As a chronically in poor health particular person, individuals typically ask me about my incapacity. Typically I discover myself speaking to individuals who have by no means heard of ableism earlier than, and I understand that I’ve simply stepped right into a a lot greater dialog than I initially imagined. It’s in these moments I’m so grateful for recommendation from writers like Tiffany Yu.
Yu is the founding father of Diversability, a group enterprise that elevates incapacity delight, and her TED Discuss, How one can Assist Workers with Disabilities Thrive, has over a million views. However I first got here throughout her work on TikTok the place she is the creator of the Anti-Ableism collection. She speaks to viewers in such a heat and alluring manner, I knew I had to take a look at her guide—and now it’s lastly right here!
Yu has labored extremely arduous to make the textual content as accessible—in so many various methods—as potential. As a child, Yu was in a automotive accident that paralyzed her proper arm, and later she was identified with PTSD. She makes use of her private expertise as a springboard, sharing anecdotes from her life to assist illustrate her factors. She organizes her guide based mostly on matters, every with easy-to-follow buildings that take readers by the hand and lead them by way of her concepts. And, the chapters construct on each other, serving to readers perceive her factors.
Early on, she focuses on applicable language, etiquette, and incapacity historical past. From there, she expands into concepts of how readers will help make the world round them extra accessible. On the finish of every chapter, Yu contains reflection questions that assist readers suppose by way of the data they’ve simply learn and encourage them to make motion plans on how they’ll implement anti-ableist practices in their very own lives.
The Anti-Ableist Manifesto isn’t only for individuals new to the incapacity world. This guide is ideal for skilled incapacity advocates, too. There are numerous methods to be disabled, that means there isn’t any one-size-fits-all to incapacity. So all of us have one thing to find out about making the world we dwell in additional accessible for all.