Boldly Belong: The Power of Being You In a Disabling Society

by Julie Harris

Reject the common beliefs around disability to cultivate self-acceptance, regain control, and navigate the path to genuine belonging.

In Boldly The Power of Prioritizing You in a Disabling Society, dedicated disability inclusion advocate and process improvement specialist Julie Harris delivers an actionable guide for those navigating life with disabilities. It is a practical roadmap to belonging that challenges the unjust societal shame and stigmas that shape our beliefs of disability and ourselves. The book includes reflective exercises and practical strategies to incorporate the mindset of acceptance into everyday life. The author accepts the idea of limitations caused by disability as a neutral fact, rather than as a negative or positive, and shows us how to use limitations as parameters to accept and work within, rather than resist or reframe.

In the book, you'll learn why self-acceptance, rather than trying to fit in or unrealistic, positive reframing, is the key to belonging. You'll also

How accepting your limitations, needs, and true self can lead to profound growth and possibility New insights that help you to question and deconstruct the harmful beliefs you've always been told to be true about you and your disability How to identify who you are and finally believe that you are enough Strategies for self-advocacy that effectively further your interests in a wide variety of settings and circumstances Perfect for people from all over the world who have a body or brain that works differently, Boldly Belong is also an essential read for business, academic, military, and athletic leaders who want to understand more about disability and cultivate disability inclusive environments that promote belonging.

Genres: Disability

272 pages, Hardcover

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Julie Harris is the Australian author of Anna's Gold, The Site, No Exit, The Diamond Factory, Beyond Laughter, An Absence of Angels, and many more. She has been published in Australia, USA, UK, Germany and France.
Her writing, which crosses most genres, has been compared to Harper Lee and Jack London.
Of one of her books, The Longest Winter, best selling author Bryce Courtenay has declared, "I'd give five years of my life to write a book like that".
Julie lives with her husband in a small country town on the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person without a disability I found this book interesting, insightful, and eye opening in both the way I treat myself and perceive those around me. The author is clearly intelligent yet disseminated information in a way that is easily digestible, albeit at a fast pace at times. The book reads from a place of authenticity and experience making the insights more relevant and relatable; it does not come off as a “expert” in some field lecturing others on how to live their lives. Instead the books reads as someone sharing experiences and wisdom gained from those experiences. I don’t think it matters who you are; I believe there are lessons anyone could take from this book and apply to their own lives (especially in advocating for yourself). I highly recommend reading Bodly Belong.

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nothing about us without us!" is a longstanding mantra of sorts within the disability community. At its core, this mantra shouts out that those of us with disabilities need to be at the table when issues impacting us are discussed and when decisions are being made about how we are to live in society.

So, it's refreshing to stumble across a book like Julie Harris's "Boldly Belong: The Power of Being You In a Disabling Society," a guide for individuals with disabilities toward addressing the deeply ingrained societal stigmas and belief systems around disability and toward a life of self-acceptance, self-advocacy, and transformation.

If I were to describe "Boldly Belong," and I guess I'm doing that, I'd say that it's more of a primer on living the disabled life. Harris received a traumatic brain injury following a fall, ironically while in a hospital visiting a sibling, during her young adult years. Like many, she struggled at first but grew into transforming her views on her own disabilities and disability in general while also becoming more and more known as a disability inclusion advocate.

Harris shies away from the more extreme views on disability by refusing to see it as a negative, for sure, but also refusing to view disability through rose-colored glasses. There are limitations and she believes it's important to accept these limitations, however, learning how to not judge disability but to acknowledge it as a neutral fact is largely the approach Harris takes here. "Boldly Belong," which I discovered while in a local library, encourages readers to move toward self-acceptance by confronting internalized stigma, or ableism, and to recognize one's worth.

Harris uses actionable steps along the way along with contemplation points. While I'd recommend "Boldly Belong" especially for those newer to the disability journey (as a lifelong paraplegic, a significant portion of these steps felt very fundamental), there's something absolutely refreshing about having this type of book written by someone who's lived the journey.

For Harris, discovering one's internal locus of control can lead toward taking action to more emphatically self-direct one's life and to ultimately control one's outcomes.

Most beneficial for newer folks with disabilities, their allies, and those seeking to foster more disability inclusive environments, "Boldly Belong" celebrates, indeed, the power of showing up as our authentic selves in a society that often, intentionally and unintentionally, disables us.

[Eve]

This book tries to be a whole bunch of things at once. A pep talk for readers lacking confidence. A primer on disability rights. A how-to guide to addressing shame, people pleasing, and imposter syndrome (most of the book). A one-person cheering section for advocating for yourself, particularly in the workplace. (Do it! The law is probably on your side! Or at least it was when this book came out!) Over and over again, a reminder that ‘disability’ is not a dirty word, for those who just got here.

The tone is very basic, redundant and drawn out at the same time. While Harris uses this probably to appeal to the widest audience, it was a lot less scholarly than I expected, despite the occasional citations. She talks extensively about stigma without once mentioning Goffman. And although she initially talks about disability, it immediately becomes clear that the real disability she speaks of is diminished self-esteem.

Not to say Harris doesn’t know her stuff. Her experience with disability is firsthand, having suffered a traumatic brain injury some 16 or so years before writing the book; the injury left her with retrograde amnesia and essentially a clean slate memory wise.

She notes that following her injury, she readjusted to the world in a compassionate and accommodating environment. So in a way, it feels rather preachy. Yes, she is physically disabled; why do I feel like I was being talked at?

Harris has a missionary zeal, perhaps born of the newness of it all. But for those of us who have already done the work, there is no new ground broken.

I did not really get anything out of this book, but that is not to say others won’t. For that reason, I am not assigning it any stars.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this phenomenal book. Thank you so much Julie Harris for writing this book.

[Tonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boldly Belong is the book I wish I'd had years ago. Julie Harris doesn't offer platitudes about "overcoming" disability. Instead, she provides a framework for accepting limitations as neutral facts and moving from exhausting attempts at "fitting in" to genuine belonging.

One of the most impactful aspects for me is how Harris acknowledges the invisible labor of navigating systems not built with you in mind. She addresses real patterns many of us develop: perfectionism, people-pleasing, and hyper-independence, while also explaining where they come from and providing actionable steps to shift them.

This isn't just for people with disabilities and I believe it is essential reading for allies, leaders creating inclusive environments, and anyone interested in understanding systems that weren't designed with accessibility in mind.

Highly recommend for: Anyone navigating disability, chronic illness, neurodivergence, or supporting someone who is.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic book with lots of information and mindset shifts to help people with disabilities and those who care for them or want to learn a little bit about living with disabilities. Some information felt lost when it was the same thing repeated multiple ways, and this was the main reason why it took me so long to read. Not very neurodivergent-friendly writing style, but the info and reminders presented in this book were perfect.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book and helpful where you need it.