What’s better than sitting outside on a summer day with a good book? These five books about disability, accessibility and inclusion are from authors with lived experience. These books include diverse nonfiction perspectives from people with disabilities, as well as fictional representations and stories. Find them at your favourite bookstore, library or reading app!

Are you an aspiring or practicing author with lived experience? Check out our Explore Possible thought leadership program to see how you can share your perspective.

Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space by Amanda Leduc

“In fairy tales, happy endings are the norm - as long as you’re beautiful and walk on two legs. After all, the ogre never gets the princess. And since fairy tales are the foundational myths of our culture, how can a girl with a disability ever think she’ll have a happy ending?”

Albert Einstein said, “if you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.” But if fairy tales aren’t truly representing the diverse spectrum of humanity, how effective can they be in creating good examples for children?

Author Amanda Leduc explores the ways that fairy tales have shaped our expectations of disability. Leduc talks about fairy tale archetypes and examines them through a modern lens.

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann with Kristen Joiner

Judith Heumann is recognized internationally as a leader in the disability community, producing significant contributions since the 1970s to the development of human rights legislation for children, youth and adults with disabilities.

Her story of fighting to belong to a world that wasn’t built for everyone started early in life when she was paralyzed from polio, and took her all the way to a national movement that led to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities act.

Criptionary by Maria Palacios

A humorous collection of essays on the everyday barriers faced by persons with disabilities, focusing on political incorrectness, disability power and activism.

Maria Palacios is a feminist writer, poet, author, and spoken word performer who embraces self-acceptance, empowerment and social justice surrounding women with disabilities. This book of reworded definitions will have you laughing and also thinking about language, perspective and equality.

It’s Just Nerves: Notes on a Disability by Kelly Davio

“When the body attacks itself, the crisis is not just of bones and blood, but of beauty and boundaries.” Kelly Davio’s book explores the intersection of myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder, with the world around us - from modern healthcare to pub seating, to meditation culture and more. She discusses the myths, complexities and misunderstandings of living with a disability through this collection of 25, witty, irreverent essays.

If At Birth You Don’t Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny by Zach Anner

Comedian Zach Anner’s memoir follows him from birth, when he entered the world with cerebral palsy, to when he became a viral internet sensation as the host of two travel shows, when he piloted the Mars Rover, and inspired a John Mayer song. Zach’s hilarious and heartfelt story will have you laughing, crying and determined to find your own passion and path as Zach has.

Explore Possible

This blog post is part of Explore Possible, an initiative by Manitoba Possible to amplify stories, perspectives about disability, accessibility, and inclusion.

Read more at manitobapossible.ca/explore-possible or continue on to our latest posts by clicking the titles and arrows in the bottom corners!