For this Author POV, we’re highlighting Stephanie Cawthon, an educator and researcher with more than 25 years of experience whose new book, Disability Is Human, offers a compassionate and accessible entry point into understanding disability in everyday life.
Drawing on real stories, lived experiences, and decades of teaching, Cawthon reframes disability not as an “other,” but as a fundamental part of the human experience—one that touches as many as one in four people at any time. Written in short, engaging chapters with reflection prompts and multimedia resources, Disability Is Human serves as both a personal guide and a professional development tool for K–12 schools, academic libraries, and public library collections. Below, Cawthon shares the inspiration behind the book, key themes for discussion, and how librarians can use this title to support accessibility, empathy, and community-wide learning.
Can you introduce your book for librarians who may be discovering it for the first time?
Disability Is Human is a compassionate, thoughtful guide to understanding disability and accessibility through real stories and lived experiences. Disability affects as many as one in four people at any given time and yet is often a hidden part of our schools and communities. I am an educator and researcher with over 25 years of experience, and I offer a welcoming entry point for anyone seeking to understand disability not as an "other", but as a fundamental part of the human experience.
Whether you're building collections for K-12 schools, academic libraries, or public libraries, this book serves as both a personal resource and a professional development tool that can transform how your community thinks about and engages with disability.
Each chapter is very short – usually no more than 10 pages – with reflection questions and suggested media links for further exploration.
What inspired you to write this book, and what core themes do you hope readers take away from it?
Inspiration: I’ve spent 25 years of research and teaching, including my signature course, Culture of Disability. I also give interactive workshops to professionals across nearly every industry. Through these experiences I’ve recognized a profound need for an accessible, story-driven resource that could reach both within and beyond the classroom. People are hungry for understanding and connection – not just facts and figures, but the lived reality of disability from those who experience it firsthand.
As someone who navigates multiple disabilities myself, including congenital hearing loss and several mental health and physical disabilities, I wanted to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and everyday practice, making accessibility approachable and, yes, even joyful.
Core Themes:
- Disability is universal, not "other": One in four people experience disability at any given time, ranging from visible to invisible, temporary to lifelong
- Understanding ableism: How to identify it in ourselves and our communities, and practical ways to address it
- Accessibility benefits everyone: When we design with disabled people in mind, we create better experiences for all
- Moving from awareness to action: Tangible methods for making accessibility an integral part of everyday life
- The power of stories: Data informs, but stories transform. Real experiences create lasting understanding
What themes or discussion topics do you hope librarians highlight when recommending the book?
Key Discussion Themes:
- Invisible disabilities: Understanding conditions that aren't immediately apparent
- Mental health and neurodiversity: Expanding our understanding of disability
- Language: How we talk about disability and why it matters
- Ableism in everyday life: Recognizing barriers in language and society
- Universal design: Creating accessible spaces, materials, and experiences
- Disability pride and culture: Celebrating disability identity
- Practical accessibility: Concrete strategies anyone can implement immediately
These topics apply to all of us, including our young people, our schools, families, and communities.
Are there any sensitive topics or content considerations librarians should be aware of?
Content Considerations:
- The book addresses ableism directly, which may challenge readers to examine their own assumptions, but this is done with compassion
- Stories include experiences of barriers faced by disabled people
- Discussion of mental health disabilities and neurodiversity
- Some narratives involve healthcare experiences and the medical system
- References to temporary disabilities from accidents or illness
Approach: I wrote this book with an emphasis on gentleness and compassion, creating a safe space for learning and growth, assuming good intentions while raising expectations. The tone is invitational, making it accessible even for readers who are just beginning to think about disability.
Strengths for Sensitive Readers:
- No graphic medical descriptions
- Affirming and hopeful tone
- Focuses on practical solutions, not just problems
- Centers dignity and humanity of disabled people
- Examples from a wide variety of ages and roles, but highly inclusive of young people with disabilities
If your book were part of a library display, what topics, themes, or comparable titles would you pair it with?
Early Elementary
- Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor
- Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
- El Deafo by Cece Bell (graphic novel format)
- We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, and Eduardo Trejos
- My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete
- A Friend Like Simon by Kate Galek
- Leo and the Octopus by Isabelle Marinov (dyslexia)
Young Adults
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
- Rules by Cynthia Lord
- The Run Series by Erin Bow
- A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
- Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
- Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
- Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
- Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
Young Adults or Adults
- Being Heumann by Judith Heumann
- Articulate by Rachel Kolb
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau
- Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig
- Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
- Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong
- Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
- NeuroTribes by Steve Silberman
- The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang
Are there companion resources librarians or educators should know about?
Official Workbook: An adaptable Official Workbook accompanies the book, featuring:
- Group discussion prompts for book clubs and staff development
- Individual reflection exercises that follow the chapters of the book
- Practical application activities that draw upon an arts-integration approach
- Adaptable for both online and in-person settings
- Perfect for classroom use, team training, or personal growth
YouTube Channel: I have a series of YouTube videos that can be tailored into a play list for your school or site.
My website (www.StephanieCawthon.com) includes downloadable checklists and classroom resources that can complement this book and workbook.
Which formats are currently available?
Current Availability:
- Paperback Book (978-1954233294)
- Paperback Workbook (978-1954233386)
- Ebook (Kindle, Apple iBook, IngramSpark)
- Audiobook (Audible)
- Large Print Paperback Book (978-1954233515)
- Large Print Paperback Workbook (978-1954233522)
Books can be ordered via IngramSpark, Amazon, Barnes + Noble, or for paperbacks, direct from my website. Signed books, bulk discounts, and school-based pricing are available upon request. See StephanieCawthon.com for ordering information.
How could this book be used in community events or themed programming throughout the year?
Back to School (August/September):
- Teacher professional development
- Student orientation programs for colleges
- Faculty or small group book clubs
- Classroom culture-building
Themed Months and Days (examples from September and October)
- National Deaf Awareness Month (September)
- National Suicide Prevention Month (September)
- Pain Awareness Month (September)
- Mental Illness Awareness Week (October, first full week)
- Blindness Awareness Month (October)
- Learning Disabilities Awareness Month (October)
- ADHD Awareness Month (October)
- National Bullying Prevention Month (October, disabled students at higher risk)
- World Cerebral Palsy Day (October 2nd)
- World Mental Health Day (October 10th)
- White Cane Safety Day / Blind Americans Equality Day (October 15th)
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)
Do you offer author engagement options for schools or libraries?
Available Engagement Options:
- Virtual visits: Accessible presentations for schools, libraries, and community organizations nationwide
- In-person events: Author talks, workshops, and keynote presentations (subject to availability and location)
- Q&A sessions: Interactive discussions following book readings
- Professional development workshops: Customized training for educators, librarians, and support staff
- Large group programming: Adapted presentations for different age groups and contexts
- Book club facilitation: Virtual drop-ins or recorded messages for reading groups
Is there anything else you would like librarians, teachers, or educators to know about your work?
SHOW-NOT-TELL: This book doesn't just teach about accessibility—it adopts a SHOW-NOT-TELL approach to engagement and learning. From the writing style to the format options, we've worked to ensure the book itself is accessible to the widest possible audience.
For Librarians:
- Libraries are often the first point of access for information about disability
- Your recommendations carry tremendous weight with educators and students
- This book can serve as both a personal resource and a professional tool
- Consider using it for staff training to improve service delivery for disabled patrons
For K-12 Educators:
- While written for general audiences, the book is also accessible for middle and high school students
- The Workbook provides structured activities perfect for classroom use
- This book can complement existing curriculum in health, psychology, sociology, and social studies
- Helps students develop empathy and practical skills
- Can also be used as professional development for K-12 educators, administrators and staff
For Higher Education Faculty:
- Perfect supplementary text across multiple disciplines
- Affordable option that adds lived experience to theoretical frameworks
- Creates natural opportunities for reflection and discussion
- Fills gaps often missing from traditional textbooks
The Power of This Moment: We're at a turning point in how society understands and values disability. With remote work, visible disability advocacy, and growing awareness of neurodiversity and mental health, there's never been a better time to bring these conversations to your community.
An Invitation: This book is an invitation to learn, to grow, to question assumptions, and to take action. It meets readers where they are with compassion and guides them forward with practical tools. Even young people can find ways to make their classroom, sports teams, and community groups more accessible for all.
Final Thought: Disability is human. And understanding disability makes us all more fully human. Thank you for being part of creating more accessible, welcoming, and just communities through your work in libraries and education.
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