We’re creating an accessible, online database of Deaf and disabled writers from Aotearoa and their published work, to be hosted on the website

We are working with researcher, writer and dramaturg Emily Duncan. Emily is Identifying and collecting data on writers and their work and collating this into a catalogue. To make sure that as many authors and works as possible are included, we are inviting people and organisations to nominate writers.

The aim is to make it easy to find writing by Deaf and disabled writers, increase their profile, showcase their work and keep a record of works that may be out of print or otherwise unavailable. We’re thinking of this project like a virtual bookshelf.

Invitation for Nominations 

We are inviting people to nominate Deaf and disabled published writers to be added to the database, including themselves.  

Published could mean: 

• Works in print or digital, including audio.  
• Fiction or non-fiction or a combination.  
• Books published by a major publishing house, or a limited run Zine with the only known surviving copies held at the likes of the National Library or the Hocken Collections in Dunedin.  
• Creative writing or essays published in an anthology or journal (e.g., Landfall) or online (e.g., VERB).  
• Creative writing, essays, and/or articles published online (e.g., The Spinoff).  
• Play manuscripts on Playmarket’s website or similar.  

We want to make sure we capture the self-publishers, as we know Deaf and disabled writers are some of the trailblazers in this area.  

Work doesn’t need to be about disability to be included, though it may be.  

We urge people to not be shy or think that they or their work is not of sufficient significance or not literary enough to be added to the catalogue. If anything, we hope the Taha Hotu catalogue will help boost the profile of more Deaf and disabled writers.  

How to nominate yourself or others 

Option 1 

Nominate a writer or writers via the Taha Hotu Deaf & Disabled Writers' Database Submission Google Form or Microsoft form.

Option 2 

You can email Emily or Stace Robertson with as much of the following information as possible: 

1. The name of the writer.
2. A link to the writer’s website or profile online. This could be on a festival of publisher’s website. 
3. Title of the published work(s).
4. For each title, any other identifying details including: 
   • Names of co-writer(s) or illustrator(s). 
   • Name of publisher (could be a website) and date of publication.  
   • Link to a record of the work online (e.g., the publisher’s website, a library catalogue, or Google Books). 

Some additional information 

The database includes a selection of deceased writers, for example Janet Frame and Robin Hyde. So, if you can think of any Deaf or disabled writers who have since passed, we’d love for you to nominate them too.  

We are still deciding how the published catalogue will be presented to be as accessible and user-friendly as possible. Please do pass on any thoughts or suggestions you might have around this.  This could include examples of catalogues that do this well or others that are not so user-friendly.  

This project has been initiated thanks to the kind support of the Mātātuhi Foundation.