How To Be Disabled and Proud: (or at least kinda sorta okay with it)
By (Author) Cathy Reay
Penguin Random House Children's UK
Puffin
25th April 2025
United Kingdom
Children
Non Fiction
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Dating, relationships, romance a
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: School, education and teachers
Coping with / advice about neurodevelopmental issues
305.908083
Paperback
272
Width 135mm, Height 215mm, Spine 17mm
252g
A warm, funny and empowering book about growing up disabled, written by disabled journalist and mum of two Cathy Reay. A warm, funny and empowering guide to what you can expect growing up disabled, written by disabled journalist and mum Cathy Reay. Have you ever felt like you don't fit in anywhere Or like no-one understands what it feels like to be you Maybe you feel like you're the only person in the world who looks, moves or thinks like you do. Well, I'm here to tell you that you are not alone, and you belong in the world exactly as you are. In this honest, funny, empowering guide, Cathy Reay draws on her own experiences of growing up disabled to encourage young readers to embrace (or at least, feel kinda sorta OK with) their disabled identity. From navigating the transition from primary to secondary school, to voicing their accessibility needs, to finding disabled community and gaining the confidence to stand up for their rights, and for others too-Cathy examines the challenges faced by disabled children, touching gently on issues such as bullying and discrimination, and what to do when you feel like people just don't get it with comforting and practical advice to guide readers through tough times. How to be disabled and proud (or at least kinda sorta okay with it) empowers disabled readers to value and appreciate themselves for who they are, exactly as they are, and acts as a powerful call to action for both disabled and non-disabled children to advocate for a more accessible, more understanding world. Featuring interviews from a wide range of disabled changemakers and friends, including Ellie Simmonds, Jameisha Prescod, Nina Tame, Dr Shani Dhanda, Ellie Middleton, , Elle McNicoll, Simon Wheatcroft and even a couple of disabled kids. This is the essential guide to growing up disabled, perfect for children aged 9+ to read together with their families.
Cathy Reay is a disabled writer and journalist and a single mum to two disabled children. As a freelance journalist she has written for The Guardian, Glamour, Metro, I Paper, Mashable and more. She writes on disability representation, disability justice, accessibility, sex and relationships. Cathy has also delivered talks at several leading UK universities.