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 or jmacsisak@includemepa.org
SEE OUR SUMMER 2023 BOOK STUDIES!
(click on an area below to view)
Children Ages 8 - 12 ; Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, beginning July 5, 2023
Title: Hummingbird, by Natalie Lloyd
Group: 8 – 12 years old
Day/Time: Wednesdays; 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Dates: July 5 – August 23 (8 weeks)
Join us Wednesdays at 6:30 PM beginning July 5th for our new middle years pick for Disability Acceptance through Literature! The group (8 to 12 year-olds and our Include Me facilitators) will meet weekly via Zoom. All learners ages 8-12 are welcome!
Registering will save your child a seat. Include your mailing address so we can send you the book/activity box! Before our first meeting, you will receive an email detailing how to log in to the google classroom, and the zoom link we’ll use to join in every week. Audio recordings will be available in the Google Classroom.
“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.”
Questions? Contact Celia at cmorrison@includemepa.org and Jennifer at jmacsisak@includemepa.org.
Teens Ages 12 - 17; Thursdays at 5:00 pm, beginning July 6, 2023
Title: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling
Group: Teens ages 12-17 years old
Day/Time: Thursdays, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Dates: July 6– August 24 (8 weeks)
Join us Thursdays at 5:00 pm for our new “teen” pick for Disability Acceptance through Literature! The teen group (12 to 17 year olds and our Include Me facilitators) meets weekly via Zoom. All learners 12-17 are welcome!
Registering will save your teen a seat. Include your mailing address so we can send you the book/activity box! Before our first meeting, you will receive an email detailing how to log in to the google classroom, and the Zoom link we’ll use to join in every week. Audio recordings will be available in the Google Classroom.
Aven Green didn’t lose her arms in an alligator wrestling match or a wildfire in Tanzania. That’s just what she tells people when she gets the ‘looks.’ The truth is, Aven was born without arms, but at age 13, that hasn’t stopped her from doing almost anything. Then her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown Western theme park in Arizona, and Aven has to leave everything she knows behind.
Questions? Contact Celia at cmorrison@includemepa.org and Jennifer at jmacsisak@includemepa.org.
Young adults, post-high school; Mondays at 6:30 pm, beginning July 10, 2023
Title: If at Birth You Don’t Succeed, by Zach Anner
Group: Young adults, post-high school
Day/Time: Mondays, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Dates: July 10 – Aug 7 (5 weeks)
Join us Mondays at 6:30 pm for our new Young Adult pick for Disability Acceptance through Literature! The YA group and our facilitators meet weekly via Zoom. Mature learners who are post-high school are welcome to join**; our conversations will be inclusive and honest. Registering will save you a seat! Include your mailing address so we can send you the book box. Before our first meeting, you will receive an email detailing how to log in to the Google classroom and the Zoom link we’ll use to join in every week. Audio recordings of each chapter will be available in the Google Classroom.
**Please note! This book is intended for mature readers. With frank humor and unflinching honesty, comedian Zach Anner’s essays follow him as he finds his passions and his path, “even when it’s paved with epic misadventure.” Read more about the book here.
Questions? Contact Celia at cmorrison@includemepa.org and Jennifer at jmacsisak@includemepa.org.