Disability Pride: Activities for early learners & info for caregivers

By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris

Every July, we come together to celebrate Disability Pride as a community! As a disabled librarian (neurodivergent and chronically ill), I love creating programs not only for disabled kids but celebrating us as well.

When Miss Genevieve and I lead our Disability Understanding and Advocacy field trips for elementary kids, we ask them why they think it’s important that there is a disability pride flag. I love how they answer: to show others that they exist, to show others that they love themselves, to find other people like them. 

These are all so true, but most people don’t think about the idea that disabled people could have a community. So this month, we will feature quotes all over the library from disabled people: activities, actors, musicians, sports players, and so many more, talking about their experiences and our communities.  

“Disabled people shouldn’t have to be resilient, but I celebrate our resilience anyway. Disabled people shouldn’t have to be creative to combat an inaccessible world, but I celebrate our creativity anyway. Disabled people shouldn’t have to shout for equity and inclusion, but the chorus of our voices is a melody that brings me to tears in gratitude.”

Imani Barbarin

Watch these videos

Here are a few videos I’ve made for families about disabilities and disability experiences.

James Catchpole has written two fantastic books about growing up disabled: What Happened to You? is about how disabilities are a normal part of life and You’re So Amazing! is about how harmful it is to see disabled people as inspirational just for existing.  Here I use the first book to explain disabilities to young kids, and point out discussion opportunities in the text.

Too Much! An Overwhelming Day is a great representation of how kids with sensory challenges and disabilities can experience noise, touch, sight, and feelings differently than abled people. 

Have you ever considered what words the mainstream uses to discuss and describe disabilities? Check out these neuro-affirming language tips.

Share these books

The best way to learn about disabilities and unlearn ableism—the intentional or unintentional bias against disabled people and the accommodations they need to function independently in society—is to listen to what disabled people are saying. Not their families, friends, caregivers, or educators, but disabled people themselves.

When looking for books for you & your kids, search out disability-affirming reads

Disability-affirming books:

• Center a disabled character
• Allow disabled characters to be flawed, human, and neither a burden nor an inspiration
• Show disabilities as a neutral, normal part of life, with both positives and challenges 
• Are written to be enjoyed by disabled readers and not just teach able-bodied people about disabilities
• Do not rely on stereotypes and assumptions
• Are often (but not always) written by a disabled person

Explore: How to evaluate a book with disabled characters (PDF)

Check out these great disability-affirming reads

• Come Over to My House by Eliza Hull features many families, and each has a family member with a different kind of disability. Read it on the windows of the Children’s Department throughout the month of July!
• Mama Car by Lucy Catchpole is about the joy a little girl has riding on her mother’s lap when she is in her wheelchair.
• Minna’s Masks by Louise Gooding is a empathetic story how about kids who are autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent learn how to mask, or hide their neurodivergent traits, to be accepted.
• Itty Bitty Bios is a series of biographies for preschoolers, and many of their titles are about disabled people in a variety of fields, including advocate and author Alice Wong, inventor Ralph Braun, civil rights leader Larry Itliong, scientist Stephen Hawking, Chicago sportscaster Jason Benetti, activists Anita Cameron and Vilissa Thompson, hip-hop artist and Emmy award-winner Leroy Moore Jr., and the mother of disability rights, the incomparable Judy Heumann.

And find more titles on our newly updated Disability Reads book list.

Resources to explore

Explore our 2025 Disability Pride exhibit for a deep dive and to get great talking points for conversations with kids.

And check out these resources we’ve created at the library:

• Celebrating disability awareness with books and activities
• Resources for autistic people and caregivers
• Information on augmentative and alternative communication and Down Syndrome
• Local, state, and national resources for a wide variety of disabilities