When will National Disabled Author’s Day be celebrated? October 2nd of each calendar year.
What is National Disabled Author’s Day day? October is Disability Awareness Month when we acknowledge, and accept individuals’ experiences related to disability.
Start the month off right with the perfect read! October 2nd is International Disabled Author’s Day. It celebrates the hard work, accomplishments, and creativity of talented published authors with disabilities and books that feature disabled characters. Representation in literature at every reading level and genre is key to fostering environments that are inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
How should National Disabled Author’s Day be celebrated or observed?
- Share the Logo
Download and share the logo, your event flyer, or social media posts. - Share the Hashtag
Share the title of your favorite author or book and add the following hashtags:
#DAD22 #DisabledAuthorsDay - Read A Book
Turn your reading or storytime into an opportunity to learn about disability. - Class Room Display
Feature a display of books with disabled characters and/or books written by disabled authors. - Host A Disabled Authors Book Fair
Send your school principal or local library a letter expressing your interest and the importance of hosting a Disabled Authors Book Fair. Visit our website for a download road map on how to successfully plan your event which includes the sample letter that will get you started!
Why was National Disabled Author’s Day created? We live in a diverse world that includes disabled people. The disability experience is a natural part of life and every life has value regardless of age, gender, color, religious belief, background, or ability. However, in literary works, disability is underrepresented.
Despite the signing of the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) in 1990 disability is still often looked at as the presence of a medical condition residing within the individual that needs to be fixed, making them different from “what is normal ”. However, the real “disability” is an environment filled with physical, attitudinal, communication and social barriers.
From elementary to university level education there is limited awareness of disability history or disability inclusion in literature, and the burden of awareness has fallen on the shoulders of those impacted by disabilities, either indirectly or directly. Until these studies and literature that include disability are more prevalent in education, the most effective way to increase awareness is through supporting disabled authors and books that feature characters with disabilities.
There are 56 million people living in the United States who self-identify as having at least one disability. The advocacy effort of Rolling With Me, founded by Margarita Elizondo is dedicated to increasing disability awareness and inclusion of authors with disabilities and books featuring characters with disabilities. As well as supporting literacy efforts that support and benefit disabled people. Everyone deserves the opportunity to identify with, and see themselves represented in, published literary works.
Disabled Authors Day provides an opportunity for schools, libraries, and the public in general to raise awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion of disabled people. Celebrating this day every year on October 2nd allows our communities the opportunity to value all the wonderful talents and experiences those with disabilities have to offer the world.
Who created this day? This day was created by Margarita Elizondo in 2022.