How to Be Disabled and Proud

LoveReading4Kids Says

The title (and subtitle) perfectly captures the warm, chatty authorial voice of disabled journalist and activist, Cathy Reay, who uses her own lived experience to write the sort of empowering guide to living with disability, that she did not have growing up with achondroplasia.

Covering a wide range of everyday topics including school, bullying, puberty, friendship, and doctors and hospitals, it doesn’t shy away from the difficulties disabled people might face in our society, and she offers suggestions for facing these challenges and learning how to value and celebrate yourself. The positive emphasis throughout is that it is society that needs to change not disabled people.

Ableism and other concepts are discussed in a very relatable way with lots of specific examples in each chapter. The author also makes use of interviews with other disabled people to broaden the range of experiences shared. Throughout she incorporates questions to engage and promote discussion and there are sections where young readers can make a note of their own feelings and think about ways to overcome their difficulties. While this approach has a friendly and comforting tone, these fill in sections may be an issue for library use, but photocopied handouts might serve to avoid the issue.

The illustrations throughout by disabled artist Jaleel Hudson match the light-hearted tone and the book’s overall design is accessible and inviting. As well as explaining phrases and identities throughout, at the back there is a glossary, plus lists of recommended books and helpful organisations and resources. This practical, empowering and engaging read will be invaluable for disabled children, but also for their peers and adults and carers who wish to understand and improve their capacity to empathise. It will certainly make able bodied readers really think about attitudes and stereotypes.

A valuable and much needed book.

Joy Court

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