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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s SUMMER, which means more time for family and friends, self-care, and personal growth! What a perfect time to settle down with an amazing book…and better your teaching! Today I am sharing with you my Top 3 Must-Read Books About Disabilities to help further your understanding and gain a greater insight into the minds and lives of those living with disabilities.

Look Me in the Eye - An eye-opening, brutally honest memoir written by John Elder Robison about living with Asperger’s, but not knowing until adulthood.  Growing up without a diagnosis led to frustration, confusion, and a whole lot of tough lessons, a lot of which are described in this book. Robison provides a snapshot into the daily challenges faced by people on the autism spectrum in a raw, unfiltered way. As Robison writes, “Asperger’s is not a disease. It’s a way of being. There is no cure, nor is there a need for one. There is, however, a need for knowledge and adaptation on the part of Aspergian kids and their families and friends.”

(It should be noted that when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders - 5th Edition (DSM-5) was published, Asperger’s was recategorized to now fall under the umbrella term of “Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Thus, Asperger’s Syndrome is no longer a term used to diagnose.)

All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr is an absolutely magnificent storyteller. His writing provides incredible imagery and impeccable details that make you feel as if you are sitting in Europe watching this story unfold. All The Light We Cannot See is a gut-wrenching, yet heartwarming novel, set in WWII, about a blind, French girl and a young German boy. Doerr crafts two completely different journeys, yet they perfectly collide as the story matures. All The Light We Cannot See is an unforgettable, tell-all-your-friends, want-to-shout-from-the-rooftops read that constantly reminds us that we are more alike than different.
Doerr frames it perfectly when he says, “We all come into existence as a single cell, smaller than a speck of dust. Much smaller. Divide. Multiply. Add and subtract…Forty weeks later, six trillion cells get crushed in the vise of our mother’s birth canal and we howl. Then the world starts in on us.”

House Rules - Jodi Piccoult is one of my absolute favorite authors and when she came out with a book containing a main character on the autism spectrum, I knew I had to read it. House Rules is the perfect blend of a suspenseful plot and complete transparency. She gives readers an incredible insight into the mind of someone on the autism spectrum. It is important to keep in mind that the autism spectrum is just that...a spectrum. Those diagnosed with autism have a variety of symptoms, life experiences, and perceptions of the world around them. House Rules is a must-add to your summer reading list to increase your understanding of someone living with autism.

I hope you enjoy these books as much as I have. I will be adding to this list at the end of summer, so please leave any of your recommendations below. Happy Summer!

... mg