We are all cultural beings. Here at Speak My Language, we are interested in sharing stories about disability from people who are culturally and linguistically diverse.
These perspectives often lead us to an intersectional understanding of disability. They show us how disability justice and racial justice can be interwoven. They celebrate the unique differences inherent in human bodies and human cultures. These perspectives reveal what diversity looks like for the disability community within our multicultural communities.
Here are six novels that do all this and more. Through fiction, memoirs and essays, each author provides an intersectional perspective of disability through the power of storytelling.
1. Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
This powerful and humorous memoir details the life of disability rights activist Haben Girma, who was Harvard Law School’s first Deafblind graduate. Haben’s parents were refugees of the Eritrean and Ethiopian war, and she credits them with teaching her a resilience that she applied to navigating the world with her disability.
Where to get it: Dymocks
Audiobook options: Amazon, Audible Audiobook
2. Me, Antman and Fleabag
Indigenous Australian author Gayle Kennedy, of the Wongaibon people of south west New South Wales uses a series of compelling vignettes to describe her life as a First Nations woman who had polio. While Kennedy chronicles some of the experiences common to First Nations people with a disability, it’s not a heavy read. Both humorous and accessible, this novel is rich with stories about the importance of family, pets and the impact of racism.
Where to get it: Dymocks, Booktopia
3. Notes on the Flesh
According to author Dr Shahd Alshammari, Notes on the Flesh asks the question, “how different are experiences of love, disability, and pain across cultures?” This collection of stories dig into the Arab experience of disability, illness, and love. Shahd was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 18, and rather than hold her back, her diagnosis was the launching point for many of her academic pursuits. As suggested in the title of Notes on the Flesh, this collection of stories examines vulnerable bodies in the context of love and relationships.
Where to get it: Amazon
4. The Collected Schizophrenias
This conversational collection of essays provides insights into the world of chronic illness, hidden disability and mental health. Taiwanese-American author Esmé Weijun Wang describes her own diagnosis and experience with schizoaffective disorder and chronic illness, while unpacking the media and society’s perceptions of mental illness.
Where to get it: Dymocks
Audiobook options: Libro.fm
5. Golem Girl
Artist Riva Lehrer’s memoir chronicles her life as a child born with spina bifida to Jewish parents in 1958. In this period, her diagnosis was considered a death sentence. Her parents were determined to fix her, and she underwent many painful medical interventions and surgeries as a result. As an adult, she joins a creative community trying to create an empowering culture around disability, and there she finds her calling to be an artist.
Where to get it: Dymocks
Audiobook options: Libro.fm
6. Broken Places & Outer Spaces: Finding Creativity in the Unexpected
Nnedi Okorafor is a Nigerian-American writer of fantasy and science fiction, but this powerful memoir explores her personal experience of paralysis and recovery after a failed scoliosis surgery. Before the surgery, Okorafor was a star track athlete and had not envisioned herself as a writer. During her recovery, where she found solace in science fiction books, she had morphine-induced hallucinations of bugs and portals. These experiences inspired a gripping exploration of the transformational capacity of creativity.