Terry-Ann Adams

Category
Arts & Entertainment

Age
30

Organisation / Company
Jacana Media
Website

Profile

Terry-Ann Adams, 30, is a writer and disability rights advocate. They is the author of two books, Those Who Live In Cages and White Chalk, a short story collection, both published by Jacana Media. Terry-Ann’s work covers intersectional identity in the post-apartheid context with a special focus on feminism, race, disability and queer expression. “As a disabled person, I advocate for inclusive and equitable access for people with disabilities with a special focus on digital accessibility using my platform as an author.” Those Who Live In Cages was longlisted for the Humanities and Social Sciences Awards (2021) and the Sunday Times Literary Awards (2021) and is critically acclaimed for its portrayal of coloured women and the community of Eldorado Park. White Chalk was awarded Best Fiction Short Stories at the HSS Awards (2023) and stories from the collection have been taught in universities in South Africa and the United States. It has been lauded for its portrayals of coloured identity, queer characters, and its depiction of disabled characters. Terry-Ann is passionate about digital accessibility for disabled South Africans (ensuring that all websites are accessible to all), mental health, and awareness of albinism and autism as a person with albinism who is also autistic. They also uses social media to raise awareness and often speaks on panels, locally and internationally. Terry-Ann would like to see a South Africa that is more inclusive for everyone where barriers to access are taken away for black and brown women, gender-diverse people, disabled people and queer people. 

List your educational background - qualifications and institutions?

• BHCS (Honours), History, University of Pretoria
• BA Humanities, University of Pretoria

Any awards or achievements in your field?

• Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Awards 2023 Best Fiction: Short Stories for White Chalk 
• Longlisted for the HSS Awards in 2021 for Those Who Live In Cages
• Longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Awards 2021 also for Those Who Live In Cages.

One childhood memory that has spurred you to such levels of achievement?

I had to write a short story for my grade six English assignment. I wanted to use fiction and humour to write about being disabled and struggling to get into a mainstream primary school and that resulted in my first memoir. I remember calling it The Eye Confusion. From that day, I knew that I could write and that I wanted to write words that could change the world.

Advice to your younger self?

Just keep swinging. The fight doesn’t look worth it but it will be, just trust me.

What would you like South Africa to look like in five years?

Short answer: more inclusive for everyone. I would like to see barriers to access taken away for black and brown women, gender-diverse people, disabled people, and queer people.