You’re invited to join us for Judi’s Room!
Event Details
- Topic: Let’s Celebrate MaDDNeSs with Mike Rembis and Matt Bodett
- Date: Wed, Feb 4, 2026
- Time: 6 PM Eastern Time, 5 PM Central, 4 PM Mountain, 3 PM Pacific
- Platform: Zoom
- Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82375518189
About the Conversation
Let’s Celebrate MaDNeSs: The History of the Culture and the Future
Join us for a transformative discussion that moves beyond medical definitions to celebrate Madness as a rich cultural and political identity.
This conversation will explore the evolution of the “Mad” movement—from the dark history of institutionalization and eugenics to the vibrant, creative resistance of today. Our presenters will discuss how scholars, artists, and activists are reclaiming the term “Mad” to challenge dominant psychiatric narratives and build a future grounded in “radical compassion” and community.
We will examine:
The History: How the legacy of the asylum and the survivor movement paved the way for Mad Studies (with insights from historian Mike Rembis).
The Culture: How art and advocacy are actively constructing a “Mad Culture” that views neurodivergence not as a deficit, but as a valid and complex human experience (featuring Matt Bodett’s work with the Center for Mad Culture).
The Future: Envisioning a world of “disability aesthetics” and “crip couture” where the Mad bodymind is celebrated, not
About the Presenters:
Mike Rembis
Mike Rembis (Michael Rembis) is a prominent historian and scholar of disability studies, serving as the Director of the Center for Disability Studies at the University at Buffalo (UB). He is known for his work on the history of madness, institutionalization, eugenics, and the cultural aspects of disability. He is the co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Disability History and author of Defining Deviance: Sex, Science, and Delinquent Girls, 1890–1960. He is currently writing a book titled A Secret Worth Knowing: Living Mad Lives in the Shadow of the Asylum.
Matt Bodett
Matt Bodett is a mad artist, activist, and educator dedicated to exploring madness as a cultural identity. As the founder and director of the Center for Mad Culture, he brings his experience as a practicing visual artist and advocate to challenge dominant psychiatric narratives and uplift mad voices. His work has been exhibited internationally, and he has been an artist in residence at MacDowell and Surf Point.
About Judi’s Room
Named after celebrated human rights activist Judi Chamberlin, Judi’s Room is a free event presented jointly by MindFreedom International and I Love You, Lead On to facilitate opportunities for ongoing cross-disability dialogue. It typically begins with a presentation by one or more expert panelists, followed by an open public discussion. If you require accommodation for this event, such as sign language interpretation, please email office@mindfreedom.org at least three business days prior to the presentation date. If you would like to support Judi’s Room, please consider donating to MindFreedom and I Love You, Lead On. If you are not yet subscribed to our mailing list for Judi’s Room and would like to sign up to receive notifications about upcoming events in the future, please send an email to office@mindfreedom.org with “Add me to Judi’s Room” in the subject heading. A recording of this event will later be posted on MindFreedom’s official YouTube channel.