Extraordinary People with Disabilities

by Deborah Kent, Kathryn A. Quinlan

Profiles seven dozen people throughout history with various physical or mental disabilities, and provides historical background on the disability rights movement

Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

About the author

Deborah Kent was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Little Falls. She graduated from Oberlin College and received a master's degree from Smith College School for Social Work. For four years, she was a social worker at University Settlement House on New York's Lower East Side. In 1975, Ms. Kent moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she wrote her first young-adult novel, Belonging. In San Miguel, Ms. Kent helped to found the Centro de Crecimiento, a school for children with disabilities. Ms. Kent is the author of numerous young-adult novels and nonfiction titles for children. She lives in Chicago with her husband, children's author R. Conrad Stein, and their daughter, Janna.

Reviews

[Marissa Traina]

This text discusses people throughout history that had to overcome difficulties to accomplish incredible goals. These people described in this text come from different cultures around the world, and talks about each person’s life story. It portrays how these peoples' lives have been shaped through their hardships.
I think this book is a great way to learn about identity through accomplishment. It is a great way for children to learn about disabilities and relate to the difficulties that many people face in their lives. It is accessible to people of all ages to promote discussion and make connections.

[Andy Smith]

Certainly interesting.

[Esther]

Published in 1996 by Children's Press
Interest Level: 8th Grade+

This is an informational book about famous figures that have had disabilities. The range is from historical to popular culture and many of the figures are quite notable, such as Tom Cruise, Helen Keller, and Stevie Wonder. The biographies are manageable and conversational in tone with known and lesser known famous figures. Each biography explores the disability of the person along with how they overcame that disability and contributed to the community. Additionally, there are historical aspects that are embedded in each account. Great way to start learning about people with disabilities and the various physical, mental, and learning disabilities that exist. Easy-to-read and definitely recommended for research on famous figures with disabilities and struggles that they had to overcome.

[Natalie]

Also important to me growing up and beginning to learn about disability history and activism.