Against Technoableism: a rave review

Our June 2024 read, Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement by Ashley Shew, is an eye-opening manifesto that redefines how we think about disability and technology. As the Accessibility Book Club owner, I am thrilled to share my rave review.

A personal narrative with a sharp critique

Shew describes herself as a "hard-of-hearing chemobrained amputee with Crohn's disease and tinnitus." Her personal story highlights the gap between what disabled people need and what society assumes they want.

Her critique of framing disability as an individual problem, instead of a social one, is compelling. She calls on us to listen to disabled voices and to create environments that include everyone. Visit our Against Technoableism book page for the full book details.

The future is disabled

The book's key message, "the future is disabled," challenges us to see disability as a valuable set of skills and knowledge. Shew imagines a world where we all prepare for uncertain futures by understanding diverse perspectives.

What this means for the way we build

• Design with disabled people, not just for them
• Question technology that tries to "fix" people instead of removing barriers
• Treat lived experience as expertise in research and testing

The W3C's guide to involving users in accessibility evaluation (opens in a new tab) is a practical next step, and the social model at the heart of this book also shapes our post The world around me makes me disabled, not my disability.

Why I recommend it

Against Technoableism is essential reading for anyone interested in disability advocacy and social justice. It deeply influenced my commitment to making the web more accessible.

Thank you, Ashley Shew, for your incredible work and for joining our book club meeting. And thank you to our members for your thoughtful contributions at the meeting and all month long. Here's to a more inclusive future.

Join the conversation

How did Against Technoableism change the way you think about disability and technology? Share your thoughts in the Accessibility Book Club LinkedIn group (opens in a new tab).