Disability Network Southwest Michigan

Autistic Adult Peer Support - Thursday
2024-01-11 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
About #DWord Book Club

#DWord refers to the word “disability.” Disability Network Southwest Michigan is thrilled to partner with Kalamazoo Public Library to provide 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.

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.

August Meeting Details

Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 PMLocation: CEN/Boardroom at Kalamazoo Public Library, located at 315 S. Rose St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.Registration is not required for in-person participation.

Accommodations & Joining Virtually

Accommodations can be provided upon request. Call at Kalamazoo Public Library staff member Jade W. at (269) 553-7944 or reach out to her online. If in-person participation isn’t a good fit for any reason, contact Jade for the opportunity to participate virtually via Zoom.

About the 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.

For more information on this quarterly event and upcoming reading selections, visit our #DWord Book Club page.

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