Summary
Announcing Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life, the newly-published book and workbook by Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD — a must-read for creating a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Lori Ames | lori@theprfreelancer.com
The Power of Accessibility: One In Four People Have A Disability At Any Given Time
Disabled people experience high levels of discrimination, bullying, unemployment, reduced access to healthcare, exclusion from faith communities, and more. These impacts can be compounded for people who experience additional discrimination due to intersectional identities such as race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, class, immigrant status, and sexual orientation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one in four people have a disability at any given time.
In Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life, Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD, draws upon more than twenty five years of experience as a professional educator and researcher to dispel myths and raise expectations about disabled people. Cawthon brings the energy and insights from her popular presentations and workshops in nearly every industry — where she has empowered, encouraged, and supported thousands of people in the journey toward greater access.
Within days of its publication on Amazon on September 9, it was the #1 new book release in several categories. It will be available soon from local booksellers.
A Call for Deeper Understanding
With relatable stories, real-world examples, personal experiences, and actionable tips, DISABILITY IS HUMAN is a breakthrough book that:
- Provides key building blocks to tap the vital power of accessibility
- Boosts understanding of disability
- Explains “ableism,” how to identify it, and ways to address it to improve accessibility for everyone
The book is a call to a deeper connection to and an understanding of what is often ignored, forgotten, or deemed of lesser value.
“For so many years, disabled people have fought to be seen. To be recognized. To have the barriers that are so prevalent in our society removed so that we can go about our lives, our businesses, and our relationships in a way that is authentic to who we are,” says Cawthon, who was born deaf and uses hearing aids and sign language as well as spoken English.
The book seeks to engage and equip readers to make a positive difference in their own life and in the lives of the people in their orbit. The possibilities exist — people just need to tap into them and take steps, both big and small. Cawthon has spent years talking with people about disability and how to put actionable strategies into practice. Through their stories, insights, and reflections, this book focuses on three key components of transformational change:
- Connecting to disabled people and their experiences of disability
- Uncovering where ableism is embedded in home, work, school, and community
- Identifying accessibility strategies that can be put into action
Creating a Welcoming Environment for All
DISABILITY IS HUMAN emphasizes the underlying assumptions that go into the design of an accessible space.
Access is not the burden of disabled people. | The additional time, cost, and barriers to opportunity that disabled people face is burden enough. Placing the responsibility for access on top of that is simply not access. So, when we charge disabled people with the responsibility of identifying needs, advocating for accommodations, and managing all the logistics behind access, it is not access. Accessibility is the responsibility of all.
Access is more than accommodations. | Accommodations are inherently transactional: a disabled person puts in a request, the system responds with an answer, and access is granted. Although accommodations are an essential and non-negotiable part of accessibility, they are just a starting point. The challenge arises when accommodations become the end point, and there is little consideration of what happens outside of that request fulfillment process.
Access must be intentional. | Because so much of the world is built upon ableist perspectives, it takes time, awareness, care, and intention to address these deep-seated barriers.
Told through compelling stories of people with disabilities, and highlighting how accessibility affects people’s sense of being fully integrated into society, DISABILITY IS HUMAN is an important book for anyone who wants to understand how to create a welcoming environment for all people.
In addition, there is an official workbook in order to delve into more hands-on strategies, activities, and additional exercises for both individuals and groups – plus implementable plans and templates. Every activity reflects Cawthon’s wealth of experience as an award-winning instructor and researcher.
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About the Author
Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD is an internationally renowned author, researcher, and consultant who brings relatable insights and real-world skills to her mission that – when we tap the power of accessibility – we ensure disabled people can thrive and succeed.
Dr. Cawthon’s groundbreaking research has been funded by over $50 million in federal and other grants. In 2023 she founded the National Disability Center for Student Success at The University of Texas at Austin, where she is a tenured Professor of Educational Psychology.
She brings a lived experience to her work. In addition to her congenital hearing loss, she has several mental health and physical disabilities that have a significant impact on her ability to engage in important life activities.
Dr. Cawthon earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Stanford University and her doctorate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
For more information: www.StephanieCawthon.com.
Publication: Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life
Author: Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD
Publisher: TSPA
Publication date: September 2024
Book: $23.99 | trade paper | ISBN: 978-1-954233-29-4
Official Workbook: $19.99 | trade paper | ISBN: 978-1-954233-38-6