(To skip straight to a booklist, click here.)
I’m super late with this month’s reading challenge, but it’s here, fellow readers!
First of all, how are you all doing? I took last week off from reading and blogging because I am TIRED. I’m also in that lovely part of reverse culture shock where I absolutely do not want to be in my own country but also can’t be bothered packing to move somewhere else again, and so I complain constantly, read sporadically, and make everyone who doesn’t know basic geography absolutely miserable with my sneering know-it-all-ism.
*ahem* But anyway, hope y’all are fine.
This month’s reading challenge is inspired by the fact that July is Disability Pride Month and my recent decision to take a course on audio description for the blind and visually impaired. If all goes well, I’ll be assisting blind theater patrons during shows next year.
Meanwhile, disability remains a pretty large blind spot for me. I’d venture to say that if you are not disabled, it’s probably a big blind spot for you as well–even if you don’t realize it. So, for this month’s challenge, let’s read something by a disabled author.
Disability is a broad term. It ranges across physical differences to mental impairments, sensory processing differences, and invisible illnesses. There are so many experiences, and therefore stories of disability that whatever you read will just give you the beginnings of understanding.
I also want to point out that not all books by disabled authors are about disability. Two of the most popular diverse romance novel authors–Helen Hoang and Talia Hibbert–are both neurodivergent and disabled. Science fiction writer(and amazing renaissance woman) Day Al-Mohamed is visually impaired and writes about space libraries. Humor essayist Samantha Irby writes about her disabilities but she also writes about how much she does not want to go outside when it’s hot out and that’s far more interesting.
Of course, plenty of people write about their disabilities too, and those books should also be read. There’s a booklist in the Equal Opportunity Bookshop if you need a place to start.
As always, tell me what you read in the comments. Peace!
Equal Opportunity Reader 