Disability Pride: Recommended Reading for Adults

Celebrate Disability Pride Month with new and recommended Fiction and Nonfiction for adults.

Updated June 24, 2026
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ADHD 2.0 new science and essential strategies for thriving with distraction from childhood throu
Hallowell, Edward M.
Paper Book
A revolutionary new approach to ADD/ADHD featuring cutting-edge research and strategies to help readers thrive, by the bestselling authors of the seminal books Driven to Distraction and Delivered from Distraction "An inspired road map for living...
ADHD is awesome : a guide to (mostly) thriving with ADHD
Holderness, Penn
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER -- MORE THAN 250,000 COPIES SOLD! The engaging, uplifting antidote to traditional ADHD books (which, let's be honest, if you have ADHD you'd never read anyway). You live in a world that wasn't designed for you. A world where you're...
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear
McGuire, Seanan
Paper Book
Giant turtles, impossible ships, and tidal rivers ridden by a Drowned girl in search of a family in the latest in the bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-Winning Wayward Children series from Seanan McGuire. Nadya had three mothers: the one who bore her, the country that...
After the miracle : the political crusades of Helen Keller
Wallace, Max
Paper Book
In this "stunning" new history, New York Times bestselling author Max Wallace draws on groundbreaking research to reframe Helen Keller's journey after the miracle at the water pump, vividly bringing to light her rarely discussed, lifelong fight for social justice across gender,...
All the little bird-hearts
Lloyd-Barlow, Viktoria
Paper Book
"A poetic debut which masterfully intertwines themes of familial love, friendship, class, prejudice and trauma with psychological acuity and wit." ─ The 2023 Booker Prize Judges I lived for and loved a bird-heart that summer; I only knew it...
Always remember / Ben's Story
Balogh, Mary
Paper Book
Lady Jennifer Arden and Ben Ellis know that a match between them is out of the question. Yet their hearts yearn for the impossible. Discover a new heartwarming story from New York Times bestselling author and beloved "queen of Regency romance" Mary Balogh. Left unable to...
The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World
Yu, Tiffany
Paper Book
Tiffany Yu takes readers on a revelatory examination of disability--how to unpack biases and build an inclusive and accessible world. As the Asian American daughter of immigrants, living with PTSD, and sustaining a permanent arm injury at age nine, Tiffany Yu is...
Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice
Kolb, Rachel
Paper Book
Named a best book of the year by Kirkus Reviews Named a Notable Book of 2025 by the Washington Post A deaf writer's exploration of language, communication, and what it means to be articulate--and her journey to reclaim her voice ...
Beautiful people : my thirteen truths about disability
Blake, Melissa (Blogger)
Paper Book
Well-known disability activist and social media influencer, Melissa Blake, offers a frank, illuminating memoir and a call to action for disabled people and allies. In the summer of 2019, journalist Melissa Blake penned an op-ed for CNN Opinion. A conservative pundit caught...
Behooved
Stevenson, M.
Paper Book
DELUXE EDITION--a beautiful paperback edition featuring gorgeous pink sprayed edges. A charming slow-burn fantasy featuring a duty-bound noblewoman with a chronic illness, a prince who would rather be in a library than on a throne, and a magical ride through a world of cozy...
Being Heumann : an unrepentant memoir of a disability rights activist
Heumann, Judith E.
Paper Book
Soon to be an Apple feature movie directed by CODA's Sian Heder and starring BAFTA-nominated actress Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann "This important book will help ensure that every person gets a chance to live up to their full potential and will always have a place at the...
Beyond Inclusion: How to Raise Anti-Ableist Kids
Hahn, Carrie Cherney
Paper Book
"Empowers readers to dismantle internalized ableism and foster anti-ableist ideals in themselves and their children--a must-read for anyone committed to creating a more inclusive and empathetic society." --Dr. Traci Baxley, author of Social Justice Parenting If the...
The boys of Riverside : a deaf football team and a quest for glory
Fuller, Thomas (Journalist)
Paper Book
NAMED A BEST BOOK BY BOOK RIOT, AND MORE! . The incredible story of an all-deaf high school football team's triumphant climb from underdog to undefeated, their inspirational brotherhood, a fascinating portrait of deafness in America, and the indefatigable head coach who spearheaded the...
Brittle joints
Sweeney, Maria
Paper Book
2025 Eisner Award Nominee! New York Public Library Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2024 American Library Associate Top 10 Best Graphic Novels for Adults of 2024 Starred Review from Publishers Weekly. "It's a revealing visualization of a rare,...
But everyone feels this way : how an autism diagnosis saved my life
Layle, Paige
Paper Book
Autism acceptance activist and TikTok influencer Paige Layle shares her deeply personal journey to diagnosis and living life autistically.  "For far too long, I was told I was just like everyone else. But knew it couldn't be true. Living just seemed so much...
But You Look So Normal : Lost and Found in a Hearing World
Marseille, Claudia
Paper Book
2024 IPPY Awards Gold Winner in Best First Book (Nonfiction/Personal) By age four, Claudia Marseille had hardly uttered a word. When her parents finally had her hearing tested and learned she had a severe hearing loss, they chose to mainstream her, hoping this would offer her the most 'normal'...
Cassandra in Reverse
Smale, Holly
Paper Book
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK from the author of the GEEK GIRL series, now on NETFLIX!  "Fascinating...witty...self-deprecating...We meet Cassandra on the worst day of her life. She's getting fired, her boyfriend dumps her, and her roommates hate her. On that same day, she...
The Complete Iep Guide : How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child
Siegel, Lawrence M.
Paper Book
Recipient of the 2017 BRONZE Winner for Education Award from Foreword Indies. Get the educational services and support your child deserves Federal law guarantees every child a free appropriateeducation, and the goal of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) is...
The Complications: On Going Insane in America
Rensin, Emmett
Paper Book
An unflinching, rare account of living with severe mental illness that is also a bold commentary on how we misunderstand this often debilitating disease. The Complications is an intimate portrait of what it's like to live with schizoaffective disorder of the bipolar type as well as a...
The country of the blind : a memoir at the end of sight
Leland, Andrew
Paper Book
We meet Andrew Leland as he's suspended in the liminal state of the soon-to-be blind: he's midway through his life with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that ushers those who live with it from sightedness to blindness over years, even decades. He grew up with full vision, but starting in his...
Death of the Author (Standard Edition)
Okorafor, Nnedi
Paper Book
2026 NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNER WINNER OF THE LIBBY AWARD FOR BEST SCIENCE FICTION WINNER OF BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL, 2026 LOCUS AWARDS THE INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER Recommended by New York Times Book Review * People * NPR...
Demystifying disability : what to know, what to say, and how to be an ally
Ladau, Emily
Paper Book
An approachable guide to being a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and whatnotto do) andhow you can help make the world a more inclusive place ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR- NPR, Booklist . "A candid,...
Devout : A Memoir of Doubt
Gazmarian, Anna
Paper Book
"This moving memoir is always attuned to the possibilities of community and spiritual sustenance, even as it refuses to efface the struggles at its core--believing that this struggle, too, can be a thing of beauty." --Leslie Jamison, author of The Recovering In this...
A disability history of the United States
Nielsen, Kim E.
Paper Book
The first book to cover the entirety of disability history, from pre-1492 to the present Disability is not just the story of someone we love or the story of whom we may become; rather it is undoubtedly the story of our nation. Covering the entirety of US history from pre-1492 to...
Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire
Wong, Alice
Paper Book
The much-anticipated follow up to the groundbreaking anthology Disability Visibility- another revolutionary collection of first-person writing on the joys and challenges of the modern disability experience, and intimacy in all its myriad forms. What is intimacy? More than...
Disability pride : dispatches from a post-ADA world
Mattlin, Ben
Paper Book
An eye-opening portrait of the diverse disability community as it is today, and how disability attitudes, activism, and representation have evolved since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) In Disability Pride, disabled journalist Ben Mattlin weaves...
Disability visibility 17 first person stories for today adapted for young adults
Paper Book
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...
Enabling acts : the hidden story of how the Americans with Disabilities Act gave the largest US minority its rights
Davis, Lennard J.
Paper Book
The first major behind-the-scenes account of the history, passage, and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-the landmark moment for disability rights The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the widest-ranging and most comprehensive piece of civil rights...
Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child : Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports
Coleman, Kelley
Paper Book
The honest, relatable, actionable roadmap to the practicalities of parenting a disabled child, featuring personal stories, expert interviews, and the foundational information parents need to know about topics including diagnosis, school, doctors, insurance, financial planning, disability rights,...
Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: A Guide for the Anxious, Uniquely Wired, and Easily Distracted
Maguire, Caroline
Paper Book
From a social emotional learning expert: a book providing simple, science-based, practical advice including scripts, tips and strategies to help Neurodivergent adults who have ADHD, autism or anxiety find the belonging and support of lifelong friendships they seek.    ...
Funny, you don't look autistic : a comedian's guide to life on the spectrum
McCreary, Michael
Paper Book
Like many others on the autism spectrum, 20-something stand-up comic Michael McCreary has been told by more than a few well-meaning folks that he doesn't "look" autistic. But, as he's quick to point out in this memoir, autism "looks" different for just about everyone with Autism Spectrum Disorder...
Haben : the Deafblind woman who conquered Harvard Law
Girma, Haben
Paper Book
The incredible life story of Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, and her amazing journey from isolation to the world stage. Haben grew up spending summers with her family in the enchanting Eritrean city of Asmara. There, she...
The hard parts : a memoir of courage and triumph
Masters, Oksana
Paper Book
A 2024 Christopher Award Winner "A gut-wrenching, wildly inspiring story about overcoming the most daunting obstacles through steely tenacity, sheer will, and a great big dose of motherly love." --Jeannette Walls, #1 New York Times bestselling author of<...
How to ADHD : an insider's guide to working with your brain (not against it)
McCabe, Jessica
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In this honest, friendly, and shame-free guide, the creator of the award-winning YouTube channel How to ADHD shares the hard-won insights and practical strategies that have helped her survive, even thrive, in a world not built for her brain. ...
Hunchback : a novel
Ichikawa, Sa?
Paper Book
FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE JOHN LEONARD PRIZE FOR BEST FIRST BOOK FINALIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ART SEIDENBAUM AWARD FOR FIRST FICTION LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD, THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE, THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE...
I Identify as Blind: A Brazen Celebration of Disability Culture, Identity, and Power
Lachi
Paper Book
Lachi is an award-winning musician and an unapologetic activist who awakens the world to this truth: Disability is an identity worth brazenly celebrating. In her book, Lachi spotlights how disabled people have to be driven, persistent, perceptive, and highly adaptable just to get through any given...
The Jellyfish
Boum/ Lang, Robin (TRN)/ Dascher, Helge (TRN)
Paper Book
Winner of an Eisner Award, Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize Honor Book, Doug Wright Nipper Award, Graphic Medicine Award, Sophie Castille Award, and more! "A deeply moving meditation on disability, diversity, and joy."--Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) "One...
Laughing at my nightmare
Burcaw, Shane
Paper Book
With acerbic wit and a hilarious voice, Shane Burcaw's Laughing at My Nightmare describes the challenges he faces as a twenty-one-year-old with spinal muscular atrophy. From awkward handshakes to having a girlfriend and everything in between, Shane handles his situation with humor and a...
Life Hacks for a Little Alien
Franklin, Alice
Paper Book
This charming, witty, and life-affirming novel follows Little Alien as she discovers an ancient manuscript that changes her life--lightheartedly representing what it feels like to grow up neurodivergent. Perfect for readers of Matt Haig and Shelby Van Pelt.​ ...
A little less broken : how an autism diagnosis finally made me whole
Schembari, Marian
Paper Book
"An inspiring memoir about coming home to who you are." --People Magazine One woman's decades-long journey to a diagnosis of autism, and the barriers that keep too many neurodivergent people from knowing their true selves Marian Schembari was thirty...
Look me in the eye : my life with Asperger's
Robison, John Elder.
Paper Book
Look Me in the Eye is the moving, darkly funny story of growing up with Aspergers at a time when the diagnosis simply didnt exist. A born storyteller, Robison takes readers inside the head of a boy who teachers and other adults regarded as defective. Its a strange, sly, indelible account; sometimes...
Loving our own bones : disability wisdom and the spiritual subversiveness of knowing ourselves whole
Belser, Julia Watts
Paper Book
The essential read on disability, spirituality, and social justice that won the 2025 Grawemeyer Award in Religion, the 2024 National Jewish Book Award, and more A transformative spiritual companion and deep dive into disability politics that reimagines disability in the Bible and...
Mother Tongue: A Memoir
Novic, Sara
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling author of True Biz retraces her path out of the hearing world and into the deaf community--and seeks to understand what it means to raise children who are different from her--in this emotionally rich memoir. "In this enraging history and...
Movement for Every Body: An Inclusive Fitness Guide for Better Movement--Build Mind-Body Awareness, Overcome Exercise Barriers, and Improve Mob
Dernie, Marcia
Paper Book
With humor, empathy, and expertise, a Black, femme, disabled, and neurodivergent physical therapist retraces their journey through a weaponized fitness culture, sharing an alternative path to honor all bodies and needs. An inclusive, full-color guide to improving mobility, building...
My body is not a prayer request : disability justice in the church
Kenny, Amy
Paper Book
Midwest Book Review 2023 Silver Book Award (Nonfiction - Religion/Philosophy) "A convincing case for all Christians to do more to meet access needs and embrace disabilities as part of God's kingdom. . . . Inclusivity-minded Christians will cheer the...
My name means fire : a memoir
Yaghmaian, Atash
Paper Book
"I was riveted by this searing ode to the resiliency of the human psyche, rich in beauty and devastation."-Melissa Febos, author of Girlhood An unflinching and stunning debut memoir of an Iranian girl's coming-of-age experiencing abuse, war, and superstition-and her survival...
Neurodiversity
Marble, John
Paper Book
A quick and easy way to understand neurodiversity as written by neurodivergent people and our families Neurodiversity For Dummies is your essential guide in understanding neurodivergent conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. This quick and easy guide is perfect for...
Neurotribes : the legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity
Silberman, Steve.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller Winner of the 2015 Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction A groundbreaking book that upends conventional thinking about autism and suggests a broader model for acceptance, understanding, and full participation in society for people who...
No time like the future : an optimist considers mortality
Fox, Michael J.
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A moving account of resilience, hope, fear and mortality, and how these things resonate in our lives, by actor and advocate Michael J. Fox. The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage...
Nolo's Guide to Social Security Disability : Getting & Keeping Your Benefits
Morton, David, III.
Paper Book
Qualify for Social Security disability benefits, quickly and easily This comprehensive and compassionate book covers both SSDI and SSI, shows you how to prove a disability, and explains how your age, education, and work experience affect your chances. Parents will find special...
Once Smitten, Twice Shy
Liese, Chloe
Paper Book
AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER! Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Since heartbreak entered the scene, Juliet Wilmot, once a hopeless romantic,...
Raising kids with sensory processing disorders : a week-by-week guide to helping your out-of-sync child with sensory and self-regulation issues
Whitney, Rondalyn Varney
Paper Book
Taking a look at the most common sensory issues kids face, Raising Kids With Sensory Processing Disorders offers a compilation of unique, proven strategies that parents can implement to help their children move beyond their sensory needs. This updated second edition: Shows parents how to...
The reason I jump : the inner voice of a thirteen-year-old boy with autism
Higashida, Naoki
Paper Book
"One of the most remarkable books I've ever read. It's truly moving, eye-opening, incredibly vivid."--Jon Stewart, The Daily Show NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR * The Wall Street Journal * Bloomberg Business * Bookish
Self-care for autistic people : 100+ ways to recharge, de-stress, and unmask!
Neff, Megan Anna
Paper Book
Ditch the stigma, celebrate your identity, and put yourself first with these 100+ exercises that reinforce the idea that neurodiversity is a strength and teaches you how to relax, destress, find your community, practice self-love, and more. When you're autistic, it can be tough...
The sideways life of Denny Voss : a novel
Kennedy, Holly
Paper Book
Longlisted for the 2025 Giller Prize. Nominated for the 2026 Edgar Award--Best Paperback Original. Finalist for the 2026 Audie Award. In this poignant and funny novel, a man who is defined by his limitations sets out to fight a murder charge--and...
Sitting pretty : the view from my ordinary resilient disabled body
Taussig, Rebekah
Paper Book
A memoir-in-essays from disability advocate and creator of the Instagram account @sitting_pretty Rebekah Taussig, processing a lifetime of memories to paint a beautiful, nuanced portrait of a body that looks and moves differently than most. Growing up as a...
A special education : one family's journey through the maze of learning disabilities
Buchman, Dana.
Paper Book
Dana Buchman knew almost nothing about "learning differences" when her oldest daughter, Charlotte, was diagnosed with neurological, spatial, and motor skill disabilities as a toddler. Furthermore, from the Ivy League to the launch of her own fashion label, Buchman had encountered few obstacles...
Special needs trusts : protect your child's financial future
Urbatsch, Kevin
Paper Book
Leavemoney to a loved one with a disability--without losing benefits Use a special needs trust to provide financial security foryour child (or anyone) with a disability, without jeopardizing importantgovernment benefits. Funds in a...
Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith
Hanley, Phil
Paper Book
National Bestseller An Amazon Best of Biography/Memoir Comedian and severe dyslexic Phil Hanley reveals his unlikely path to success in a story that is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. When Phil Hanley...
Strangers assume my girlfriend is my nurse
Burcaw, Shane
Paper Book
With his signature wit, twenty-something author, blogger, and entrepreneur Shane Burcaw is back with an essay collection about living a full life in a body that many people perceive as a tragedy. From anecdotes about first introductions where people patted him on the head instead of shaking his...
Stronger
Bauman, Jeff
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling memoir of the 27-year-old Boston Marathon bombing survivor and the basis of the major motion picture starring Jake Gyllenhaal. When Jeff Bauman woke up on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 in the Boston Medical Center, groggy from a series of...
That's Not How It Happened
Thomas, Craig.
Paper Book
"Funny and poignant... Craig Thomas is a big-hearted, empathetic writer who knows his characters inside and out." --Tom Perrotta, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Mrs. Fletcher and The Leftovers "Funny, real and...
Thunder dog the true story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the triumph of trust at Ground Zero
Hingson, Michael
Paper Book
At 12:30 a.m. on 9/11 Roselle whimpered at Michael Hingson¿s bedside. When the trained guide dog was ¿on the clock nothing could faze her. But without her harness she was free to be scared of the coming thunderstorm. The two had a busy day of meetings and an important presentation ahead. A normal...
The Tin Can Society
Warren, Peter
Paper Book
THE TIN CAN SOCIETY is a heartfelt and human look at the evolution of friendships across a lifetime, at disability and ableism, and the destructive power of fame. The first graphic novel of a brand-new miniseries from Giant Generator showcasing the first comics work by...
True Biz
Novic, Sara
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK * A "tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged" (The New York Times Book Review) novel that follows a year of seismic romantic, political, and familial shifts for a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf, from the...
Unfit parent : a disabled mother challenges an inaccessible world
Slice, Jessica
Paper Book
"Beautiful and razor-sharp...cannot recommend highly enough." -Ann Helen Petersen, Culture Study "Cuts boldly and beautifully through that silence, inviting readers to imagine what our world might look like if we met every family where they are." -Vogue
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
Price, Devon
Paper Book
A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, giving individuals the tools to safely uncover their true selves while broadening society's narrow understanding of neurodiversity "A remarkable work that will stand at the...
Unmasking for life : the autistic person's guide to connecting, loving, and living authentically
Price, Devon
Paper Book
Live your best, unashamedly unmasked Autistic life with this invaluable resource featuring tools for navigating friendships, family, work, and love, from the author of Unmasking Autism. "Unmasking for Life should be read by not only autistic people but their...
Upward bound : a novel
Brown, Woody
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY * A wondrous, deeply affecting portrait of the interlocking lives at an adult day care center in Southern California, depicting an often overlooked community with extraordinary wit and grace--a...
Visual thinking : the hidden gifts of people who think in pictures, patterns, and abstractions
Grandin, Temple
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE NAUTILUS GOLD AWARD "A powerful and provocative testament to the diverse coalition of minds we'll need to face the mounting challenges of the twenty-first century." --Steve Silberman "An absolute eye...
Year of the tiger : an activist's life
Wong, Alice
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER . ONE OF USA TODAY'S MUST-READ BOOKS . This groundbreaking memoir offers a glimpse into an activist's journey to finding and cultivating community and the continued fight for disability justice, from the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project ...

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