Chava Willig Levy

Chava Willig Levy is a New York-based lecturer, author, editor and advocate with a particular interest in childhood, parenthood, Judaism, disability and the quality of life.

Millions of people have read Chava’s articles, featured in national publications including Family Circle, Woman’s Day,McCall’s, Ladies’ Home Journal, Parents Magazine, Jewish Action and Stagebill. Her essays appear in several books, includingTotal Immersion, The Complete Guide to Employing Persons with Disabilities, Bigger than the Sky, American Business and the Public School and Bread and Fire.

As a person who gets around in a motorized wheelchair, Ms. Levy has shattered many stereotypes about people with disabilities in the workplace, in the community, in the classroom and on the college campus.

An internationally known motivational speaker famous for her humor, passion and compassion, Chava has captivated audiences ranging in size from 50 to 3,500. Her interactive workshop Mommy, What’s Wrong with That Lady? has delighted hundreds of young people. Sensitive to the ways in which prejudice touches the lives of many Americans, she champions causes distinct from disability awareness. Her acclaimed program about the legendary Paul Robeson is a case in point.

Ms. Levy received a B.A., summa cum laude, in French literature from Yeshiva University and an M.A. in counseling psychology from Columbia University. She pursued doctoral studies at New York University. Her positions at City University of New York, the U.S. Department of Labor and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, respectively, include vocational counselor, management trainer and communications consultant. She heads her own communications consulting firm, Lucidity Unlimited, with services ranging from writing brochures, résumés, speeches and marketing materials to editing books.

Chava lives in Woodmere, New York, with her husband and children.