"Disabilities and Relationships"
Raising Bookworms' July Book Club Pick / Celebrate Disability Pride Month
What is Disability Pride Month?
“Disability Pride Month is an annual observance in July that celebrates people with disabilities, commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and promotes disability inclusion, culture and visibility.” (ACLD, 2025).
2025 Theme: “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay” (ARC, 2025).
It’s only fitting that this month’s book club read honors this important milestone and encourages us to foster community while we keep pressing forward in our fight for inclusion.
I’m referencing the disability community broadly here so I will use the terminology kids with disabilities. It’s important to note that when possible, ask folks how they want to be referred to; some may prefer the term disabled and/or to be cited in another specific way.
"Disabilities and Relationships" by Nicole Evans teaches kiddos what relationships are, why they are important, and what they can do to foster great relationships with kids who may have a disability. This edition features co-author, Jaxon Sydello, an 11-year-old kiddo who is a brother, hockey player, and video game fan. Jaxon was born with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy. In the book, he gives insight into his life and his friendships.
I love this text for a few reasons. One, it allows us to give voice to the disability community. We learn directly from them, and I think that’s so powerful. Two, there are age-appropriate explanations of relevant terminology, such as “assistive devices” or “prosthetic,” which allows parents to feel supported as they discuss how we can build relationships. Three, the photos! I love that they use real photos of real kiddos in their everyday lives. This makes the connection to our kiddos’ everyday life clearer. There is also diversity in the folks included, and I appreciated that.
I was able to borrow this read from my library’s e-book service (Hoopla).
Discussion Questions and Reading Tips.
Like with all things, initiating communication and talking regularly with our children demonstrates to them that we are comfortable having tough and sometimes uncomfortable conversations. We don’t need to have all the answers, but we need to be willing to discuss and learn together.
This read is a little text-heavy, but in a great way. Preview the text first and familiarize yourself with what is being shared. This will allow you to adapt (if needed) and support your kid’s engagement with the text.
Who do you have relationships with in your life? What makes those relationships so special? How do those relationships make you feel? (Ages 2+).
Are there any children at school with disabilities, like Jaxon? How can you be a good friend to them? (Ages 4+)
If your kiddo has a disability, how do they feel about the way friendship was explained here? What makes a good friend to them? What makes them feel supported? (Ages 4+)
Why is it important that we advocate for kiddos with disabilities to be included and have access to things in our community? (Ages 6+)
Parent Reflection Questions
Take inventory of how much you know about the disability community.
How comfortable or uncomfortable were you reading this text with your kiddo and answering any questions they may have had?What are some ways you can support the students with disabilities at your child’s school? Are you involved with other parents and/or the PTA in advocating for more inclusive services? There’s power in numbers and allyship.
If you have a child with a disability, how did you feel reading this book with your child? If you enjoyed it, you may consider recommending it to their teacher or donating it to their classroom. Feel free to check out more reads via my Inclusion book list here.
Activities
Check out this list from Adults & Children with Learning & Developmental Disabilities, Inc. By reading this book with your child, you’re already working on the last bullet - “teach the next generation.”
Attend a Disability Pride Month Event in Your Area - The ARC has a great round up of national events linked here.
Read more books with representation. My Inclusion book list has more texts that feature kiddos with disabilities.
Watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood FULL EP | Miss Elaina’s Bandage/A Fair Place to Play (ASL) | PBS KIDS. This episode provides great examples of how to identify when spaces are not accessible for folks with disabilities and how to advocate for change. It features Daniel’s friend, Chrissy, who uses mobility devices to navigate.
Happy Reading! Cheering you on as we raise the next generation of good humans!
-Dr. R
P.S. Did you catch the “Raising Bookworms Book Club” t-shirts that dropped this week? Linking them here.!
Any orders placed during launch week will receive a personalized booklist curated by me. Let’s make it official! Grab a tee!
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Info included is strictly my opinion. Be sure to consult with your child's professional care team on what works best for your family.
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