Different Abilities
Books about people with special needs.
Picture Books
can bears ski? by raymond antrobus book cover
Can Bears Ski?
by Raymond Antrobus

The story of Little Bear, who learns about his deafness when a visit to an audiologist reveals the truth about a world he sometimes has trouble understanding. 
A Friend for Henry
by Jenn Bailey book cover
A Friend for Henry
by Jenn Bailey

Henry would like to find a friend at school, but for a boy on the autism spectrum, making friends can be difficult, as his efforts are sometimes misinterpreted, or things just go wrong--but Henry keeps trying, and in the end he finds a friend he can play with.
My pal, Victor
by Diane Gonzales Bertrand book cover
My Pal, Victor
by Diane Gonzales Bertrand

Two Latino boys experience carefree camaraderie despite one boy's disability, as fun and friendship overpower physical limitations.
Ali and the sea stars
by Ali Stroker book cover
Ali and the Sea Stars
by Ali Stroker

The semi-autobiographical picture book debut from the Tony Award-winning actress stars Ali, a spirited girl in a wheelchair, who loves to sing , dance and act, as she puts on her own show, with the help of her friends, family and community. 
My three best friends and me, Zulay
by Cari Best book cover
My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay
by Cari Best

Sharing days with her best friends in their second-grade class, Zulay, a blind student, surprises her teacher by asking if she can run a race on Field Day and achieves her goal with the help of a special aide and the support of loved ones.
Silent days, silent dreams
by Allen Say book cover
Silent days, Silent Dreams
by Allen Say

The Caldecott Medal-winning creator of Grandfather's Journey brings his hybrid narrative and artistic style to the story of artist James Castle, describing how he overcame significant disabilities in order to become one of the modern world's most revered artists.
Janine
by Maryann Cocca-Leffler book cover
Janine
by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Janine is one of a kind.  She focuses on the positive while navigating life with disabilities. She makes a difference just by being herself.
This beach is loud!
by Samantha Cotterill book cover
This Beach is Loud!
by Samantha Cotterill

A sensitive boy is overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and sensations of a family visit to a noisy, exciting beach, until his father offers some creative ways to manage. 
	
It was supposed to be sunny
by Samantha Cotterill book cover
It Was Supposed to Be Sunny
by Samantha Cotterill

Disappointed when her sunshine-themed birthday party is sent indoors by a surprise thunderstorm, a little girl on the autism spectrum struggles to maintain her optimism when another disaster upends her birthday cake. 
Just because
by Rebecca Elliott book cover
Just Because
by Rebecca Elliott

A little brother describes all of the great things he can do with his big sister, who happens to be in a wheelchair.
	
Looking after Louis
by Lesley Ely book cover
Looking after Louis
by Lesley Ely

When Louis, a new boy with autism joins their classroom, the students try to understand his world as well as include him in theirs.
	
I will dance
by Nancy Bo Flood book cover
I Will Dance
by Nancy Bo Flood

Eva's cerebral palsy makes it difficult for her to do many things, but she longs to dance and, finally, her dream is realized.
Rescue & Jessica : a life-changing friendship
by Jessica Kensky book cover
Rescue & Jessica : a life-changing friendship
by Jessica Kensky

Rescue though he'd grow up to be a Seeing Eye dog - it's the family business after all.  When he gets the news that he's better suited to being a service dog, he's worried that he's not up to the task.  Then he meets Jessica, a girl whose life is turning out differently than the way she'd imagined it to. Now Jessica needs Rescue by her side to help her accomplish everyday tasks.  And it turns out that Rescue can help Jessica see after all: a way forward, together, one step at a time.
Hello goodbye dog
by Maria Gianferrari book cover
Hello Goodbye Dog
by Maria Gianferrari

A faithful dog who loves nothing more than to help his girl chews through tethers and escapes from crates, their home and the backyard in order to follow her to locations where dogs are not allowed. 
Hudson Hates School
by Ella Hudson book cover
Hudson Hates School
by Ella Hudson

Hudson, who loves to make things but hates going to school, fails a spelling test and meets with a special teacher, who discovers Hudson has a very different way of learning things.
King for a Day
by Rukhsana Khan book cover
King for a Day
by Rukhsana Khan

Even though he is confined to a wheelchair, a Pakistani boy tries to capture the most kites during Basant, the annual spring kite festival, and become "king" for a day.
Naomi Knows it's Springtime
by Virginia L. Kroll

Naomi experiences all of the sensory delights of Spring, even though she is blind and must create a visual world within her own mind. 
Hooway for Wodney Wat
by Helen Lester book cover
Hooway for Wodney Wat
by Helen Lester

All his classmates make fun of Rodney because he can't pronounce the r's in his name, but it is Rodney's speech impediment that drives away Camilla Capybera, the class bully. 
	
Woodpecker girl
by Chingyen Liu book cover
Woodpecker Girl
by Chingyen Liu

A little girl was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that rendered her wheelchair bound. One day, her art teacher affixed a paintbrush to her forehead with a headband. From then on, the little girl was able to express herself and freely explore the world through her paintings.
The pirate of kindergarten
by George Ella Lyon book cover
The Pirate of Kindergarten
by George Ella Lyon

Struggling in school when her double vision makes it hard for her to figure out which image she sees is real, kindergartener Ginny receives an eye patch to help correct her sight and enjoys imagining herself to be a pirate who now performs activities with double ease.
	
Moses goes to school
by Isaac Millman
 book cover
Moses Goes to School
by Isaac Millman

Follow Moses as he spends a day at his school, a public school for the deaf, where all the children use expressions and sign language to communicate to one another. 
My buddy
by Audrey Osofsky book cover
My Buddy
by Audrey Osofsky

A young boy with muscular dystrophy tells how he is teamed up with a dog trained to do things for him that he can't do for himself.
We're all wonders
by R. J. Palacio book cover
We're All Wonders
by R. J. Palacio

Augie enjoys the company of his dog, Daisy, and using his imagination, but painfully endures the taunts of his peers because of his facial deformity.
My brother Charlie
by Holly Robinson Peete book cover
My Brother Charlie
by Holly Robinson Peete

A young girl proudly describes her relationship with her autistic brother, evaluating the ways in which he is like other children, the withdrawing behaviors that mark his disorder and the many qualities that make him unique, from his piano talent to his special way with animals.
Thank you, Mr. Falker
by Patricia Polacco

At first, Trisha loves school, but her difficulty learning to read makes her feel dumb, until, in the fifth grade, a new teacher helps her understand and overcome her problem.
I talk like a river
by Jordan Scott book cover
I Talk Like a River
by Jordan Scott

When a child has a "bad speech day" at school, his father gives him a new perspective on his stuttering.
Susan laughs
by Jeanne Willis book cover
Susan Laughs
by Jeanne Willis

Being in a wheelchair doesn't slow this youngster down as she spends a busy day playing with her friends, riding a horse, and swimming with her father, showing that disabled children enjoy many of the same activities as everyone else. 
Early Readers
Emily's big shot
by Bryan Patrick Avery book cover
Emily's Big Shot
by Bryan Patrick Avery

Emily has trouble simultaneously managing her wheelchair and passing the ball in her class's games of floor hockey, so classmates Dmitry and Ryan offer to help her improve--first lesson is learn to relax and not get nervous. Includes a special activity reinforcing social emotional learning skills.
Jungle School
by Elizabeth Laird book cover
Jungle School
by Elizabeth Laird

It's Jani's first day at school and she's nervous. Will the other monkeys be friendly? Will they all stare at her? Jani is in a wheelchair, and this makes her different. But, thanks to her sense of cheekiness, she makes friends and has a very nice first day at school indeed.
Party problems
by C. L. Reid book cover
Party Problems
by C. L. Reid

Eight-year-old Emma is excited about her best friend Izzie's birthday party, but she is also a little worried because she is deaf and communicates through sign language, and her cochlear implant does not work well in noisy crowds.
Paperback Series
Built for speed
by Vicky Fang
book cover
Built for Speed
by Vicky Fang

Layla and the Bots are eager for Blossom Valley's upcoming go-kart race, but one racer, Tina, needs their help to build a cart with hand-controls and other special features.
Bo and the Merbaby by Rebecca Elliott  book cover
Bo and the Merbaby
by Rebecca Elliott

When unicorn Bo and his friends set out to help merbaby Flo, who was born unable to swim on her own, they learn that she is perfect just the way she is! 
Graphic Novels
	
El Deafo
by Cece Bell book cover
El Deafo
by Cece Bell

The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower."
Growing pangs
by Kathryn Ormsbee book cover
Growing Pangs
by Kathryn Ormsbee

After her so-called BFF ditches her during summer camp, Katie returns home and cannot stop worrying about everything friends, the sixth grade, getting braces and feels that no one will like her due to her anxiety. 
A tale as tall as Jacob : misadventures with my brother
by Samantha Edwards book cover
A Tale as Tall as Jacob : misadventures with my brother
by Samantha Edwards

In this tale, a young girl struggles to understand, accept and support her remarkable little brother as he adapts to life with ADHD.  When Jacob is born, Samantha is excited to have a normal little brother to play with.  But those expectations are quickly upended as he grows into a loud, chaotic, and seemingly unstoppable force.
Fiction
Hummingbird
by Natalie Lloyd book cover
Hummingbird
by Natalie Lloyd

Homeschooled Olive is tired of being seen as "fragile" just because she has osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease), so she's thrilled when she convinces her overprotective parents to let her attend traditional school... until a disastrous first day dashes her hopes of ever fitting in or making the friends she's always longed for.  Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird.  If she can find the bird, the creature will make her most desperate, secret wish come true.  But on the way, Olive just might learn that our fragile places can lead to the most wonderful magic of all... 
A boy called Bat
by Elana K Arnold book cover
A Boy Called Bat
by Elana K. Arnold

When his veterinarian mom brings home a stray baby skunk that needs rehabilitation before it can be placed in a wild animal shelter, Bat, who has autism, resolves to prove that he is up to the challenge of caring for the skunk permanently.
Air by Monica Roe book cover
Air
by Monica Roe

When her wheelchair motocross dreams get shattered, 12-year-old Emmie finds the community rallying around her, but cannot shake the feeling that her goals are no longer her own and must take a stand for what she wants. 
Anything but typical
by Nora Raleigh Baskin book cover
Anything but Typical
by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.
Tangerine
by Edward Bloor book cover
Tangerine
by Edward Bloor

Twelve-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero brother Erik, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near blindness and slowly begins to remember the incident that damaged his eyesight.
Aven Green, sleuthing machine
by Dusti Bowling book cover
Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine
by Dusti Bowling

Third-grader Aven Green, who was born without arms but believes that her missing arm cells went to her super-powered brain, tries to solve two cases involving her teacher's missing lunch and the disappearance of her great-grandmother's dog.
Fifty-four things wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers
by Caela Carter book cover
Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers
by Caela Carter

When she discovers she has 54 things wrong with her after reading a confidential school report, Gwendolyn Rogers is determined to get these things under control so she can go to horse camp and gets some help from an unexpected source. 
Cyclone
by Doreen Cronin
 book cover
Cyclone
by Doreen Cronin

Blaming herself when the cousin she dragged onto a roller coaster falls into a coma, Nora struggles with unendurable guilt and tries to help when her cousin awakens with challenging disabilities.
Real
by Carol Cujec book cover
Real
by Carol Cujec

Born unable to speak because of her autism, a 13-year-old math whiz whose funny, determined and kind nature are not recognized by others is forced to face her greatest fears when she is enrolled in public school. 
Superstar
by Mandy Davis book cover
Superstar
by Mandy Davis

Enrolling in public school after years of homeschooling, Lester, a mildly autistic fifth-grader, struggles to adapt and manage symptoms before becoming eager to win a science fair, discovering an unexpected truth along the way.
Five things about Ava Andrews
by Margaret Dilloway book cover
Five Things About Ava Andrews
by Margaret Dilloway

Struggling with the dual challenges of an anxiety disorder and a heart condition, a nearly friendless girl hiding a secret creative inner life learns to manage her shyness through an improv class before discovering her voice as an activist. 
Full-court press
by Elena Delle Donne book cover
Full-Court Press
by Elena Delle Donne

When Elle begins to volunteer two days a week working with children with special needs, she has trouble juggling her new passion, basketball obligations, and schoolwork.
Out of my mind
by Sharon M. Draper book cover
Out Of My Mind
by Sharon M. Draper

Considered by many to be mentally retarded, a brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time.
Out of my heart
by Sharon M. Draper book cover
Out Of My Heart
by Sharon M. Draper

In this sequel to Out of My Mind, Melody decides to sign up for a horseback riding summer camp in order to get over her fear of horses, but she wonders if the camp will welcome a kid with cerebral palsy. 
Nest
by Esther Ehrlich book cover
Nest
by Esther Ehrlich

On Cape Cod in 1972, eleven-year-old Naomi, known as Chirp for her love of birds, gets help from neighbor Joey as she struggles to cope with her mother's multiple sclerosis and its effects on her father and sister.
Mockingbird (Mok'ing-bûrd)
by Kathryn Erskine
book cover
Mockingbird (Mok'ing-bûrd)
by Kathryn Erskine

Ten-year-old Caitlin, who has Asperger's Syndrome, struggles to understand emotions, show empathy, and make friends at school, while at home she seeks closure by working on a project with her father.
In Your Shoes
by Donna Gephart

An anxious boy devoted to his family's bowling center in spite of his phobias and a girl whose dreams of happily-ever-after are challenged by her residence above her uncle's funeral home use their imaginations to help each other find new beginnings. 
You don't know everything, Jilly P!
by Alex Gino book cover
You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!
by Alex Gino

When her baby sister is born deaf, Jilly makes an online connection with a fellow fantasy fan, who happens to be black and deaf, and begins to learn about the many obstacles that exist in the world for people who are different from her.
How to make friends with the sea
by Tanya Guerrero book cover
How to Make Friends With the Sea
by Tanya Guerrero

Moving to the Philippines with his zoologist mother, 12-year-old Pablo struggles with anxiety while his mother fosters an orphaned child with a facial anomaly.
The million dollar putt
by Dan Gutman book cover
The Million Dollar Putt
by Dan Gutman

Assisted by his neighbor, Birdie, blind thirteen-year-old Ed "Bogie" Bogard will win one million dollars if he can sink a ten foot putt in Hawaii's fifth annual Angus Killick Memorial Tournament.
Dog driven
by Terry Lynn Johnson book cover
Dog Driven
by Terry Lynn Johnson

A talented but sight-impaired musher signs up for a dangerous commemorative race in the Canadian wilderness to prove herself while raising awareness of the disease that is costing her and her sister their sight. 
Half a world away
by Cynthia Kadohata book cover
Half a World Away
by Cynthia Kadohata

Twelve-year-old Jaden, an emotionally damaged adopted boy fascinated by electricity, feels a connection to a small, weak toddler with special needs in Kazakhstan, where Jaden's family is trying to adopt a "normal" baby.
Charlie & Frog : a mystery
by Karen Kane book cover
Charlie & Frog : a mystery
by Karen Kane

While staying with his grandparents in Castle-on-the-Hudson, Charlie stumbles upon a mystery but must learn American Sign Language to keep up with Frog, a deaf girl who wants to help solve it.
Song for a whale
by Lynne Kelly book cover
Song For a Whale
by Lynne Kelly

Twelve-year-old Iris and her grandmother, both deaf, drive from Texas to Alaska armed with Iris's plan to help Blue-55, a whale unable to communicate with other whales.
The view from Saturday
by E. L Konigsburg book cover
The View from Saturday
by E. L Konigsburg

Four students with their own individual stories develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher, a paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition.
Show me a sign
by Ann Clare LeZotte book cover
Show Me a Sign
by Ann Clare LeZotte

It is 1805 and Mary Lambert has always felt safe among the deaf community of Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard where practically everyone communicates in shared sign language, but recent events have shattered her life; her brother George has died, land disputes between English settlers and the Wampanoag people are becoming increasingly bitter and a "scientist" determined to discover the origins of the islands' widespread deafness has decided she makes the perfect "live specimen" - and kidnaps her.
Rules
by Cynthia Lord book cover
Rules
by Cynthia Lord

Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic.
Team players
by Mike Lupica book cover
Team Players
by Mike Lupica

When Sarah Milligan, a girl with Asperger's, joins the softball team, Cassie tries to help her fit in with the team, creating a rift between Cassie and her teammates.
Not if I can help it
by Carolyn Mackler book cover
Not if I can help it
by Carolyn Mackler

Willa lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her divorced father and her younger brother and attends 5th grade with her best friend Ruby, and she likes things to be a certain way, because it makes life manageable even with her Sensory Processing Disorder; she certainly does not like surprises, and her father has just thrown her a big one: he has been dating Ruby's mother, and suddenly Willa's life seems to be spiraling out of her control - and part of the trouble is that she cannot even explain why she thinks this is a horrible idea, when everyone else thinks that it is wonderful.
Rain reign
by Ann M. Martin book cover
Rain Reign
by Ann M. Martin

Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms.  She's thrilled that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms, which according to Rose's rule of homonyms, is very special.  Not everyone understands Rose's obsessions, her rules and the other things that make her different.  When a storm hits their rural town, rivers overflow, the roads are flooded and Rain goes missing. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search.
Honestly Elliott
by Gillian McDunn book cover
Honestly Elliott
by Gillian McDunn

Struggling with ADHD, loneliness, and connecting with his divorced father who would rather see him embrace sports instead of cooking, sixth-grader Elliott finds an unlikely friend in popular, perfect Maribel when the two are paired in a school-wide contest.
Swimming with dolphins
by Jessie Paddock book cover
Swimming With Dolphins
by Jessie Paddock

When 12-year-old KT Wynn learns that she has to move from Iowa City to Florida, she's distraught.  Not only does she have to leave behind her best friends and the only home she's ever known, she also has to deal with being the new kid in school.  And she's especially worried about how her wheelchair, Sprinkles, will affect things.  On the bright side, she'll still have her big sister, Lucy, with her and she'll even get to see a dolphin - her favorite animal - for the very first time.  KT has always dreamed of swimming with a dolphin and with the help of her sister, she's determined to make it happen.
Wonder
by R. J Palacio book cover
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio

Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates.
Ellen Outside the Lines
by A. J. Sass
book cover
Ellen Outside the Lines
by A. J. Sass

When a school trip to Barcelona to reconnect with her best friend doesn’t go as planned, Ellen, a neurodivergent 13-year-old, must expand her horizons as she makes new friends and learns to let go of old ones. 
Wonderstruck 
by Brian Selznick book cover
Wonderstruck 
by Brian Selznick

Having lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, twelve-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in New York City, and meets Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life.  Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures.
The meaning of Maggie
by Megan Jean Sovern
book cover
The Meaning of Maggie
by Megan Jean Sovern

Eleven-year-old Maggie Mayfield is an a-plus student with big plans for herself, but at this moment she is also facing a lot of problems - like starting middle school and figuring out how to help her father who is out of work and in a wheelchair.
The chance to fly
by Ali Stroker book cover
The Chance to Fly
by Ali Stroker

After moving across the country, thirteen-year-old Natalie auditions for her new school's play and overcomes her fears and insecurities about performing in a wheelchair.
Roll with it
by Jamie Sumner book cover
Roll With It
by Jamie Sumner

Twelve-year-old Ellie, who has cerebral palsy, finds her life transformed when she moves with her mother to small-town Oklahoma to help care for her grandfather, who has Alzheimer's Disease
A blind guide to normal
by Beth Vrabel book cover
A Blind Guide to Normal
by Beth Vrabel

Richie Ryder Raymond has a gift.  He can find the punchline in any situation, even in his limited vision and prosthetic eye.  During the past year at Addison School for the Blind, Ryder's quick wit earned the respect and friendship of classmates.  Heading to mainstream, or normal, school for 8th grade is going to be awesome.  After all, what's not to like?
So B. It : a novel
by Sarah Weeks book cover
So B. It 
by Sarah Weeks

Living with her mentally disabled mother who only knows just over twenty words, young Heidi has learned to live in her special world until a new word is suddenly used and repeated by her mother; causing Heidi to think it might be a key to a secret past about which she knows so little.
The Collectors
by Jacqueline West book cover
The Collectors
by Jacqueline West

Overlooked in class, a hearing-impaired boy who collects lost or discarded trinkets discovers a dangerous underground world full of stolen wishes and the people who collect them.
Nonfiction
We all have different abilities
by Melissa Higgins book cover
We All Have Different Abilities
by Melissa Higgins

Simple text and full-color photos celebrate different and varied abilities.
My special needs family
by Claudia Harrington book cover
My Special Needs Family
by Claudia Harrington

Lenny follows Roxy for a school project and learns about her family life as someone with special needs.
Families with special needs
by Jill Keppeler book cover
Families with Special Needs
by Jill Keppeler

All people are different! Maybe you or someone else in your family has a difference that means you or they need a little extra help or a little more time to do things, and that's OK. This thoughtful book will explore families with members who have special needs or challenges. It will encourage young readers to consider both similarities and differences, as well as how they can help or support friends whose families might have their own unique differences.
Some kids are blind
by Lola M. Schaefer book cover
Some Kids are Blind
by Lola M. Schaefer

Some people are blind.  What does that mean?  Using simple, engaging text and full color photos, readers learn what blindness is, how it can be caused and what daily life is like for someone who can't see.
Hero at Home
by Sarah Verardo book cover
Hero at Home
by Sarah Verardo

Grace's dad is an inspiration to so many, but he is not the only one in his family who deals with scars of war.  Injuries from military service can be both visible and invisible.  Hero at Home celebrates the contribution that our Veterans have made and shines a light on how it is to embrace these special families.
Emily included : a true story
by Kathleen McDonnell book cover
Emily Included 
by Kathleen McDonnell

Tells the story of Emily Eaton, who was born with cerebral palsy, and her family's battle to keep her in regular school with her friends instead of attending a special school for disabled children.
Coping With a Disability
by Holly Duhig book cover
Coping With a Disability
by Holly Duhig

Coping with a disability impacts life for many people, from the person with the disability to their friends and family.  Readers are introduced to the struggles that may come with having a disability and how people with disabilities handle these possible hardships.
Dyslexia
by Robin Twiddy book cover
Dyslexia
by Robin Twiddy

We all share the same world but do we experience it in the same way?  A Different World gives children the opportunity to see the world through other people's eyes.
Smiley : a journey of love
by Joanne George book cover
Smiley: a journey of love
by Joanne George

Smiley, a most remarkable Golden Retriever, was born without eyes.  He was rescued from a puppy mill and has become a superb therapy dog, providing therapy to people all over the world through social media and television.  This is his story.
Able to play : overcoming physical challenges
by Glenn Stout book cover
Able to Play: overcoming physical challenges
by Glenn Stout

Able to Play shares the inspiring stories of four baseball players.  Mordecai Brown, Ron Santo, Jim Abbott and Curtis Pride faced physical challenges other players did not have.  With determination and guts, they didn't just overcome; they excelled.
Biographies
A picture book of Louis Braille
by David A. Adler book cover
A Picture Book of Louis Braille
by David A. Adler

Presents the life of the nineteenth-century Frenchman, accidentally blinded as a child, who originated the raised dot system of reading and writing used throughout the world by the blind.
Temple Grandin : how the girl who loved cows embraced autism and changed the world
by Sy Montgomery book cover
Temple Grandin: how the girl who loved cows embraced autism and changed the world
by Sy Montgomery

An authorized portrait about the co-author's life with autism and her groundbreaking work as a scientist and designer of cruelty-free livestock facilities includes photographs from Grandin's personal collection and describes how she overcame key disabilities through education and the support of her mother. 
Rolling warrior : the incredible, sometimes awkward, true story of a rebel girl on wheels who helped spark a revolution
by Judith E. Heumann book cover
Rolling Warrior : the incredible, sometimes awkward, true story of a rebel girl on wheels who helped spark a revolution
by Judith E. Heumann

One of the most influential disability rights activists in US History tells her story of fighting to belong in school and society.
	
I am not a label : 34 Disabled Artists, Thinkers, Athletes and Activists from Past and Present
by Cerrie Burnell book cover
I am Not a Label 
by Cerrie Burnell

This book brings together 34 disabled artists, thinkers, athletes and activists from past and present.  Find out how these iconic figures have overcome obstacles, owned their differences and paved the way for others by making their bodies and minds work for them. 
All the way to the top : how one girl's fight for Americans with disabilities changed everything
by Annette Bay Pimentel book cover
All the Way to the Top: how one girl's fight for Americans with disabilities changed everything
by Annette Bay Pimentel

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, Jennifer Keelan grew up battling - and overcoming - the limitations others set for her.  From a lack of cutaway curbs and bus lifts to being denied enrollment at her neighborhood school, Jennifer was continually blocked from living the life she wanted.  But after discovering the work of disability rights activism, she knew she had to use her voice to change things.
Who was Helen Keller?
by Gare Thompson book cover
Who was Helen Keller?
by Gare Thompson

An inspiring illustrated biography shows how Helen Keller, deaf and blind since the age of two, learned to communicate, read, and do other amazing things with the help of her teacher, Annie Sullivan. 
Unsinkable : from Russian orphan to Paralympic swimming world champion
by Jessica Tatiana Long
book cover
Unsinkable : from Russian orphan to Paralympic swimming world champion
by Jessica Tatiana Long

The champion Paralympic swimmer presents an inspirational photographic memoir that describes her birth in Siberia with fibular hemimelia, her adoption from a Russian orphanage at 13 months and the big and small life events that marked her rise to the second most decorated U.S. Paralympic athlete of all time. 
This kid can fly : it's about ability (not disability)
by Aaron Philip
book cover
This Kid Can Fly : it's about ability (not disability)
by Aaron Philip

An uplifting memoir by the 14-year-old creator of the Tumblr blog "Aaronverse" traces his remarkable experiences that demonstrate how his abilities and achievements have defined him more than the challenges of his cerebral palsy. 
Emmanuel's dream : the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
by Laurie Ann Thompson book cover
Emmanuel's Dream: the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
by Laurie Ann Thompson

The inspiring story of a West African youth who pursued an education, helped support his family and became a record-setting cyclist in spite of a disability traces his ongoing achievements as an activist.
Parenting
Just one of the kids : raising a resilient family when one of your children has a physical disability
by Kay Harris Kriegsman book cover
Just One of the Kids: raising a resilient family when one of your children has a physical disability
by Kay Harris Kriegsman

Presents parents with stories, tips, and tools for ensuring that children with physical disabilities meet acceptable risks, face challenges, and feel like "one of the kids" while meeting the needs of the whole family.
Mr. Worry : A Story About OCD
by Holly L. Niner book cover
Mr. Worry: a story about OCD
by Holly L. Niner

Eight-year-old Kevin is frustrated by his need to check things and repeat actions over and over until a counselor diagnoses obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and teaches him ways to manage his condition.
The boy who learned upside down
by Christy Scattarella
 book cover
The Boy Who Learned Upside Down
by Christy Scattarella

School was hard for Alex.  He had a learning challenge called dyslexia that turned reading into an endless chase after runaway words and made it difficult to pay attention, focus and follow directions, as if he was learning upside down.  For kids like Alex, the struggle to read, write and belong often becomes too much.  They often give up, on school and on themselves. But with understanding and support they can grow up to make a difference.  Filled with humor, adventure and a really cool dog, The Boy Who Learned Upside Down shows that what causes a child shame may be the source of his or her greatest gift.
Understanding Sam and Asperger syndrome
by Clarabelle van Niekerk book cover
Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
by Clarabelle van Niekerk

A young boy named Sam, has difficulty at school and seems moody at home.  When Sam is diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger Syndrome, his family and teachers understand him better and learn how to help him succeed.
Supportive parenting : becoming an advocate for your child with special needs
by Jan Starr Campito
 book cover
Supportive Parenting: Becoming an advocate for your child with special needs
by Jan Starr Campito

When Jan Campito first entered the world of special needs, she trusted the experts to tell her what was wrong and how to proceed.  Soon after, she realized that she was the best advocate for her child.  She learned to take an active role in advocating for her children and helping to meet their needs.  From procuring evaluations, to understanding diagnoses, to selecting therapies and therapists to following through on therapies at home and targeting needs to be addressed, to helping formulate IEPs and to monitoring and intervening in their school settings, she has become a comprehensive advocate for her children with special needs and in this book, Jan shares with other parents some of her experiences and some of what she has learnt in the process.
All my stripes : a story for children with autism
by Shaina Rudolph book cover
All My Stripes
by Shaina Rudolph

Zane rushes home to tell his mother about problems he faced during his school day, and she reminds him that while others may only see his "autism stripe," he has stripes for honesty, caring, and much more.
An exceptional children's guide to touch : teaching social and physical boundaries to kids
by Hunter Manasco book cover
An Exceptional Children's Guide to Touch: teaching social and physical boundaries to kids
by Hunter Manasco

A picture book designed for parents and professionals to use with children explains in simple terms how to tell the difference between acceptable and inappropriate touch, thereby helping the child with special needs stay safe.
The special needs school survival guide : handbook for autism, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, & more!
by Cara Koscinski
book cover
The Special Needs School Survival Guide
by Cara Koscinski

In question and answer format, offers advice for readers on school accommodations for special needs children, including IEP 101, what you need to know, therapy in school, behavior, transitions and more.
	
Home schooling children with special needs
by Sharon C. Hensley book cover
Home Schooling Children with Special Needs
by Sharon C. Hensley

Offers home schooling parents practical advice on how they can teach a special needs child at home, with tips on helping children with learning problems, finding the best resources, understanding special education requirements, and ensuring their child is receiving the best edcuation possible.
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Last updated 4/22.
 
 
 
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