As a professional speaker advocating for those with hidden disabilities, Christina Irene knows firsthand the pressure a culture of silence creates.
“We expect people to keep things to themselves, which is unfair,” Irene says. “It makes people feel stuck and as though they have to wear a mask and pass by unnoticed.”
For more than four years, Irene has carried this message and others across the country, speaking at conferences, corporate and community events, and college and university campuses. Just this September she was at UT, training faculty to better help others surmount disabilities. Travel has not been easy for Irene: chronic conditions including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease put her in a near-constant state of discomfort. However, she’s dogmatic about maintaining a positive attitude.
“We expect people to keep things to themselves, which is unfair,” Irene says. “It makes people feel stuck and as though they have to wear a mask and pass by unnoticed.”
For more than four years, Irene has carried this message and others across the country, speaking at conferences, corporate and community events, and college and university campuses. Just this September she was at UT, training faculty to better help others surmount disabilities. Travel has not been easy for Irene: chronic conditions including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease put her in a near-constant state of discomfort. However, she’s dogmatic about maintaining a positive attitude.
“I just love to empower people, help people have better lives, and share my ideas,” Irene says. “I’m living a good life. I get to travel, and I bring my dog along with me. It’s pretty great.”
During her visit to UT, Irene spent her time with faculty discussing classroom methods that can help accommodate students whose disabilities are not immediately apparent. She was also presented an Accomplished Alumna Award by Christopher Lavan, assistant provost for experiential learning and teaching innovation, for her many achievements since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a concentration in creative writing in 2003.
During her visit to UT, Irene spent her time with faculty discussing classroom methods that can help accommodate students whose disabilities are not immediately apparent. She was also presented an Accomplished Alumna Award by Christopher Lavan, assistant provost for experiential learning and teaching innovation, for her many achievements since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a concentration in creative writing in 2003.
Irene toured as a stand-up comedian and performed more than 700 shows in 33 states prior to becoming a professional speaker. She spent time as a high school teacher and currently serves in her local municipal government. Additionally, she recently published Talking Splat: Communicating About Our Hidden Disabilities, a book on the system she created for talking about disability.
Irene credits the time she spent at UT with helping to lay the foundation of her current success. Her path wasn’t easy: she married young and moved to Knoxville with her husband, but the couple separated during Irene’s sophomore year. Scholarships helped her to graduate without student debt, and her name at the time of attendance was Christina I. Knowles.
“After the divorce I got my own apartment, lived alone, worked two jobs, and finished school,” Irene says. “I had academic scholarships, and they absolutely enabled my independence. The scholarships covered my tuition and fees, and my jobs covered my living expenses.”
Now Irene is paying it forward as she travels the country and seeks to advance the conversation around disability. She keeps her mission in mind every time she presents to an audience.
“I have to keep the mindset that it’s for them,” Irene says. “It’s for everybody in the room to feel better and go on feeling better. Speaking with faculty at UT was really special because the tools I give them to help, they can pass on to their students—the next generation—to take out in the world and make it a little bit better.”
Not being silent, but instead communicating, is what Irene believes will make the world a better place. She brings that message to every speaking engagement with energy, enthusiasm, and force.
“If we remove stigma, then we can connect instead of feeling alone with our disabilities,” she says. “Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone is what helps.”
Irene credits the time she spent at UT with helping to lay the foundation of her current success. Her path wasn’t easy: she married young and moved to Knoxville with her husband, but the couple separated during Irene’s sophomore year. Scholarships helped her to graduate without student debt, and her name at the time of attendance was Christina I. Knowles.
“After the divorce I got my own apartment, lived alone, worked two jobs, and finished school,” Irene says. “I had academic scholarships, and they absolutely enabled my independence. The scholarships covered my tuition and fees, and my jobs covered my living expenses.”
Now Irene is paying it forward as she travels the country and seeks to advance the conversation around disability. She keeps her mission in mind every time she presents to an audience.
“I have to keep the mindset that it’s for them,” Irene says. “It’s for everybody in the room to feel better and go on feeling better. Speaking with faculty at UT was really special because the tools I give them to help, they can pass on to their students—the next generation—to take out in the world and make it a little bit better.”
Not being silent, but instead communicating, is what Irene believes will make the world a better place. She brings that message to every speaking engagement with energy, enthusiasm, and force.
“If we remove stigma, then we can connect instead of feeling alone with our disabilities,” she says. “Sometimes just knowing you’re not alone is what helps.”
