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lottie1803's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Ableism, and Forced institutionalization
philippakmoore's review against another edition
5.0
Deeply moving, beautifully written stories - as well as some poems, interviews and a comic - with a refreshingly diverse range of perspectives. Illuminating and unforgettable.
vezreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
drillvoice's review
5.0
I ordered this book because I realised it would be good for me to hear more perspectives about living with a disability, and it was probably good for these to come from people with a disability.
The book more than delivered. It was fascinating reading the different memoir pieces, seeing recurring themes, but also seeing the uniqueness of each person's experience. When I say it "more than delivered" I mean that I learnt about disability, but also was moved and engaged in many other ways by different chapters.
I've given this book five stars because it was such a stand-out read and I wanted to share reflections from it with everyone I met. However, there were some less engaging chapters and there's no reason you can't just skip them if they don't interest you. I also found that the copy-editing was unusually bad: there were many small errors, particularly early in the text, and while this isn't major it did detract from my experience.
The book more than delivered. It was fascinating reading the different memoir pieces, seeing recurring themes, but also seeing the uniqueness of each person's experience. When I say it "more than delivered" I mean that I learnt about disability, but also was moved and engaged in many other ways by different chapters.
I've given this book five stars because it was such a stand-out read and I wanted to share reflections from it with everyone I met. However, there were some less engaging chapters and there's no reason you can't just skip them if they don't interest you. I also found that the copy-editing was unusually bad: there were many small errors, particularly early in the text, and while this isn't major it did detract from my experience.
rainarreyes's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the diversity in voices and the emphasis on intersectionality. A great reflective piece for those who work in the disability sector, and a reminder that professionals have a lot to unlearn when it comes to their views on disability.
katetay69's review against another edition
5.0
LIFE CHANGING, BIAS SHATTERING, CANNOT PUT DOWN.
1 in 5 Australians have a disability yet they are invisible.
What an amazing anthology of stories from disabled authors. At times I laughed, and other times I was shocked, disappointed, outraged and hopeful. This book is an intersectional lens on disabled Australians. It should be essential reading for everyone and I will be recommending it to all my friends. Your heart will ache with empathy and your mind will grow to an enormous size from all the things there is to learn in this book.
I really enjoyed learning about the social model of disability which says that society being inaccessible is what makes you disabled, not the disability itself. "In capitalist Australia, society disables you". The burden of always having to worry about accessibility of venues (even parliament house is not wheelchair accessible) is exhausting, frustrating and unjust. This book holds up the mirror to oneself to do some reflection on how ableism plays into your life, and your bias's towards disabled people.
One of my favorite chapters was Sarah Firths comic strip about growing up different and later being diagnosed with a range of neurodivergent conditions. Her drawings are so fun and the story is heartwarming.
This quote in another authors piece reminded of me of Julie ( a nurse from my work) "She was the type that would pull up her handmade culottes, lift someone out of their wheelchair, strap them to a sled and push them down the mountain"
The ways in which people cope are fascinating. I loved one author who called her Cerebral Paulsy "Paul", and would laugh, *falls over* "oh that's just Paul". I don't have a disability but I have broken a foot and an ankle within 10 months and humour has helped me get through it. Using mobility aids like crutches, over the toilet aids and shower chairs has given me alot to laugh about.
This quote hit hard " I now believe that I can be both angry and lucky at the same time, and that they are equally important. I'm angry that I can never have all the things I want, but I'm lucky because of all the things i can do".
" how blind are you?" " I was ate potpourri from a bowl because I thought it was mixed nuts". This had me laughing hard.
Another favourite chapter is the one about riding for the disabled. The imagery of disabled kids being thrust off horses because the sprinklers went off (the timer was not adjusted for daylight savings) IS GOLD. I loved this too "what I enjoyed most about it was the novelty of it and finally being in control of an able body".
I also realised had no knowledge of sign language history, it was banned in 1880.
The chapter 'The bedridden astronaut' was another stand out for me.
GO READ THIS NOW
1 in 5 Australians have a disability yet they are invisible.
What an amazing anthology of stories from disabled authors. At times I laughed, and other times I was shocked, disappointed, outraged and hopeful. This book is an intersectional lens on disabled Australians. It should be essential reading for everyone and I will be recommending it to all my friends. Your heart will ache with empathy and your mind will grow to an enormous size from all the things there is to learn in this book.
I really enjoyed learning about the social model of disability which says that society being inaccessible is what makes you disabled, not the disability itself. "In capitalist Australia, society disables you". The burden of always having to worry about accessibility of venues (even parliament house is not wheelchair accessible) is exhausting, frustrating and unjust. This book holds up the mirror to oneself to do some reflection on how ableism plays into your life, and your bias's towards disabled people.
One of my favorite chapters was Sarah Firths comic strip about growing up different and later being diagnosed with a range of neurodivergent conditions. Her drawings are so fun and the story is heartwarming.
This quote in another authors piece reminded of me of Julie ( a nurse from my work) "She was the type that would pull up her handmade culottes, lift someone out of their wheelchair, strap them to a sled and push them down the mountain"
The ways in which people cope are fascinating. I loved one author who called her Cerebral Paulsy "Paul", and would laugh, *falls over* "oh that's just Paul". I don't have a disability but I have broken a foot and an ankle within 10 months and humour has helped me get through it. Using mobility aids like crutches, over the toilet aids and shower chairs has given me alot to laugh about.
This quote hit hard " I now believe that I can be both angry and lucky at the same time, and that they are equally important. I'm angry that I can never have all the things I want, but I'm lucky because of all the things i can do".
" how blind are you?" " I was ate potpourri from a bowl because I thought it was mixed nuts". This had me laughing hard.
Another favourite chapter is the one about riding for the disabled. The imagery of disabled kids being thrust off horses because the sprinklers went off (the timer was not adjusted for daylight savings) IS GOLD. I loved this too "what I enjoyed most about it was the novelty of it and finally being in control of an able body".
I also realised had no knowledge of sign language history, it was banned in 1880.
The chapter 'The bedridden astronaut' was another stand out for me.
GO READ THIS NOW
ornamentalhermit's review
emotional
informative
fast-paced
5.0
A wonderful mix of essays and poetry that highlight a wide range of experiences. I loved the intersectionality of this collection.
jessedee's review against another edition
4.0
"..because I lived in a world where I felt I wasn't accepted. Where difference was feared, not celebrated"