Changing the Conversation: Envision and the 2025 NEA Big Read: Wichita

“Disability doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it exists in a world that is constantly reacting to it.” 

This powerful reflection from the 2025 NEA Big Read: Wichita featured title, 

Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body by author Rebekah Taussig, set the tone for a community-wide conversation that Envision was proud to help bring to life. 

The memoir-in-essays blends humor, honesty, and critique to challenge how society views and reacts to disability. With wit and clarity, Taussig shares deeply personal stories of growing up paralyzed, inviting readers to see disability not as something tragic or inspirational, but as something fully human — complex, ordinary, and deserving of understanding. 

As a champion of inclusion and accessibility, Envision partnered with the Wichita Public Library to host three meaningful events rooted in connection, creativity, and advocacy. At the Envision Arts Gallery and Community Engagement Center, participants joined a reflective mini-memoir workshop, where they explored the ways they defy stereotypes and claim their narratives. Stories of resilience, identity, and transformation unfolded across the room, creating space for honest self-expression and discovery. 

The conversation continued with Progress and Possibilities: Accessibility in Wichita, a public panel co-hosted with the Kansas Leadership Center. Leaders and advocates across sectors came together to discuss both the progress Wichita has made and the work still ahead. 

Mika Pyyhkala, Director of Accessibility for the Envision Workforce Innovation Center and a featured panelist, shared: 

“The book was very timely and interesting in terms of where we are as a society in our approach towards disability, and highlighted how much work remains to be done.” 

The week culminated in a special VIP meet and greet with Rebekah Taussig at the Envision Arts Gallery. Through an inspiring Q&A and heartfelt book signing, Rebekah connected directly with attendees, reminding us that every story holds power and that shifting the narrative around disability begins with listening. 

Envision’s participation in this year’s Big Read was more than a partnership, it was a reflection of our mission. Through programs like these, we continue working to elevate voices, expand perspectives, and build a more inclusive world where every person has the opportunity to be seen, heard, and thrive.