How to be Disabled and Proud by Cathy Reay was sent to us by the lovely Sally Oliphant for review and we have thoroughly enjoyed this.
It’s not something I tend to talk about often, but there’s a lot of neurodivergent people in my family – I’ve been diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia in recent years, and there are various other family members with their own things going on (though these aren’t my stories to tell).
That being the case, there were lots of excited, willing readers for this.
Let’s start with the intended demographic;
“I only read the part about puberty. It was really good. It was very inclusive and I liked the illustrations, they were eye catching and big, and had speech marks and stuff. And they finished the paragraph’s using a speech bubble.” – Youngest kiddo (10)
“It represented lots of different types of disabilities and it talked about intersectionality too, which was good. There were different sections for different types of disabilities like invisible and visible ones. It uses the author’s personal experience as well so it’s really authentic. I think it’s all explained in a really succinct way. I thought the illustrations were really cute and they’re so bright and lively that you can imagine them in colour, even though they’re black and white. They carried through the representation that was present in the text.” – Eldest kiddo (13)
For me, I wish I’d had this book growing up – which is something of a complicated statement, because I didn’t know about my own neurodivergence until much later. I think, though, that even if I’d found this book without knowing about my own disability, I’d have got so much from it. I knew I was different, even if I didn’t have words for why that was. I knew that I couldn’t do some of the things that the other children could, and the tone is such that even without possessing the vocabulary to describe my brain that I have now, I would have felt seen and valued.
For those interested, here’s the blurb:
“A warm, funny and empowering guide to what you can expect growing up disabled, written by disabled journalist and mum Cathy Reay.
Have you ever felt like you don’t fit in anywhere?
Or like no-one understands what it feels like to be you?
Maybe you feel like you’re the only person in the world who looks, moves or thinks like you do.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you are not alone, and you belong in the world exactly as you are.
In this honest, funny, empowering guide, Cathy Reay draws on her own experiences of growing up disabled to encourage young readers to embrace (or at least, feel kinda sorta OK with) their disabled identity.
This book will guide disabled readers through navigating the move from primary to secondary school, voicing their accessibility needs, finding disabled community and gaining the confidence to stand up for their rights, and for others too. Cathy examines the challenges faced by disabled children, touching gently on issues such as bullying and discrimination, and what to do when people just don’t get it, with comforting and practical advice to help readers through tough times.
How To Be Disabled and Proud empowers disabled readers to value and appreciate themselves for who they are, exactly as they are, and acts as a powerful call to action for both disabled and non-disabled children to advocate for a more accessible, more understanding world.
Featuring interviews from a wide range of disabled changemakers and friends, including Ellie Simmonds, Jameisha Prescod, Nina Tame, Dr Shani Dhanda, Ellie Middleton, Elle McNicoll, Simon Wheatcroft and even a couple of disabled kids.
This is the essential guide to growing up disabled, perfect for children aged 9+ to read together with their families.“
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THE INQUISITIVE NEWT 