Disabilities

[close] Mental Illness. Eating Disorders. Sexual Assault. Domestic Violence. So many issues come with such a huge stigma attached. Education and understanding are the keys to ending stigma. Every month we will read another book tackling a stigmatized issue such as one of the ones listed above. Suggestions will be taken, different issues will be tackled, and both fiction and nonfiction books will be included. Be a stigma fighter, learn with me.

[close] Join us to discuss how disabilities are handled in YA books. DISABILITY IN YA 2016 Running from Monday the 8th of August to the Sunday the 21st we will allow an open non-judgemental environment in which to discuss YA books that deal with disability, and talk freely about how certain negative portrayals make us feel. I want to allow a platform for disabled and non-disabled people alike to discuss what they feel is acceptable in books, and how they interpret ‘positive representation’, without hurtful comments or abusive language. After all, healthy discussion is a GOOD THING. We all have different opinions, and as long as they don’t hurt anyone else, then comparing and learning will help us all as people and diverse readers of YA. If you want to take part 1. Join the Goodreads page 2. Read a YA book with a disabled character 3. (Optional) Take a photo of your Disability in YA read and tag it #disabilityinYA 4. Join the discussion on August 21st! Important to note that this includes ALL disabilities, physical and otherwise, and ANYONE can take part! Read the topic What is this? To find out more

[close] Post complaints, commiserate, show and receive empathy, have fun, make friends with straight, gay, and people of all sexual orientations. So let off some steam then relax after posting your complaints (i.e.: criticize, find fault, kick up a fuss, object, protest, air your grievances, grumble, carp, fuss, lament, bemoan, bewail, moan, whine, carry on, groan, kvetch, remonstrate, beef, bellyache, moan and groan, grouse, gripe, grump, bleat, whinge, squawk, squeal, and raise a stink.)

[close] Discuss books that have won or may win the Schneider Family Book Award. The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0–8), middle school (age 9–13) and teens (age 14–18). (Age groupings are approximations). The book must emphasize the artistic expression of the disability experience for children and or adolescent audiences. The book must portray some aspect of living with a disability or that of a friend or family member, whether the disability is physical, mental or emotional.