for every human who has a body; cutting off disability from the center of our stories/culture/designs/planning leaves all of us less equipped for the ride we’re already on – or, said another way, disability invites imagination and innovation to the work we're already doing,” Taussig said.

An initiative of the NEA in partnership with Arts Midwest, the Big Read intends to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.

“Together, we’re not just promoting literacy—we’re igniting a movement toward inclusivity and equity,” Lee said.

Old Dominion University is one of 62 organizations nationwide participating in the 2024-25 NEA Big Read.

Throughout the school year, the ODU community will explore themes within “Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body” with multiple collaborative events, including conversations around “The Hidden Haven of Triple Negative Breast Cancer” and “Healing Through the Land,” focused on health disparities and Indigenous citizens’ healthcare needs. “The Crown Gala: Handle with Care” will recognize and celebrate public servants and first responders while raising mental health awareness.