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Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults): 17 First-Person Stories for Today
Disabled young people will be proud to see themselves reflected in this hopeful, compelling, and insightful essay collection, adapted for young adults from the critically acclaimed adult book, Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century that "sheds light on the experience of life as an individual with disabilities, as told by none other than authors with these life experiences." --Chicago Tribune, "Best books published in summer 2020" (Vintage/Knopf Doubleday edition).
The seventeen eye-opening essays in Disability Visibility, all written by disabled people, offer keen insight into the complex and rich disability experience, examining life's ableism and inequality, its challenges and losses, and celebrating its wisdom, passion, and joy. The accounts in this collection ask readers to think about disabled people not as individuals who need to be “fixed,” but as members of a community with its own history, culture, and movements. They offer diverse perspectives that speak to past, present, and future generations. It is essential reading for all.
The seventeen eye-opening essays in Disability Visibility, all written by disabled people, offer keen insight into the complex and rich disability experience, examining life's ableism and inequality, its challenges and losses, and celebrating its wisdom, passion, and joy. The accounts in this collection ask readers to think about disabled people not as individuals who need to be “fixed,” but as members of a community with its own history, culture, and movements. They offer diverse perspectives that speak to past, present, and future generations. It is essential reading for all.
137 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
53 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Alice Wong
10 books726 followersAlice Wong (she/her) was a disabled activist, media maker, and consultant based in San Francisco. She was the Founder and Director of the Disability Visibility Project® (DVP), an online community dedicated to creating, sharing and amplifying disability media and culture.
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January 13, 2024
An insight into the disabled community through 17 short essays
In Disability Visibility, disability activist, Alice Wong, complied a set of 17 first-person stories from those within the disabled community.
Unlike many of the authors in this book, I was not born disabled, but this last year, I was chronically fainting, falling down, walking into walls, brushing against furniture. I went from training for a 5K to being unable to walk, unable to drive, and landed rather quickly in a wheelchair. Over the course of my journey, I saw more than 30 doctors, most of them completely clueless. When I tried to schedule an appointment, it was not uncommon to be told to wait for 4 months, only to see the doctor and discover that he also did not have any answers. Only until recently did I finally, finally find a doctor who could answer every single question, every single symptom. He put me on a neurotransmitter and magically my walking/stumbling issues have improved 90% in less than two weeks! This experience has not been easy, but I do believe that this experience has a purpose.
The last essay in Disability Visibility was about the need for crip spaces. Personally, I could not agree more! The gaslighting by the medical community is simply unreal so in addition to the physical challenges, we are being told that we are crazy and lazy by the healthcare community. In my mid-20’s, I was experiencing memory loss. When I say memory loss, I could not remember the name of the co-worker who I sat next to me every single day for more than a year and spoke to every day. I could not remember my address and had to dig out my driver’s license from my purse to get the information. When I was asked who the President was, I had to pause and really search through my memory. The doctors weren’t getting answers so they sent me for a neuropsych exam. The doctor diagnosed me with moderate depression. When I said, “But I don’t feel depressed!”, she said that I was just repressing my depression. What? So it turns out, I actually was gluten intolerant and am Celiac. When I started to abide by a completely wheat-free diet, all of my memory problems resolved. Never did I go to a single counseling session or was treated for depression. Yet I was clinically diagnosed as “repressing moderate depression.” When I was at the Mayo Clinic, the doctor told me that I had a psychological problem, just needed to accept my diagnosis, and suggested cancelling all of my testing. Two weeks later, I had heart surgery. The medical community has misdiagnosed me not once but twice with some mental condition. What does this have anything to do with crip spaces? The only way I was diagnosed with gluten problems was that my family member told me that he was experiencing the same issues and discovered he was Celiac and also gluten intolerant. The disabled community needs to be able to talk especially when the medical community is not doing a very good job listening.
This book serves two important purposes: 1) it starts the conversation about disability in society. 2) It helps the disabled community not to feel so alone. These are two purposes that I fully support. However, I do believe that the stories were so short that it was difficult to connect with the authors. A saying that I have heard often is, “It is better to show than to tell.” Given the very short nature of the essays, there was a bit more telling than showing. My favorite essay though was “Love Means Never Having to Say…Anything.” It definitely caused me to tear up. Personally, I also really, really wish there was an essay from someone with a food allergy or Celiac disease. For those of you who are new to Celiac disease, it is a genetic autoimmune condition where the body will attack itself when the person afflicted consumes gluten (wheat, barley, or rye). The small intestines have little tentacles, and when I eat wheat, those tentacles will fall off my small intestines. Unfortunately, those little tentacles help me to absorb my nutrition. I will starve to death no matter how much I eat. I can take vitamin and mineral supplements and consume all the healthy food in the world and still be deficient because my small intestines are damaged. So there are no “cheat days.” I’m not cutting down on my gluten. It is a serious medical condition. However, when I go to a restaurant, there is this attitude that I am trying to be cute like Sally in “When Harry Met Sally” when she says, “I’d like the chef salad please with the oil and vinegar on the side. And the apple pie a la mode. But I’d like the pie heated, and I don’t want the ice cream on top. I want it on the side. And I’d like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream but only if it’s real. If it’s out of a can, then nothing.” Celiacs don’t enjoy being difficult or inconvenient. We aren’t trying to follow a fad or have some weird food lifestyle. We are fighting for our lives. If you work in the food industry, please try to understand and spread the word!
The other thing this book was a bit light on was hope. This last year, I was planning to train for a 5K. Instead, I started to read books. Less than a year later, I’m ranked the #6 US Book Reviewer and #12 in the world (at least according to GoodReads). Although if you asked me at the outset if I would sign up for this experience, I would have said, “No way” but now I wouldn’t change it. My life has a purpose. Every life has a purpose. Don’t give up. Your purpose might be just around the corner.
Overall, a beautiful book that is starting to change the tide of societal opinions about the disabled.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
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In Disability Visibility, disability activist, Alice Wong, complied a set of 17 first-person stories from those within the disabled community.
Unlike many of the authors in this book, I was not born disabled, but this last year, I was chronically fainting, falling down, walking into walls, brushing against furniture. I went from training for a 5K to being unable to walk, unable to drive, and landed rather quickly in a wheelchair. Over the course of my journey, I saw more than 30 doctors, most of them completely clueless. When I tried to schedule an appointment, it was not uncommon to be told to wait for 4 months, only to see the doctor and discover that he also did not have any answers. Only until recently did I finally, finally find a doctor who could answer every single question, every single symptom. He put me on a neurotransmitter and magically my walking/stumbling issues have improved 90% in less than two weeks! This experience has not been easy, but I do believe that this experience has a purpose.
The last essay in Disability Visibility was about the need for crip spaces. Personally, I could not agree more! The gaslighting by the medical community is simply unreal so in addition to the physical challenges, we are being told that we are crazy and lazy by the healthcare community. In my mid-20’s, I was experiencing memory loss. When I say memory loss, I could not remember the name of the co-worker who I sat next to me every single day for more than a year and spoke to every day. I could not remember my address and had to dig out my driver’s license from my purse to get the information. When I was asked who the President was, I had to pause and really search through my memory. The doctors weren’t getting answers so they sent me for a neuropsych exam. The doctor diagnosed me with moderate depression. When I said, “But I don’t feel depressed!”, she said that I was just repressing my depression. What? So it turns out, I actually was gluten intolerant and am Celiac. When I started to abide by a completely wheat-free diet, all of my memory problems resolved. Never did I go to a single counseling session or was treated for depression. Yet I was clinically diagnosed as “repressing moderate depression.” When I was at the Mayo Clinic, the doctor told me that I had a psychological problem, just needed to accept my diagnosis, and suggested cancelling all of my testing. Two weeks later, I had heart surgery. The medical community has misdiagnosed me not once but twice with some mental condition. What does this have anything to do with crip spaces? The only way I was diagnosed with gluten problems was that my family member told me that he was experiencing the same issues and discovered he was Celiac and also gluten intolerant. The disabled community needs to be able to talk especially when the medical community is not doing a very good job listening.
This book serves two important purposes: 1) it starts the conversation about disability in society. 2) It helps the disabled community not to feel so alone. These are two purposes that I fully support. However, I do believe that the stories were so short that it was difficult to connect with the authors. A saying that I have heard often is, “It is better to show than to tell.” Given the very short nature of the essays, there was a bit more telling than showing. My favorite essay though was “Love Means Never Having to Say…Anything.” It definitely caused me to tear up. Personally, I also really, really wish there was an essay from someone with a food allergy or Celiac disease. For those of you who are new to Celiac disease, it is a genetic autoimmune condition where the body will attack itself when the person afflicted consumes gluten (wheat, barley, or rye). The small intestines have little tentacles, and when I eat wheat, those tentacles will fall off my small intestines. Unfortunately, those little tentacles help me to absorb my nutrition. I will starve to death no matter how much I eat. I can take vitamin and mineral supplements and consume all the healthy food in the world and still be deficient because my small intestines are damaged. So there are no “cheat days.” I’m not cutting down on my gluten. It is a serious medical condition. However, when I go to a restaurant, there is this attitude that I am trying to be cute like Sally in “When Harry Met Sally” when she says, “I’d like the chef salad please with the oil and vinegar on the side. And the apple pie a la mode. But I’d like the pie heated, and I don’t want the ice cream on top. I want it on the side. And I’d like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream but only if it’s real. If it’s out of a can, then nothing.” Celiacs don’t enjoy being difficult or inconvenient. We aren’t trying to follow a fad or have some weird food lifestyle. We are fighting for our lives. If you work in the food industry, please try to understand and spread the word!
The other thing this book was a bit light on was hope. This last year, I was planning to train for a 5K. Instead, I started to read books. Less than a year later, I’m ranked the #6 US Book Reviewer and #12 in the world (at least according to GoodReads). Although if you asked me at the outset if I would sign up for this experience, I would have said, “No way” but now I wouldn’t change it. My life has a purpose. Every life has a purpose. Don’t give up. Your purpose might be just around the corner.
Overall, a beautiful book that is starting to change the tide of societal opinions about the disabled.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
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December 2, 2021
In my search to find more short pieces for my classroom that depict varied perspectives, I was excited to see a YA version of this anthology. Within this short text, there are 17 different personal narratives from a wide variety of diverse authors. Each piece is prefaced with a content warning for teens to know what to expect. And each essay is short, bite-sized, which would work well for a group of reluctant readers.
While this is marketed for a YA audience, I think this book may take TOO much away from the "adult" anthology. Shortening pieces and cutting essays are definitely good strategies for appealing to younger readers, but I'm wondering if the editors also attempted to make the language more accessible. There were only a few stories in here that had engaging prose or would be teachable beyond just the content. I'd say an educator could use all of the pieces in here to teach theme, but there were only a handful that made me excited about the writing.
Nevertheless, I am happy to see more representation in this area. It's definitely one that gets missed in the high school classroom, so I may pick up the full version and see what I can add to the few I loved in this anthology!
While this is marketed for a YA audience, I think this book may take TOO much away from the "adult" anthology. Shortening pieces and cutting essays are definitely good strategies for appealing to younger readers, but I'm wondering if the editors also attempted to make the language more accessible. There were only a few stories in here that had engaging prose or would be teachable beyond just the content. I'd say an educator could use all of the pieces in here to teach theme, but there were only a handful that made me excited about the writing.
Nevertheless, I am happy to see more representation in this area. It's definitely one that gets missed in the high school classroom, so I may pick up the full version and see what I can add to the few I loved in this anthology!
July 15, 2021
While representation has improved in many areas, there is still not enough and especially when it comes to hearing from authors with disabilities. Some of the facts shared I did not know (there was an ugly law?!) and many experiences shared can help youth readers develop their level of understanding and empathy. An important work with a range of authors. I look forward to reading the adult version and to purchasing and recommending this version to students and secondary librarians. What a gift the featured writers have given readers to share some of their truth.
July 28, 2023
These young adult adaptations are so important. For kids and young teens (disabled or not) to read stories of disabled people, for their stories to be heard by a larger audience, is huge. This is a great introductory version of the full-length book, and I can’t wait to read the adult version.
January 16, 2022
This was enlightening. I liked that there were a variety of disabilities represented and there were some essays that I really did take something away from. There were some that didn't hold my attention or "speak to me," but that doesn't take away from the overall necessity of this book. I'm sure those same essays that didn't resonate with me would undoubtedly speak to someone else.
These kinds of books and points of view are important. They remind us able-bodied people that there's so much more than what we've simply become accustomed to.
These kinds of books and points of view are important. They remind us able-bodied people that there's so much more than what we've simply become accustomed to.
April 1, 2023
amplify disabled voices!!!!!! this was adapted perfectly for YA
September 15, 2023
Thought-provoking and powerful, these seventeen essays will make you think about a perspective that you might not have considered before. A quick read that will stay with you. Definitely recommended.
June 8, 2025
I've never read anything quite like this, but I appreciated the variety and the honesty of reading about all of these experiences.
December 6, 2025
I just realized that I listened the abridged version for young adults whoops. I will eventually read the full version because this was very eye-opening!
February 25, 2022
4.5 stars
July 15, 2022
Disability Visibility intro by Alice Wong
121 pages, 4 parts- Being, Becoming, Doing, Connecting- 17 stories
Part 1- Being. Quotes from Arielle Hartley and June Eric Udoire
*If You Can’t Fast, Give by Maysoon Zayid 8 year old fasting in America for 1st time. Cerebral palsy. Takes place in the Middle East. Ramadan. What teachers can n ow.
*There’s a Mathematical Equation that Proves I’m Ugly or so I Learned in my Seventh Grade Art Class by Ariel Henley
Cruzon syndrome, twin sister. Facial deformity. Bone disorder. Golden ratio - symmetry in facial proportions. Art class- 7th grade boy told her mathematically ugly. Therapy. Beauty is subjective.
*When You are Waiting to be Healed by June Eric-Udoire – 18 year old black girl with a visual impairment. Master generous. It means her Eyes shake and she was born with it even though her grandmother believe she can be healed. She dips the body of Christ into the wine and lies on her eyelids. It’s a story of empowerment and excepting her disabilities.
The Isolation of Being Deaf in Prison by Jeremy Woods as told by Christine Thompson
He had to write back and forth to communicate everything. At one point he was handcuffed and cannot communicate with the judge his plea of innocence so he was found guilty. He tried to communicate with the doctors via writing, but it took too long and the doctors got impatient. The title pretty much says it all for the story.
Part 2: Becoming
We Can’t Go Back by Ricardo T Thornton Sr.
One man’s speech representing thousands of others on how the intellectually disabled should not be limited. There should not be institutions. They should be provided opportunities to work and thrive in community just as he and his wife have. He is a representative for the Special Olympics as well.
*Guide Dogs Don’t Lead Blind People. We Wander as One by Haben Girma
Haven‘s experience as a death blind person who wanted a guy dog exposes us to the Independence of the death line community. She points out that confidence is the most important part of having a guy dog. It is just someone to share the journey with. It is not someone who guide you.
Canfei to Canji: The Freedom of Being Loud by Sandy Ho
A disabled Asian American women born into a culture where disabilities are shameful is raised in America with different opportunities. She speaks out on the importance of occupying space and creating an identity. Canfei=useless. Canji=sickness/illness. This change occurred in 1990.
Nurturing Black Disabled Joy by Keah Brown
Cerebral Palsy-Keah created #DisabledAndCute. She lives unapologetically, meaning she doesn’t say sorry for taking up space. She foucuses in what she liked about her self instead of what she hated.
*Selma Blair Becomes a Disabled Icon Over Night by Zipporah Arielle (6pages)
Multiple Sclerosis. Zipporah’s connection and appreciation for Selma Blair making MS and it’s challenges a well known disease.
Part 3: Doing
So. Not. Broken. By Alice Sheppard
Adult black woman in a wheelchair explains how she learned to become a dancer. She learns and shares how to express her body with movement with or without the chair/crutches.
Incontinence is a Public Health Issue- and We Need to Talk About Ot by Mari Ramsawakh
25 year old girl who was born with spina bifida shares the challenges of being “normal” in school. She had to use all her recess time for catheters and deals with depression. It isn’t a situation attributed to young people, only toddlers and elderly.
Falling/Burning Being a Bipolar Creator by Shoshana Kessock
A woman’s journey with bipolar II diagnosis, medications and the whirlwind side effects and lack of education about her disease. She explains the feeling of the tornado, the artistic binges, the quiet- basically the rollercoaster of emotions and how she tried to learn to handle them. Her family’s lack of support and the importance of a communicative doctor. She has eventually been able to foster her creative art while rebuilding herself.
Gaining Power Through Communication Access by Lateef McLeod
Interview style short story between Alice Wong and Lateef McLeod in the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). They discuss how useful and important these devices, such as iPads now, are to those who don’t have speech. The trials and evolution of these devices over time has been essential to their abilities to thrive in the community. The article ends with a poem by Lateef.
Part 4: Connecting
The Fearless Benjamin Lay: Activist, Abolitionist, Dwarf Person by Eugene Grant
The importance of sharing that the famous Benjamin Lay also has dwarfism as part of his story presents a positive role model to those who also have dwarfism. Don’t exclude this information because it enhances his accomplishments. Eugene piura out that the only dwarf role models he has had are the 7 dwarfs, Austin Powers mini me and finally Tyrian Lanester.
Love Means Never Having to Say Anything by Jamison Hill
Lyme Disease exacerbated his case of myalgic encephalomyelitis, which means he hasn’t been able to speak for 8 years now. He found love online with Shannon who lives across the continent. They text and spend time cuddling, but he is bedridden a she also has a less severe case of this disease. They make love work in their own way.
On the Ancestral Plane:Crip Hand Me Downs and the Legacy of our Movements by Stacey Milbern
Stacey explains how a pair of socks that look like boots were passed down to her from two generations of crippled ancestors. She believes in the connection of the ancestors that had the disabilities before us and how we can help those that come after us.
The Beauty of Spaces Created for and by Disabled People by s.e. Smith
*Crip Space. A place specifically designed for crippled people. Non-disabled individuals feel a bit awkward, but Crips feel like they are being seen. A place just for them that is not a hospital or sterile therapy group.
When do we exclude others in our zeal to embrace ourselves?
Topics- disability empowerment and awareness.
Recommended- grades 6+ for content
-Could have purpose for reading from each section and then link each story to an overarching question.
121 pages, 4 parts- Being, Becoming, Doing, Connecting- 17 stories
Part 1- Being. Quotes from Arielle Hartley and June Eric Udoire
*If You Can’t Fast, Give by Maysoon Zayid 8 year old fasting in America for 1st time. Cerebral palsy. Takes place in the Middle East. Ramadan. What teachers can n ow.
*There’s a Mathematical Equation that Proves I’m Ugly or so I Learned in my Seventh Grade Art Class by Ariel Henley
Cruzon syndrome, twin sister. Facial deformity. Bone disorder. Golden ratio - symmetry in facial proportions. Art class- 7th grade boy told her mathematically ugly. Therapy. Beauty is subjective.
*When You are Waiting to be Healed by June Eric-Udoire – 18 year old black girl with a visual impairment. Master generous. It means her Eyes shake and she was born with it even though her grandmother believe she can be healed. She dips the body of Christ into the wine and lies on her eyelids. It’s a story of empowerment and excepting her disabilities.
The Isolation of Being Deaf in Prison by Jeremy Woods as told by Christine Thompson
He had to write back and forth to communicate everything. At one point he was handcuffed and cannot communicate with the judge his plea of innocence so he was found guilty. He tried to communicate with the doctors via writing, but it took too long and the doctors got impatient. The title pretty much says it all for the story.
Part 2: Becoming
We Can’t Go Back by Ricardo T Thornton Sr.
One man’s speech representing thousands of others on how the intellectually disabled should not be limited. There should not be institutions. They should be provided opportunities to work and thrive in community just as he and his wife have. He is a representative for the Special Olympics as well.
*Guide Dogs Don’t Lead Blind People. We Wander as One by Haben Girma
Haven‘s experience as a death blind person who wanted a guy dog exposes us to the Independence of the death line community. She points out that confidence is the most important part of having a guy dog. It is just someone to share the journey with. It is not someone who guide you.
Canfei to Canji: The Freedom of Being Loud by Sandy Ho
A disabled Asian American women born into a culture where disabilities are shameful is raised in America with different opportunities. She speaks out on the importance of occupying space and creating an identity. Canfei=useless. Canji=sickness/illness. This change occurred in 1990.
Nurturing Black Disabled Joy by Keah Brown
Cerebral Palsy-Keah created #DisabledAndCute. She lives unapologetically, meaning she doesn’t say sorry for taking up space. She foucuses in what she liked about her self instead of what she hated.
*Selma Blair Becomes a Disabled Icon Over Night by Zipporah Arielle (6pages)
Multiple Sclerosis. Zipporah’s connection and appreciation for Selma Blair making MS and it’s challenges a well known disease.
Part 3: Doing
So. Not. Broken. By Alice Sheppard
Adult black woman in a wheelchair explains how she learned to become a dancer. She learns and shares how to express her body with movement with or without the chair/crutches.
Incontinence is a Public Health Issue- and We Need to Talk About Ot by Mari Ramsawakh
25 year old girl who was born with spina bifida shares the challenges of being “normal” in school. She had to use all her recess time for catheters and deals with depression. It isn’t a situation attributed to young people, only toddlers and elderly.
Falling/Burning Being a Bipolar Creator by Shoshana Kessock
A woman’s journey with bipolar II diagnosis, medications and the whirlwind side effects and lack of education about her disease. She explains the feeling of the tornado, the artistic binges, the quiet- basically the rollercoaster of emotions and how she tried to learn to handle them. Her family’s lack of support and the importance of a communicative doctor. She has eventually been able to foster her creative art while rebuilding herself.
Gaining Power Through Communication Access by Lateef McLeod
Interview style short story between Alice Wong and Lateef McLeod in the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). They discuss how useful and important these devices, such as iPads now, are to those who don’t have speech. The trials and evolution of these devices over time has been essential to their abilities to thrive in the community. The article ends with a poem by Lateef.
Part 4: Connecting
The Fearless Benjamin Lay: Activist, Abolitionist, Dwarf Person by Eugene Grant
The importance of sharing that the famous Benjamin Lay also has dwarfism as part of his story presents a positive role model to those who also have dwarfism. Don’t exclude this information because it enhances his accomplishments. Eugene piura out that the only dwarf role models he has had are the 7 dwarfs, Austin Powers mini me and finally Tyrian Lanester.
Love Means Never Having to Say Anything by Jamison Hill
Lyme Disease exacerbated his case of myalgic encephalomyelitis, which means he hasn’t been able to speak for 8 years now. He found love online with Shannon who lives across the continent. They text and spend time cuddling, but he is bedridden a she also has a less severe case of this disease. They make love work in their own way.
On the Ancestral Plane:Crip Hand Me Downs and the Legacy of our Movements by Stacey Milbern
Stacey explains how a pair of socks that look like boots were passed down to her from two generations of crippled ancestors. She believes in the connection of the ancestors that had the disabilities before us and how we can help those that come after us.
The Beauty of Spaces Created for and by Disabled People by s.e. Smith
*Crip Space. A place specifically designed for crippled people. Non-disabled individuals feel a bit awkward, but Crips feel like they are being seen. A place just for them that is not a hospital or sterile therapy group.
When do we exclude others in our zeal to embrace ourselves?
Topics- disability empowerment and awareness.
Recommended- grades 6+ for content
-Could have purpose for reading from each section and then link each story to an overarching question.
July 29, 2022
Maybe because this was an adapted version, but I felt like the stories in this book were too short to provide thought-provoking insight. Nothing was surprising or made me feel anything. For what it is, however, this book is worth reading for its focus on the stories of disabled people.
May 11, 2023
my favorite was the last story: "The Beauty of Spaces Created for and by Disabled People" by s. e. smith
<3333
can't wait to read the non-ya version as well :)))
<3333
can't wait to read the non-ya version as well :)))
Read
November 23, 2021all I can say is “wow,” because I kept finding myself at a loss for words while reading this book. As an able-bodied person this book brought me so much insight to what individuals with disabilities can face throughout their lives and in their everyday lives. I’m going to be honest, prior to reading this book I thought I had an idea as to what individuals with disabilities may face day-to-day, what I thought I knew was actually a very shallow understanding of the psychological and emotional complexities disabilities can present to people. That’s not to say I wasn’t empathetic to individuals with disabilities and it’s not to say that I wasn’t already trying to be aware of language and inclusivity, but this was such an eye opening book.
Unfortunately, things like bullying and a lack of accommodations for disabled individuals is a common theme, and one I had some sort of awareness to, but what really struck me from this book were the personal accounts of struggling with self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, self-love, self-worth, confidence, and so forth.
There are so many ways a person can be disabled. This book is not a guide to understanding everything about disability but I will be recommending this book to anyone for its perspectives, the awareness it helps bring, and true, personal stories of individuals with disabilities. Please add this to your TBR.
Unfortunately, things like bullying and a lack of accommodations for disabled individuals is a common theme, and one I had some sort of awareness to, but what really struck me from this book were the personal accounts of struggling with self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, self-love, self-worth, confidence, and so forth.
There are so many ways a person can be disabled. This book is not a guide to understanding everything about disability but I will be recommending this book to anyone for its perspectives, the awareness it helps bring, and true, personal stories of individuals with disabilities. Please add this to your TBR.
September 20, 2024
Didn't realize this was the adapted version until I was halfway through - that didn't impact the stories or writing.
So many excellent essays on various disabilities and all told through first person experiences. I loved the intersectionality in this as well - someone with cerebral palsy and her experience fasting for Ramadan. Someone else's childhood living with incontinence and the bullying she faced. Someone's experience as a Deaf person in prison, and lack of basic necessities and access. He would have his hands chained behind his back while also being expected to communicate with the guards. Another's experience with bipolar disorder and negative reactions to medication, her years of mania and pharmaceutical avoidance.
I thought every essay in this was excellent. No notes. I want to read the other version now.
So many excellent essays on various disabilities and all told through first person experiences. I loved the intersectionality in this as well - someone with cerebral palsy and her experience fasting for Ramadan. Someone else's childhood living with incontinence and the bullying she faced. Someone's experience as a Deaf person in prison, and lack of basic necessities and access. He would have his hands chained behind his back while also being expected to communicate with the guards. Another's experience with bipolar disorder and negative reactions to medication, her years of mania and pharmaceutical avoidance.
I thought every essay in this was excellent. No notes. I want to read the other version now.
July 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this collection of essays written to give young readers some insight into the disabled community. Each author had such an interesting and profound perspective; whether it was a young deaf man struggling to communicate in a correctional facility, or a woman who struggled with feeling beautiful with her rare condition, despite what society tells us is beautiful.
So many fantastic essays and interviews. I’m glad it’s part of my school library. I just wish it was longer. I’m definitely going to pick up the companion read for adults.
So many fantastic essays and interviews. I’m glad it’s part of my school library. I just wish it was longer. I’m definitely going to pick up the companion read for adults.
September 27, 2023
Really fantastic collection of essays and stories from people with a wide range of disabilities. Naturally, some chapters were more engaging and better written than others, but each story was insightful and opened my eyes to experiences I hadn't considered or thought very deeply about before.
I do wish the essays had been longer - I accidentally picked up the 'adapted for young adults' version from the library without realising, so I assume some essays may have been cut down, but I did feel this caused some stories to lack the depth and detail that I expected.
Overall, a great collection of stories that was quick to read but very enlightening and thought-provoking.
I do wish the essays had been longer - I accidentally picked up the 'adapted for young adults' version from the library without realising, so I assume some essays may have been cut down, but I did feel this caused some stories to lack the depth and detail that I expected.
Overall, a great collection of stories that was quick to read but very enlightening and thought-provoking.
December 29, 2021
This book, like the adult version, is essential reading. It is the most educational and eye-opening collection of writing about disability that I have ever read. What I appreciate is that there are so many stories that I didn't know, and that I should have known. Why haven't I thought more about disability and indigenous people? I would never have known what it's like for a blind person to have a guide dog. I also appreciate that this is a collection of writing by disabled people. Too often we seek to learn more about marginalized people from places of privilege. There are stories of discomfort and sadness, but there are also stories of love and hope. I am grateful for the mixture. As I move about my life now after reading it, I am always thinking about it. I see disability more, and I hope that makes me act in a way that moves more towards justice.
January 18, 2022
Really engaging and compelling! I haven't read the ~adult~ version so I'm not sure what's changed for the young readers edition but this would be great for abled and disabled teens and adults alike to just get different perspectives.
December 4, 2022
3.5 stars
I this was an interesting look at the disabled experiences. I'm not sure how much I will remember it though
I this was an interesting look at the disabled experiences. I'm not sure how much I will remember it though
August 31, 2023
a great adaptation for people of all ages!
October 4, 2022
This includes a wide diversity of experiences and I learned a lot. From what I can tell, these are the same essays (possibly edited?) that are in the adult version of the book, but just 17 of them were selected for this edition. Some of the topics include: nystagmus, bipolar disorder, incontinence, and cerebral palsy. Important reading.
September 12, 2022
I want to read the non YA version of this book. I appreciated the variety of experiences shared in the essays. So much to think about and reflect on. Definitely a book that different teachers can use in different disciplines.
I listened to this as an audiobook. One thing I wish was that different voices were used for each essay rather than having one male and one female reader for all the essays. I found it distracting and it took away from the content.
I listened to this as an audiobook. One thing I wish was that different voices were used for each essay rather than having one male and one female reader for all the essays. I found it distracting and it took away from the content.
March 4, 2022
It's so important to broaden our perspectives, to see the world from other viewpoints. While it helps to watch movies or read fiction that have characters with disabilities, this book gives them the mic and says, "We're listening to your voice." It's different. It's as if that person is in the same room talking to you, and that's powerful. Bringing their reality near brings our responsibility into full focus.
Each narrative presents a different disability and if any of its content is questionable for younger readers, that is disclosed before the story begins. (This would include suicidal ideation, trauma, and abuse.) While the contributors represent a range of ages, the book is accessible for ages 13+.
Each narrative presents a different disability and if any of its content is questionable for younger readers, that is disclosed before the story begins. (This would include suicidal ideation, trauma, and abuse.) While the contributors represent a range of ages, the book is accessible for ages 13+.
October 28, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. Here is that review:
5 stars
In this abbreviated version of last year's _Disability Visibility_, Wong refines the essay selection and targets the pieces to a teen audience. The writings and experiences are compelling and reflect the diversity that Wong mentions in the introduction. Any reader of this work will come away learning something new, feeling connected to at least one experience that is totally unlike theirs, and hoping for more.
I'm grateful that the original text exists because the only complaint I can imagine from this version is the desire for more. Fortunately, enthusiastic readers - teens and adults alike - can find that in the original version if they so desire.
This is a memorable read that I look forward to sharing with students and beyond for years to come.
5 stars
In this abbreviated version of last year's _Disability Visibility_, Wong refines the essay selection and targets the pieces to a teen audience. The writings and experiences are compelling and reflect the diversity that Wong mentions in the introduction. Any reader of this work will come away learning something new, feeling connected to at least one experience that is totally unlike theirs, and hoping for more.
I'm grateful that the original text exists because the only complaint I can imagine from this version is the desire for more. Fortunately, enthusiastic readers - teens and adults alike - can find that in the original version if they so desire.
This is a memorable read that I look forward to sharing with students and beyond for years to come.
September 30, 2021
An excellent collection of essays on disability and chronic illness, drawn from the full/"adult" version of this book. I don't know why there needs to be a separate YA edition, but I suppose that the length and some of the essays are more suited to reading in classes or as families or with friends. I'm an advocate for disability issues, and would happily put this book into the hands of everyone I know, although the title is bizarre to me: visibility is working here in an ableist context.
Currently reading
January 15, 2022My middle school students and I enjoyed an excerpt from this book about a woman with MS who is responding to Selma Blair's triumphant walk at the Oscars
April 3, 2022
I like short essay/story collections for the chance to discover new to me writers, and this is great for that. It also had a really wide range of styles and stories, and I'll definitely booktalk it. It's a super quick read, and each essay/story are unique, but it's easy to see the themes running through the different lived experiences, so I hope teens pick this one up!
December 24, 2022
I am making a conscious effort to engage with more works by disabled creators. I learned a lot, and I look forward to learning more. I also think the short pieces in this book would be a great resource for language arts classrooms and teachers working to be more inclusive.
October 26, 2021
Thank you to Delacorte Press, Alice Wong, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
"These stories… are not focused on being ‘special’ or ‘inspirational.’ Rather, they show disabled people simply BEING in our own words, by our own accounts.” - Introduction from Alice Wong.
Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults) is an abbreviated version of Disability Visibility (First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century), released in 2020. Containing 17 of the stories included in the full version, this book presents readers with new perspectives, thoughts and ideas that are approachable for both adult and young adult readers.
The true beauty of this book is that despite the gravity of the content, it left me with hope:
Hope that young (and less young!) readers with disabilities will see themselves in these stories. That their takeaways are that they are whole people deserving of access and love and joy and support and success. Hope that our society - which is so heavily centered around ableism - will become a place that’s accessible to everyone. Hope that everyone who reads this walks away with a refreshed intention and/or understanding, on how we can work together to make the world an equitable, safe, and accessible place for people with disabilities.
There’s also hope in the fact that this is a YA book, which means that we can give younger readers the tools, knowledge, and language to engage in difficult - and necessary - conversations early on.
If you can’t tell, I strongly urge you to read this book. It’ll leave a lasting - and hopeful - impact.
"These stories… are not focused on being ‘special’ or ‘inspirational.’ Rather, they show disabled people simply BEING in our own words, by our own accounts.” - Introduction from Alice Wong.
Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults) is an abbreviated version of Disability Visibility (First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century), released in 2020. Containing 17 of the stories included in the full version, this book presents readers with new perspectives, thoughts and ideas that are approachable for both adult and young adult readers.
The true beauty of this book is that despite the gravity of the content, it left me with hope:
Hope that young (and less young!) readers with disabilities will see themselves in these stories. That their takeaways are that they are whole people deserving of access and love and joy and support and success. Hope that our society - which is so heavily centered around ableism - will become a place that’s accessible to everyone. Hope that everyone who reads this walks away with a refreshed intention and/or understanding, on how we can work together to make the world an equitable, safe, and accessible place for people with disabilities.
There’s also hope in the fact that this is a YA book, which means that we can give younger readers the tools, knowledge, and language to engage in difficult - and necessary - conversations early on.
If you can’t tell, I strongly urge you to read this book. It’ll leave a lasting - and hopeful - impact.
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