Demystifying Disability, Revised Edition

Now revised and expanded with a new preface, updated statistics, and information on how to navigate disability in a world impacted by COVID.

This approachable guide teaches you how to be a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and what not to do), and tips for creating a more accessible, inclusive world.

“A fantastic primer for improving your understanding of disability and ableism.”—NPR, Best Books of the Year, on the original edition

People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority, an estimated 16 percent of the global population. But many of us—disabled and nondisabled alike—don’t know how to act, what to say, or how to be an ally to the disability community. What are the appropriate ways to think, talk, and ask about disability? Now newly revised and expanded, this friendly handbook teaches you about:

• Recognizing and avoiding ableism (discrimination toward disabled people)
• Practicing good disability etiquette, including tips for navigating our post-pandemic world
• Incorporating accessibility into your standard practice, from everyday communication to planning special events
• Disability history and identity
• Policy changes made by the Trump administration
• Identifying and speaking up about disability stereotypes in media

Authored by celebrated disability rights advocate, speaker, and writer Emily Ladau, this practical, intersectional guide offers all readers a welcoming place to understand disability as part of the human experience.