#DWord Book Club
Disability Network Southwest Michigan is excited to partner with Kalamazoo Public Library to launch the #DWord Book Club—a book club dedicated to promoting access, connection, disability pride, and spreading the message that Disability is not a bad word.
Join us for an opportunity to engage in respectful, thought-provoking discussions of books by and about people with disabilities, uplifting lived experiences from across the Disability Community and creating space for meaningful conversation and connection.
All are welcome, whether you’re new to disability-focused literature or a longtime reader/consumer. This is a cost-free group and participants are not required to have a library card to join. To ensure accessibility for all, each book is available in print, digital, and audiobook formats.
#DWord Book Club Meeting Details
- Wednesday, February 18 from 6:00-7:30 PM – Disability Intimacy by Alice Wong
- Wednesday, May 20 from 6:00-7:30 PM – Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
- Wednesday, August 19 from 6:00-7:30 PM – I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World by Meghan Ashburn & Jules Edwards
- Wednesday, November 18 from 6:00-7:30 PM – So Lucky by Nicola Griffith
Accommodations & Joining Virtually
Accommodations can be provided upon request to (269) 553-7944 or follow this link to contact Jade W. at Kalamazoo Public Library. If in-person participation isn’t a good fit for any reason, contact Jade for the opportunity to participate virtually, via Zoom.
Venue
CEN/Boardroom at Kalamazoo Public Library, located at 315 S. Rose St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Registration is not required for in-person participation.
Book Selection
August’s book selection is I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World by Meghan Ashburn & Jules Edwards.
ABOUT — There is a significant divide between autistic advocates and parents of autistic children. Parents may feel attacked for their lack of understanding, and autistic adults who offer insight and guidance are also met with hostility and rejection.
Meghan Ashburn, a mother of two autistic boys, and Jules Edwards, an autistic parent, were no strangers to this tension and had an adversarial relationship when they first met. Over time, the two resolved their differences and are now co-conspirators in the pursuit of disability justice.
This book unites both perspectives, exploring the rift between these communities and encouraging them to work towards a common goal. It provides context to dividing issues, and the authors use their experience to illustrate where they’ve messed up, where they’ve got things right, and what they’ve learned along the way.
Disability Network and Kalamazoo Public Library staff sharing about the #DWord Book Club on the Morning Mix with Fox 17.