This blog post will tell you where to start if you want to learn more about disability history.
Books
Rolling Warrior by Judith Heumann
A memoir of the work of American disability activist Judy Heumann, for young adults. Judy battled for equal access in an unequal world-from fighting to go to school after being described as a “fire hazard” because of her wheelchair, to challenging the New York City school system. The system denied her a teacher’s license because of her disability.
There is also a version of Judy’s book for adults, called Being Heumann.
Disability Pride by Ben Mattin
Disabled writer Ben Mattin writes about the diversity of the disability community and how disability representation has changed since the Americans with Disabilities Act.
You can read about how disability is celebrated in different parts of society, from social media and fashion to Hollywood and Bollywood.
Different Not Less by Chloe Hayden
Different Not Less is the first book by autistic actress and advocate Chloe Hayden.
Book cover of ‘Different Not Less’
Movies and TV shows
Then Barbara Met Alan
Then Barabara Met Alan is a film based on the true story of disability activists Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth. Barbara and Alan met at a pub and started to lead protests across the United Kingdom with the slogan ‘Piss on Pity.’
The film is an entertaining and empowering introduction to disability rights in the United Kingdom.
You can watch When Barbara Met Alan on Netflix.
Defiant Lives
Defiant Lives is about the disability rights movement in Australia, Britain and the United States. You can see interviews with various disability advocates, including British actress Liz Carr, and learn about how the global disability community has worked together to make the world more accessible and inclusive.
You can watch Defiant Lives on streaming service Disability Busters.
CripCamp
CripCamp is a documentary about the fight for disability rights in America. The documentary follows a group of young people with disability who attend a summer camp and, later, work together to make America more accessible for people with disability.
An image of Judy Heumann and Stella Young.
You can watch CripCamp on Netflix.
Unrest
Disability advocate Jen Brea has Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). She interviews others with the condition and teaches audiences about it while documenting the worldwide advocacy of millions of ME/CFS patients.
Watch Unrest for free on Youtube.
Podcasts
The Disability History Association podcast
This podcast has two or more disabled people having a conversation in each episode about a different part of disability history.
For example, an episode from March 2023 is about disability history in Eastern Europe.
Most of the episodes go for an hour or more.
Listen to the podcast on the Disability History Association website.
Yarning Disability
Hosted by First People’s Disability Network, this podcast shares the powerful stories of First Nations people with disability.
Listen to Yarning Disability on the FPDN website.
Included: The Disability Equity Podcast
Included challenges Hard to understand.stereotypes ideas about a group of people that are not always true] about disability by sharing research and stories from disabled people.
Listen to Included on Spotify.
You can also
- Read a timeline of protests about disability rights in Australia.
- Visit the online American Disability History Museum.
