Book Studies
Disability Acceptance Through Literature
The Arc of PA’s Include Me program is excited to present “Disability Acceptance through Literature,” a virtual book study for students. Books selected by our facilitators provide opportunities to learn about the many aspects of disability through the perspective of school age protagonists.
Discussions center on understanding, acceptance, presuming competence, and friendship. Values like compassion, honesty, authenticity and diversity steer the ship, and we love when conversations are led by students’ interests. These book studies are an innovative way to provide students interested in reading with a structured opportunity to connect with other students across Pennsylvania. We strive to make the book studies accessible, with:
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- audio recordings of each chapter,
- vocabulary resources,
- engaging visual content for discussions, and,
- by providing copies of the book to families as the book studies gear up.
These four or eight week book studies make room for silliness and curiosity, and we’re proud of the stigma-blasting power of the program (and that of the students themselves!).
Include Me connects each book study and accompanying lessons to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards.
For more information, contact: cmorrison@includemepa.org
Registration closed? Book study full? Use this form to get on the waitlist; we’ll let you know if a spot opens before books are shipped. Not seeing an offering for your child’s age group? Let us know what you’re hoping to see; DATL cycles through offerings for participants ages 5-8, 8-12, 12-17 and adults!
SEE OUR UPCOMING BOOK STUDIES!
(click on an area below to view)
Children Ages 5 - 8; Wednesdays at 5:30 pm, beginning January 13
Theme: “Hand in Hand”, A Disability acceptance story series
Group: Kids 5-8 years old
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm
Dates: January 13 – 27 (3 weeks)
Join us Wednesdays at 5:30PM starting January 13 for a returning favorite “Story Tour”, our Disability Acceptance through Literature program for 5- to 8-year-olds! The group will meet weekly for 45 minutes via Zoom. We’ll read a different children’s book aloud each week and talk a bit about the story together. All learners are welcome!
Registering will save you a seat. Register with your mailing address and we will send a copy of each book for your household. Before our first meeting, you will receive an email with the zoom link we’ll use to join in every week. *Spots are limited! Registering means you’re committing to join us for the full virtual story tour. If your availability changes, please let us know ASAP before the program begins. *Please note: this story tour will repeat a trio of books that we read in recent years. Kindly check to see if you’ve read these stories with us before signing up to maximize joy.
Lineup for our Winter 2026 Story Tour includes:
– A Little Like Magic, by Sarah Kurpiel
– Monster Hands, by Karen Kane, Jonaz McMillan, illustrated by Dion MBD
– Flap Your Hands, by Steve Asbell
Click here to register. Registration opens at 12:00pm on Nov. 6 and closes Dec. 13 at 11:59pm
Questions? Contact Celia at cmorrison@includemepa.org
Registration closed? Book study full? Use this form to get on the waitlist; we’ll contact you about the next opportunity or let you know if a spot opens before books are shipped.
Children Ages 8 - 12; Thursdays at 5:30 pm, beginning January 14
Title: Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd
Group: Kids 8-12 years old
Day/Time: Thursdays, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Dates: January 14 – March 11 (8 weeks, skip Feb 25)
Join us Thursdays at 5:30PM beginning January 14 for the return of middle grade pick Hummingbird! The group (8- to 12-year-olds and our Include Me facilitators) will meet weekly via Zoom. All learners are welcome!
Registering will save your child a seat. Include your mailing address so we can send you the book! Before our first meeting, you will receive an email detailing the resources we share as access tools and the Zoom link we’ll use to join in every week. (Access tools like audiobook recordings, adapted chapter summaries and PODD pages will be provided to help participants access the reading and the conversations each week.)
“Fragile is what I’ll always be. I get that.
But I am
a thousand other things, too.
I’m
whole constellations
of wonders and weirdness
and hope.”
Click here to register. (Registration opens Nov 6 at 12:00PM and closes Dec 13 at 11:59PM)
Questions? Contact Celia at cmorrison@includemepa.org
Registration closed? Book study full? Use this form to get on the waitlist; we’ll contact you about the next opportunity or let you know if a spot opens before books are shipped.
FAQ
Questions? Contact Celia at cmorrison@includemepa.org
Click here to view/download a pdf copy of the FAQ
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