Disability History Month at the Library

Reading lists

We've collated two resource collections related to disability history.

• Disability History Month - a collection of fiction, non-fiction, films and documentaries about disability, disability history and the lived experience of people with disabilities.
• Accessibility and Inclusivity in Higher Education - a resource list on accessibility and inclusivity in Higher Education, compiled by our Disability Support Librarians.

Disability history resources

Our lists include a mixture of digital and physical resources. These resource lists are not exhaustive. Please use library search to view our full collection.

Book giveaways 2024

Our very popular book giveaway continues this year. We'll be hiding copies across our libraries and sharing clues about where to find them on our Instagram Stories. Follow us on Instagram @uwelibrary for your chance to win a book.

Our titles for this year are:

• Sensory: life on the spectrum by Bex Ollerton
  Presented in a variety of comic styles, Bex Ollerton and thirty creators take us on a journey through a wide range of autistic experiences.
• All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr
  Forced to flee Paris when the Nazis invade, 12-year-old Blind girl Marie-Laure and her father escape to the walled city of Saint-Malo. In Germany, orphan Werner is recruited into the Hitler Youth. This is the story of how their paths collide in occupied France.
• Poor little sick girls by Ione Gamble
  After being confined to her bed with a diagnosis for an incurable illness, Ione Gamble watched as the rest of the world became obsessed with Girlboss feminism and #LivingOurBestLives. Using her own experiences with disability, Gamble explores what it means to be an unacceptable woman in this era of empowerment.
• Out on a limb by Hannah Bonham-Young
  Winnifred McNulty refuses to be held back by her limb difference and is determined to prove that she doesn’t need anyone’s help. However, a one-night stand with the charming Bo leaves Win with a huge decision – one that she doesn’t want to face alone. Can Bo and Win overcome the chemistry forming between them and remain “just friends” in the face of this new challenge?
• Haben: the Deafblind woman who conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma
  Born Deafblind, Girma has shown strength in the face of many obstacles and has declared her disability an opportunity for innovation. In this memoir, Girma shares a collection of memories and anecdotes showing the defining moments in her life.
• Give me a sign by Anna Sortino
  When Lilah signs up to be a counsellor at a Deaf and Blind summer camp, her goal is to improve her American Sign Language. However, amongst the chaos of the campers, Lilah sparks a connection with Isaac, who offers to teach her. But does Isaac feel the same connection Lilah does? This coming-of-age romance offers an insight into Deaf culture.
• Made possible by Saba Salman
  In this collection, eight professionals with learning differences share their experiences of achieving success in their careers. Edited by social affairs journalist Saba Salman, this collection shatters preconceptions and hopes to inspire others.
• Monstrum by Lottie Mills
  What does it mean to be different in a world that demands “perfection”? Through a collection of eerie, fantastical short stories, Mills explores this question with a compassionate and engaging voice.