The Calculating Mind

July is Disability Pride Month! On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, the landmark ruling which prohibits discrimination based on disabilities. During this month, advocates and allies advocate for greater visibility and rights.

Did you know that there is a flag? Based on this description of the Disability Pride Flag, each color represents a different disability:

• Red = Physical
• Yellow = Cognitive + Intellectual
• White = Invisible + Undiagnosed
• Blue = Mental Illness
• Green = Sensory
• Black = Mourning/rage for victims of violence and abuse

One of my favorite ways to become a better advocate is through educating myself & others. Grabbing a book is an easy and accessible way to become a better ally and advocate!

Below is a list of some books off of my own bookshelf. If you have disability advocacy recommendations of your own, please comment below!

Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally – Emily Ladau

“To most of society….[ableism doesn’t] raise any red flags because [it’s] woven into the fabric of everyday life, simply accepted as the norm.” – Emily Ladau

If you are not familiar with disability advocacy, this book is an amazing resource and guide! It covers essential terms (e.g., disability, ableism) and stereotypes/views, types of disabilities, a brief historical overview (including movements), and disability etiquette. The back features additional resources (e.g., books, online videos, films). A great place to start!

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century – Edited by Alice Wong

“Disabled people have always existed, whether the word disability is used or not. To me, disability is not a monolith, nor is it a clear-cut binary of disabled and nondisabled. Disability is mutable and ever-evolving. Disability is both apparent and nonapparent. Disability is pain, struggle, brilliance, abundance, and joy. Disability is sociopolitical, cultural, and biological. Being visible and claiming a disabled identity brings risks as much as it brings pride.”

This is a collection of first-person writing which highlights the lives of individuals with disabilities. Check out their website for additional resources, including a discussion guide, audiobook, and plain language summary.

Additional related anthology books:

A follow-up anthology book – Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire – was released in April 2024 (https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/book/disability-intimacy/). I have not gotten my hands on that one yet, but it seems interesting!

It looks like another one is coming out in Spring 2026! This book appears to target the impact of COVID-19 on the disability community, titled Disability Vulnerability (https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/book/disability-vulnerability-spring-2026/).

Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life – Alice Wong

“The many identities you hold and your lived experiences are not in conflict with each other; they make you sharp, whole, and extraordinary”
― Alice Wong

Alice Wong’s memoir weaves together essays, personal pictures, interviews, artwork, and even Twitter threads. She writes on topics such as #WhyDisabledPeopleDropout, the pandemic experience [as someone on a ventilator], identity (as an Asian American Disabled woman), and online activism (e.g., social media/Twitter, like #CripTheVote).

Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability – Melissa Blake

“The more I grow to love my body – the more I realize that the words disabled and beautiful totally belong in the same sentence.” – Melissa Blake

Melissa is a disability activist and influencer who has turned online harassment (following a few posted selfies) into a viral movement. Through her memoir, she describes ableism (e.g., physical, verbal), self-acceptance, representation, and stigma. She challenges common language to shift the narrative on how disability is viewed.

Have you read any of these books?

Do you have additional recommendations for books or other resources on disability awareness and advocacy?

If you do, please leave a comment!