Disability Book Week

Disability Book Week occurs every year during the week of April 23 - 29. It is a worldwide celebration of books with disability characters or themes. 

Learn more about it at https://disabilitybookweek.org 

 

Here are some memoirs I've read, written by people with disabilities:

Being Huemann by Judy Heumann

Every Day is a Gift by Tammy Duckworth

If At Birth You Don't Succeed by Zach Anner

I'm Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves by Ryan O'Connell

Haben: The DeafBlind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma

Find Another Dream by Maysoon Zayid

Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jouard

Not Fade Away by Rebecca Alexander

The Pretty One by Keah Brown

We Carry Kevan by Kevan Chandler 

Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running from Madness by Suzy Favor Hamilton

Laughing at My Nightmare and Strangers Assume My Girlfriend is My Nurse by Shane Burcaw 

It's Not What It Looks Like by Molly Burke

 

And here are some fiction titles with disability themes / characters that I've read:

The Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Good Kings, Bad Kings by Susan Nussbaum

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

 

And here are some titles on my wish list:

How Lucky: A Novel by Will Leitch

Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness by Josh Sundquist

The Sign for Home: A Novel by Blair Fell 

Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary, Resilient Disabled Body by Rebekah Taussig

Access Your Drive and Enjoy Your Ride: A Guide to Achieving Your Dreams From a Person with a Disability by Lauren Spencer

Disability Visibility and Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong

 

Disability representation is so important. People with disabilities need to see themselves represented in books. 

 

Ali Stroker, Tony award winning actress, and wheelchair user, has written two middle grade books where the main character is a female wheelchair user: The Chance to Fly and Cut Loose!

 

Maysoon Zayid, comedienne and activist with Cerebral Palsy, will release a graphic novel next year called Shiny Misfits, about a dancer with Cerebral Palsy. 

 

And Ryan O'Connell, actor with Cerebral Palsy, has written a book called Just By Looking at Him: A Novel, about a gay TV writer with Cerebral Palsy.

 

librarianintx

 

Colors

Growing up, I don't remember wearing the color orange. It wasn't a part of my fashion to my knowledge. Pink, especially light pink, is the color I have been drawn to and obsessed with for most of my life. I see a pink shirt. I want it. The end.

Football at any level is a BIG DEAL in Texas. Texas A&M and the University of Texas have a huge rivalry. My mother, who did not go to A&M but is one of their biggest supporters, watches UT games specifically to root AGAINST them. Now that's a rivalry.

My family has bred, raised and graduated a pack of Aggies, including an uncle, cousins, my sister and my three nieces. Marrying Aggies has become a dynasty in my immediate family: my sister and two of nieces have or will soon marry men they met at A&M.

I earned my Master's degree at UT. I would have attended A&M but they don't have a Master's in Library Science. 

A&M colors are maroon and white. University of Texas colors are burnt orange and white. 

During my time at UT, I bought exactly one UT shirt. It was not burnt orange. I did not attend any sporting events. 

By the way, I didn't like oranges or orange juice when I was younger either. That's how far the indoctrination went..

But as you go through life, your likes and dislikes change. I like oranges and orange juice now. And - gasp - I am dabbling in wearing the color orange. Not burnt orange - there IS a diffence. This is regular orange. 

I now own two orange shirts - one long-sleeve and one short. I also have two pair of orange indies and a pair of orange socks.

I have firmly told the other clothes that there will be no discrimination or bullying of the orange clothing. My closet is an inclusive space where all colors are welcome.

Change is good.

Change is growth.

But while all colors now have a place, pink still reigns Supreme.

Some things stay the same.

librarianintx 

Dalai Lama

Yup. I'm going there.

I was disgusted before I saw the video.

Now I'm even more disgusted. 

By his actions.

And by the people trying to justify what he did because he's a "spiritual leader", a "holy man".

The justifications are ridiculous. 

"He was just joking around."

"In Tibetan culture, this was not scandalous "

Please tell me this is not true.

In what culture is it acceptable for a man to forcibly kiss a child on the lips and then ask him to suck his tongue?

It's not the least bit humorous either. 

What started as an innocent request by the boy for a hug became a completely inappropriate and potentially traumatizing situation for that child, as an audience sat there laughing nervously. 

Hopefully no parent will ever let their child near him again.

If any good comes out of this, maybe we can have more conversations about the importance of a child's bodily autonomy and their right to say no at any point to physical affection, from anyone, even if they were the one to initiate it.

librarianintx 

Movement

I wrote a post similar to this on February 20th. But I want to emphasize the importance of movement here. Any movement is helpful. If you can move - do it.

Movement can benefit your mental as well as your physical health. Movement can help you battle depression and chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Movement can also help you maintain a healthy weight.

You don't have to shell out a lot of money for gym memberships and fitness equipment. YouTube is a treasure trove for free movement videos - yoga, pilates, chair fitness, dance, just to name a few.

You don't have to follow a structured plan. Do what you enjoy. Do what feels good to you, what makes you smile and gives you enjoy. Mixing up what you do can be fun too. 

I find it very helpful to listen to music or an audiobook while I move. Sometimes I watch a TV show.

Start out slow and work your way up.

Drink water and eat protein after movement. 

Some people are daunted or scared off by the term "exercise." That's why the word movement can be helpful.

Finally, "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." If you have a routine and don't feel like doing the whole thing, do half. Part. Ten repetitions instead of twenty. And don't consider it failure. Congratulate yourself for what you DID accomplish. Silence that inner critic with positive self-talk.

And make time for movement. 

Movement is part of self-care and a healthy lifestyle. 

librarianintx