At Mosaic, education and advocacy are at the heart of everything we do. Building a more accessible, inclusive world starts with listening to disabled voices, unlearning systemic biases, and continuously expanding our understanding of the lived disability experience.

Whether you are an educator, an ally, a professional building inclusive spaces, or someone exploring your own identity, reading books authored by disabled and neurodivergent creators is one of the most impactful ways to join the fight for equality.

This list is far from exhaustive, but it is a powerful place to start.

Non-Fiction, Memoirs & Advocacy Guides

1. Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau

Think of this book as the ultimate "Disability 101" course. Emily Ladau breaks down complex topics—from terminology and etiquette to history and intersectionality—in a way that is approachable, insightful, and deeply engaging. Even as a disabled person who has worked in advocacy, I learned so much from this read.

2. Being Heumann by Judy Heumann

Judy Heumann was a true legend in the American disability rights movement. As a Jewish woman whose parents escaped the Holocaust, her Jewish identity and family history deeply informed her civil rights activism, fierce resilience, and lifelong commitment to fighting institutional injustice. This memoir offers a vivid, unfiltered look at her monumental work, including leading the historic 504 Sit-In. Hearing the institutional barriers and blatant discrimination she faced—especially through the lens of education—is infuriating, but her legacy reminds us both of how far we’ve come and how much work remains to achieve lasting structural change.

3. Say Hello by Carly Findlay

Carly Findlay’s perspective as an Australian writer and appearance activist living with ichthyosis opened my eyes to challenges I hadn’t previously encountered. Her story dives into the reality of visible differences, public staring, and the dangerous societal attitudes that arise when society ignores or fears what it doesn't understand.

4. On My Own Two Feet by Amy Purdy

Understanding disability requires recognizing that everyone’s journey is different. As someone with a congenital disability, I find it vital to learn from those who acquire a disability later in life. Amy Purdy shares the profound internal and external hurdles she and her family navigated after a sudden illness led to double leg amputations—showing the immense resilience required to rebuild a life and advocate for oneself.

5. Unseen: My Journey through Blindness, Mental Health, and Finding Myself by Molly Burke

Molly Burke’s memoir offers a powerful, vulnerable look into losing her sight as a teenager due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, while also navigating depression, bullying, and systemic barriers. Her perspective as a blind advocate and content creator highlights the deep intersection between physical disability and mental health, making it an essential read for understanding resilience, self-advocacy, and adapting to life's major shifts.

Essay Collections & Powerful Anthologies

6. The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Hate Me by Keah Brown

In this vibrant, funny, and deeply honest essay collection, disability rights advocate and creator of the #DisabledAndCute movement Keah Brown explores the intersections of Blackness, disability (living with cerebral palsy), womanhood, and self-love. She tackles pop culture, romance, twin dynamics, and media representation with sharp wit, offering a refreshing and vital perspective on celebrating disabled joy in a world that rarely centers it.

7. Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century edited by Alice Wong

This groundbreaking anthology brings together a rich tapestry of essays from disabled writers across different intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class. Alice Wong creates a vital platform for diverse disabled voices. Some essays will challenge you or make you uncomfortable—and that discomfort is essential for genuine growth and unlearning.

8. Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire edited by Alice Wong

Alice Wong’s essential follow-up anthology expands the conversation on disability beyond public rights and into the deeply personal spheres of human connection. Featuring essays, poetry, and art from disabled creators, this collection explores how caregiving, friendship, community care, romance, and sexual liberation intersect with disability justice. It redefines what intimacy means on disabled terms and serves as an extraordinary tool for understanding community care.

Neurodivergence & Lived Experience in Youth

9. The Real Riley Mayes by Rachel Elliott

For educators, parents, and allies, this Stonewall Honor graphic novel offers a deeply empathetic look at neurodivergence, executive dysfunction, and ADHD in young people. It highlights how traditional school environments often penalize kids whose brains process the world differently—and why supportive, flexible, and adaptive systems matter so much.

Recommended Podcasts for Accessibility & Culture

If you prefer listening to personal narratives on the go, these three podcasts hosted by disabled creators offer brilliant, diverse conversations on navigating life, society, and culture:

• Disabled and Proud (Hosted by Brooke Millhouse): Fun, uplifting, and honest conversations with a wide variety of disabled guests.

  
  

• Disability After Dark (Hosted by Andrew Gurza): A frank, crucial podcast shining a light on disability, sexuality, relationships, and topics that aren't discussed enough in mainstream spaces.

  
  

• Access All (BBC): A sharp, informative podcast featuring dynamic panel discussions on modern disability news, culture, and lived experiences.

  
  

How to Support & What to Read Next

When checking out any of these titles, consider starting at your local public library or independent bookstore. Libraries and local booksellers are essential, accessible community resources that need our continued support so they can keep supporting us. Whenever possible, look for direct links to purchase directly from the authors themselves!

What about you? Have you read any of these books? What titles, memoirs, or resources would you add to Mosaic’s growing recommendation list—and do you have any favorite books with authentic Jewish representation written by Jewish authors that I should check out next?