BOSTON, MA - June 30, 2026 - The Boston Public Library (BPL) celebrates Disability Pride Month with its Disabled, Not Unable booklist. Observed annually in July, Disability Pride Month honors and explores the influence and legacy of members of the disabled and neurodivergent community.
The Disabled, Not Unable booklist, compiled by BPL staff from various locations, features 75 recent titles written by disabled authors or about the experiences of disabled people. The list showcases fiction and nonfiction selections for adults, teenagers, and children by authors such as Molly Burke, Tim Curry, Idris Goodwin, Nnedi Okorafor, and Richard Siken. Genres from this collection include graphic novels, picture books, mystery, romance, poetry, and memoirs.
Each book on the list contains a synopsis and is accompanied by an image of the book cover as well as classification information. In addition to print books, select titles are available as eBooks or audiobooks.
Along with the booklist, the BPL will celebrate Disability Pride Month with related programs:
- Your Device, Your Way: Exploring iOS Accessibility | July 8, Central | Discover how to make your iPhone or iPad easier to use in this beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop. Learn how to customize accessibility settings, including larger text, AssistiveTouch, visual alert flashes, and the convenient triple-click shortcut to quickly access your favorite accessibility features.
- American Sign Language (ASL) at the Library: Signing Rocks! | July 11, Parker Hill; July 17, Central; and July 22, Online | A lively virtual ASL event for all skill levels! Learn through games and interactive activities, in a voice-free, immersive environment led by an experienced instructor. Build vocabulary, gain confidence, and connect with the Deaf culture community – all conducted entirely in ASL.
- Abilities Dance Boston (with Ellice Patterson) | July 16, Online | Learn how Abilities Dance Boston uses storytelling to make dance more inclusive for students and audiences and find out more about the work of this local dance company. Listen to Founder/Executive & Artistic Director of Abilities Dance Boston Ellice Patterson discuss how reading has influenced her life and work, as well as how it tangibly supports accessibility for audiences within our performing company and students within our community engagement program.
- Little Hands, Big Signs: Story Time with American Sign Language | July 18, West End | Learn some basic signs in ASL with Theresa from Signing Basics in this special story time! Kids and caregivers will learn signs through a story told with ASL in this interactive workshop.
- Intro to Disability History | July 21, Online and July 23, Central | Learn about ten key moments in disability history, ranging from the 1800s to the present with a focus on Boston and Massachusetts; led by Accessibility and Inclusion Training Specialist for the City of Boston Disabilities Commission Sylvie Rosenkalt.
- Friday Films: CODA (2021) | July 24, Parker Hill | A film screening of 2021’s coming-of-age comedy-drama film about Ruby Rossi, the child of deaf adults (CODA) and the only hearing member of her family, who attempts to help her family's struggling fishing business while pursuing her aspirations to become a singer.
- Introduction to Deaf Culture & Functional Signs | July 28, Online | An interactive virtual introduction to ASL and Deaf culture for anyone interested in building more inclusive communication skills. Participants will learn about Deaf history, cultural norms, and communication etiquette while gaining practical, everyday ASL vocabulary that can be used at work and in daily interactions.
- Emergency Signs in American Sign Language | July 29, Online | Learn essential ASL skills for communicating during emergency situations. Participants will learn practical safety-related signs such as emergency, stay calm, fire, danger, ambulance, and go outside, helping them convey critical information quickly and effectively.
Physical copies of the Disabled, Not Unable booklist will be available at all BPL locations starting July 1, 2026; it can also be accessed digitally. In addition, the booklist and information about Disability Pride Month programs will also appear on the BPL website at bpl.org and on the BPL social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram).
Patrons can view many years' worth of prior affinity booklists, such as those from Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, and Pride Month in an online archive.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All of its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public. The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit bpl.org.