Strangers assume my girlfriend is my nurse
by Shane Burcaw

From anecdotes about first introductions where people patted him on the head instead of shaking his hand, to stories of passersby mistaking his able-bodied girlfriend for a nurse, Shane tackles awkward situations and assumptions with humor and grace.

Deaf utopia : a memoir--and a love letter to a way of life
by Nyle DiMarco

A heartfelt and inspiring memoir and Deaf culture anthem by Nyle DiMarco, actor, producer, two-time reality show winner, and cultural icon of the international Deaf community.

All our families : disability lineage and the future of kinship
by Jennifer Natalya Fink

A disability studies scholar examines the racist, misogynistic and antisemitic historical pattern of eradicating disabled people from family narratives and argues for a radical reimaging of the how we care for them.

Haben : the deafblind woman who conquered Harvard Law
by Haben Girma

Documents the incredible story of the first deaf and blind graduate of Harvard Law School, tracing her refugee parents’ harrowing experiences in the Eritrea-Ethiopian war and her development of innovations that enabled her remarkable achievements. 

Ugly
by Robert Hoge

Having been born with a large facial tumor and undeveloped legs that could only be partially corrected despite extensive surgeries, the author describes the challenges that caused him to be bullied and compelled him to rise above his disabilities to enjoy shared times with his siblings, gain self-acceptance and pursue a writing career. 

Have dog, will travel : a poet's journey
by Stephen Kuusisto

A blind poet describes how being laid off from his job as a small college town professor led him into acquiring his first guide dog and how it changed his life and gave him a newfound appreciation for travel and independence.

Demystifying disability : what to know, what to say, and how to be an ally
by Emily Ladau

A guide for how to be a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and what not to do) and how you can help make the world a more accessible place.

The disability experience : working toward belonging
by Hannalora Leavitt

This nonfiction book for teens provides a history of disability, describes types of disabilities and examines the challenges faced by people living with disabilities.

Funny, you don't look autistic : a comedian's guide to life on the spectrum
by Michael McCreary

Stand-up comic and activist Michael McCreary describes how he was diagnosed with ASD in early childhood and found healing and empowerment through journaling, as a comedian and in dispelling misconceptions about autism. 

Nujeen : one girl's incredible journey from war-torn Syria in a wheelchair
by Nujeen Mustafa

The co-author of I Am Malala traces the inspiring story of Syrian refugee Nujeen Mustafa, who, after being born with cerebral palsy and denied an education because of her disability, made a harrowing journey by wheelchair from her war-ravaged home to safety in Germany. 

Don't call me inspirational : a disabled feminist talks back
by Harilyn Rousso

For psychotherapist, painter, feminist, filmmaker, writer, and disability activist Harilyn Rousso, hearing well-intentioned people tell her, "You're so inspirational!" is patronizing, not complimentary.In her empowering and at times confrontational memoir, Don't Call Me Inspirational, Rousso, who has cerebral palsy, describes overcoming the prejudice against disability--not overcoming disability. She addresses the often absurd and ignorant attitudes of strangers, friends, and family. Rousso also examines her own prejudice toward her disabled body, and portrays the healing effects of intimacy and creativity, as well as her involvement with the disability rights community. She intimately reveals herself with honesty and humor and measures her personal growth as she goes from "passing" to embracing and claiming her disability as a source of pride, positive identity, and rebellion. A collage of images about her life, rather than a formal portrait, Don't Call Me Inspirational celebrates Rousso's wise, witty, productive, outrageous life, disability and all.

The unheard : a memoir of deafness and Africa
by Josh Swiller

Describes one young man's efforts to reconcile his deafness in an unforgiving, hearing world by undertaking a two-year sojourn in a remote village in Zambia as a Peace Corps volunteer where he found a remarkable world marked by both beauty and violence. 

The collected schizophrenias : essays
by Esmé Weijun Wang

Using examples from her own diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, the author discusses some of the misconceptions about the illness, the disagreements within the medical community, and her experiences of the dangers of institutionalization and mistreatment.

Disability visibility : first-person stories from the twenty-first century
by Alice Wong

This collection of essays from contemporary disabled writers celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act focuses on issues such as disabled performers in the theater and the everyday lives of the community.