One in five people in Canada live with one or more disabilities. Some disabilities are visible, others less so—but all are significantly underrepresented in media and popular culture. In this impactful collection, activist Alice Wong curates an empowering and thought-provoking anthology of personal essays by contemporary disabled writers.
Blending essays, poetry, blog posts, manifestos, eulogies, congressional testimonies, debates, art reviews, and more, this book reveals the vast richness and complexity of the disabled experience.
It honours the everyday lives, creativity, advocacy, and resilience of disabled individuals, offering readers a deeper understanding of disability culture–both past and present, rooted in pride and possibility.
“I know that in chasing to achieve the person I once was, I will miss the person I have become.”
~ from ‘I’m Tired of Chasing a Cure’ by Liz Moore
“All you are really doing when interviewing a patient is asking them to tell you a story. All the patient really wants from you is for you to listen to them. That’s what we all want, isn’t it? It’s one of our most fundamental drivers. To be seen. To be heard. To be understood.”
~ from ‘Taking Charge of my Story as a Cancer Patient’ by Diana Cejas
“Taking up space as a disabled person is always revolutionary.”
~ from ‘Canfei to Canji’ by Sandy Ho
This anthology is not just a collection of stories—it’s a call to action. It challenges dominant narratives, amplifies marginalized voices, and reminds us that disability is not a limitation, but a vital part of our collective human story.