When Liz Weintraub sat down to write All Means All: My Life in Advocacy, it wasn’t just to put words on a page, it was to honor a dream and prove something deeply important: that people with intellectual disabilities can do anything they set their minds to.
Her inspiration came from home. “My dad inspired me,” Liz says with pride. “He wrote two books, and I wanted to be like him.” It was more than just following in his footsteps. It was about making sure her voice, and the voices of people like her, were heard. For Liz, the power of storytelling isn’t just in sharing her life, it’s a reminder to others that they matter too.
At first, the idea of writing a book felt overwhelming. “Writing a book is a lot of work and it takes a lot of time,” she admits. “I wasn’t sure I could do it.” But friends and supporters rallied around her. Two of those friends, Shirley and Cate, played a big role. Instead of doing interviews, Shirley and Cate gave Liz assignments. She would ask questions like how do you advocate? How do you handle tough situations? These writing prompts became building blocks for her story.
Each month, Liz, Shirley, and Cate would meet to discuss what Liz had written. And when the finish line started coming into view, her sister Roni stepped in to help her cross it. It was a community effort—a book born from collaboration, courage, and a whole lot of heart.
For Liz, the most rewarding part of being a writer is knowing that she was able accomplish a lifelong goal of writing a book. “I know that I can do this,” she told herself.” That realization fuels her dream that all means all. Her book is a personal story, but it’s also a call for equality. “I want everyone to be treated the same,” she says. “I want people to read my book and know they are valuable and that they are important.”
In the final pages of her book, Liz leaves readers with a powerful message:
“I hope that by reading my story, you have seen that we have made a lot of progress. Yet, we have a long way to go to make my dream become a reality. And that dream is all means all.”
Liz chose to benefit the AUCD DREAM Fund through book sales. “AUCD really believed in me,” Liz shares. “Andy Imperato [AUCD’s former Executive Director] believed I could be on Capitol Hill to advocate and be in all of these meetings even when I didn’t understand everything. He said, ‘Let’s give it a try. You have friends who can help you.’”
With every book sold and every story shared, Liz’s dream gets a little closer. All means all is a movement, and Liz is leading the way.
About Liz Weintraub
Liz Weintraub is AUCD’s Senior Advocacy Specialist and the lead on Disability Policy for All with Liz. Liz has extensive experience practicing leadership in self advocacy and has held many board and advisory positions at state and national organizations. In 2018, Liz served as a Fellow for Senator Casey of Pennsylvania where she helped the Senator lead work on disability policy. During the same year, Liz testified about her personal experiences as a woman with disabilities before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the potential implications of a Kavanaugh confirmation to the civil rights of people with disabilities. Liz has received a number of awards, recognition, and commendations for her work. Liz enjoys mentoring people with disabilities.
