Our October 2025 read, Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life by Dr. Stephanie W. Cawthon, gets a 10 out of 10 from me in the disability awareness category.
A book that opened my eyes
Disability Is Human opened my eyes to the everyday realities of ableism and deepened my understanding of what accessibility truly means in our shared human experience. I found myself nodding along, highlighting passages, and reflecting on how often society still overlooks or misunderstands disability. See the full details on our Disability Is Human book page.
Research and heart
Dr. Cawthon's words are compassionate, powerful, and incredibly relatable. She brings both her research and her heart into every chapter. It is the kind of book that stays with you long after you close the cover.
What I learned
I learned so much about ableism, disability, and why inclusion matters in every part of life. Disability is part of the human experience: the World Health Organization estimates that about 1 in 6 people worldwide experience significant disability, and its disability and health fact sheet (opens in a new tab) is a sobering read.
Our author Q&A
We closed the month with a live author Q&A with Dr. Cawthon, with an ASL interpreter, so the conversation was accessible to more of our community. Watch for upcoming sessions on our events page.
Who should read it
If you care about accessibility, advocacy, or simply being a better ally, this book is an absolute must-read. When you finish, our Demystifying Disability allyship takeaways are a natural next step.
Join the conversation
What did Disability Is Human teach you about ableism in everyday life? Share your thoughts in the Accessibility Book Club LinkedIn group (opens in a new tab).
Author
Crystal Scott, CPWA
Web Accessibility Engineer
