Disabilities

[close] Join us to discuss how disabilities are handled in YA books. DISABILITY IN YA 2016 Running from Monday the 8th of August to the Sunday the 21st we will allow an open non-judgemental environment in which to discuss YA books that deal with disability, and talk freely about how certain negative portrayals make us feel. I want to allow a platform for disabled and non-disabled people alike to discuss what they feel is acceptable in books, and how they interpret ‘positive representation’, without hurtful comments or abusive language. After all, healthy discussion is a GOOD THING. We all have different opinions, and as long as they don’t hurt anyone else, then comparing and learning will help us all as people and diverse readers of YA. If you want to take part 1. Join the Goodreads page 2. Read a YA book with a disabled character 3. (Optional) Take a photo of your Disability in YA read and tag it #disabilityinYA 4. Join the discussion on August 21st! Important to note that this includes ALL disabilities, physical and otherwise, and ANYONE can take part! Read the topic What is this? To find out more

[close] The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award was initiated in 2000 to recognize authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities. The award is a collaborative work by members of the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD), of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the Special Needs Project (a distributor of books related to disability issues). Every even year, an award is presented to an author and illustrator (if appropriate) of a children's picture book, an intermediate, and/or a young adult book that includes appropriate portrayals of individuals with developmental disabilities. The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award is making an impact toward the general public’s recognition of the positive societal contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities, greater understanding and acceptance of teachers and school-aged peers of students with developmental disabilities, and encouragement of authors and illustrators to publish quality literature including characters with developmental disabilities.

[close] A herd of zebra is called a dazzle so it’s only fitting we call this book group the dazzle. A safe space for member and advocates of the rare disease space!

[close] Mental Illness. Eating Disorders. Sexual Assault. Domestic Violence. So many issues come with such a huge stigma attached. Education and understanding are the keys to ending stigma. Every month we will read another book tackling a stigmatized issue such as one of the ones listed above. Suggestions will be taken, different issues will be tackled, and both fiction and nonfiction books will be included. Be a stigma fighter, learn with me.